Lohitāksha

Lohitāksha was a sūta (a bard and keeper of old accounts). His name means “red-eyed”. He was the sthapati, the master builder and overseer of the work, for Janamejaya’s great sarpa-yāga (the yajña of the serpents) at Takshaśilā. He was also a paurāṇika, one who knows the Purāṇas.

While the yajñaśālā (the hall for the yajña) was being built, he said that the yāga would not be finished and that a brāhmaṇa would be the cause. His words made Janamejaya order strict control of the gates. When the yāga ended, the king rewarded him well.

His part in the sarpa-yāga

Janamejaya decided to perform the great sarpa-yāga. The ṛtviks (the priests of the yajña) confirmed that the Purāṇas ordain this yāga for him. Then the preparations began on a grand scale.

A large and fitting yajñaśālā had to be built, with all that a great and long yāga needs. Lohitāksha was chosen to oversee the work. He had two kinds of knowledge. He knew vāstu-vidyā, the science of building and of sacred space. He also had the knowledge of a paurāṇika, one who knows the Purāṇas.

The prophecy

While the yajñaśālā was being built, Lohitāksha spoke. He had looked at the time of the building, the place, and the signs, using his knowledge of the Purāṇas and of signs. He told the assembled leaders: “This yāga, going by the time and place of this building, will not be completed. A brāhmaṇa will be the cause of its not being completed.”

This was an unwelcome thing to hear. The yāga was being prepared at great cost and with great effort, driven by Janamejaya’s grief and resolve. Yet Lohitāksha said plainly what he saw, and did not soften it.

Janamejaya’s answer

Janamejaya heard the words and took them seriously. He gave an order to the guards and gatekeepers (kshattāra, the dvārapālakas): “From the time of the dīkshā (initiation) and throughout the yāga, no one may enter the yajñaśālā without my knowledge and leave.” The gate control was meant to keep the brāhmaṇa of the prophecy from entering and stopping the yāga.

When Āstīka came to the yajñaśālā, the guards did stop him at first, because of this very order.

The prophecy comes true

The prophecy proved fully true. Āstīka was a young brāhmaṇa. He won Janamejaya’s trust with his praises and entered the hall. He asked for the vara (a boon) of stopping the yāga, and he received it. The yāga was stopped before it was finished.

At the end, Janamejaya remembered Lohitāksha’s words. He rewarded him with gifts of food and clothing and a large dakshiṇā (the priest’s fee), because his foresight had been exact.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Āstīka Parva, Chapter 51