"Ashtavakra".

~~~~~~~~~~~ASHTAVAKRA~~~~~~~~~~~~
                 ~~~~~~अष्टावक्र ~~~~~~
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  Ashtavakra was born of Kahor ( Kahoda) and Sujata. 
While Ashtavakra was still in his mother's womb, Kahor 
was once reciting the Vedas, sitting beside his wife. To 
their great surprise, the child in  the womb suddenly cried
out :
"Father, even lying in my mother's womb I have already  
learnt all the Vedas through your grace. But I regret that 
you often make mistakes in yourrecitation."
Kahor took this as a grave insult, and cursed him, saying 
that  he would  be  born  with  eight  parts  of  his  body 
deformed. Accordingly, in course of time, the child was 
born likewise, with a twisted form, and so was named 
'Ashtavakra', (Eight-curved). In the meanwhile Kahor 
went to the court of the king Janaka to  beg money from 
the  king. The  king  had at  that  time in his court a great 
scholar called Vandi (Vandin), son of King Varuna. He 
was profoundly versed in the Vedas. Kahor was called 
to debate by him, was defeated and thrown into the sea 
where he  had  to  be engaged  as  a  priest in a sacrifice,
(Yajna)  that was being performed by Varuna.
  When Ashtavakra grew to be a lad of twelve and heard 
of the sad plight of his father, he repaired to the court of 
Janaka, in company  with  his  maternal  uncle Svetaketu. 
Being a mere boy, he was  not at first  allowed  entrance 
into the court, but when he gave proof of his extra-ordinary
learning in the Sastras, he was cordially  welcomed. He at 
once sought out his father's opponent, Vandi, and entered 
into a debate with him. A wonderful controversy ensued, 
and the boy of twelve defeated the foremost vetaran scholar 
of the court of Janaka. He then rescued  his father  from the
captivity of Varuna. Kahor was highly satisfied with his son, 
and asked him to bathe in the river 'Samaanga', and lo ! he 
came out of the waters with all his limbs made straight. But 
his name continued the same for ever.
                                                 
                                                          -MAHABHARAT. 

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