Durvasa

Durvasa, or Durvasa Muni, is a prominent sage in Hindu mythology known for his ascetic powers and notably volatile temper. Widely cited across the Puranas and epics, he is famous for both blessing and cursing individuals, with his encounters often serving as tests of character, devotion, and the workings of dharma.

In iconography, Durvasa is typically depicted as a wild-haired ascetic, sometimes with a garland of rudraksha beads and a water pot or rosary. He embodies a combination of spiritual prowess and fierce temperament, and his stories are used to illustrate the consequences of anger, the limits of human authority, and the protection offered by divine grace to genuine devotion.

One of the most well-known narratives involves Ambarisha, a devotee of Vishnu who observes a strict vrata. Durvasa visits and, following a dispute, lays a curse upon Ambarisha. Vishnu intervenes to protect the devotee, with the Sudarsana Chakra stopping the sage from carrying out the curse. This episode is often cited to highlight the power of true devotion and the idea that divine will can override mortal curses.

Durvasa appears in various other legends within Hindu literature, often as a provocateur whose actions reveal moral truths or provoke responses that reaffirm cosmic order. While his curses can bring hardship, they are typically resolved within the broader framework of dharma and grace.

See also: Durvasas, Hindu temples and worship traditions related to Durvasa, Hindu literature and epics.