Twins, Jaya and Vijaya, are the gatekeepers of Vishnu’s heavenly abode – Vaikuntha.
Once they were guarding the gate, the four manas-putras (brain-born sons) of Brahma, the Sanat Kumaras, came to meet Vishnu.
The four Kumaras are blessed with eternal youth, and therefore they look like little children, although they possess the wisdom of the world.
Jaya & Vijaya arrogantly refused to let them in.
The four sages were very angry at the insult and cursed that they would lose their divinity and live on earth as dead people.
Realizing their mistake, Jaya-Vijaya asked the Kumaras to reverse the curse.
Jaya-Vijaya told him what had happened and also asked him to undo the curse.
Why did they choose to be enemies of Vishnu?
Vishnu told them that only he could change the curse and gave them.
They can take seven births on earth as Vishnu’s devotees or three births as his archenemy.
After completing this birth, they can regain their divinity.
The thought of being away from their beloved Vishnu’s seven children was unthinkable to the twins so they chose to be reborn as his enemy in their third birth.
In the Satya yuga, Jaya and Vijaya took their first ever birth on earth as mortals.
Jaya was born as Hiranyakashyap (or Hiranyakashipu), a powerful asura and tyrant.
He had a young son named Prahalad, who was devoted to Vishnu.
He even tried many times to kill his son, but he never managed to succeed!
He once pointed to a pillar in the palace and asked his son if his god was there or not, as god is supposed to be ‘everywhere’.
Enraged at the reply, he opened the pillar with his club, whereupon Narasimha avatar of Vishnu (half lion, half lion) sprang forth and killed him at noon with his claws, placing his thigh at the entrance to the demon’s house. , to cleverly pass over the benefit he had earned from Brahma saying that no man, god or animal, night or day, earth, water or sky, could certainly kill him. home or even outside regardless of whether they are on the ground, in the sky or under the ground or any other weapons.
The Story of Vijaya’s First Birth
Vijaya was born in his first birth to Hiranyaksha, an asura and the brother of Hiranyakashyipu.
Hiranyaksha was very devoted to Brahma, and did extreme penance to please him.
Seeing his sincerity in performing penance, Brahma was very pleased and appeared before him.
Hiranyaksha asked for a boon that would make him very powerful, which Brahma granted.
After that, being drunk, Hiranyaksha started harassing the devas. In a power struggle with the devas, he also plunged the earth deep into the cosmic ocean!
Since only Vishnu is able to match his power, he took the avatara of Varaha (boar). Using his spear, Varaha dived deep into the ocean and brought him back to the original land.
Jaya’s Second Birthday
In his second birth, Jaya was reborn as Ravana, the great rakshasa.
Vishnu in the mortal world.
To meet his fate, he ended up abducting Sita, Rama’s wife, an avatara of Vishnu, and thus became his wife.
Rama came in search of his wife, to Lanka to release his wife.
Ravana, full of ego at first, resisted the attempts of Rama and his army and did not waver from his decision to keep Sita, even though it was wrong.
Many days have passed since the battle between Rama and Ravana began.
Even after having such a large army, in one battle, it was clear that he would lose.
Eventually, Ravana was killed by Rama, and thus ended his second life as the mortal enemy of Vishnu.
Vijaya’s second birthday
Vijaya was born to Kumbhakarna, the younger brother of Ravana in his second birth.
He was so powerful that he even defeated Indra, in the battle for supremacy.
Then, along with his brothers Ravana and Vibhishana, he performed austerities and tried to please Brahma, for profit.
Ravana asked Brahma to help him correct the fate, so he was transformed into Kumbhakarna who slept for six months of the year and was awake for the remaining six.
During the battle between Rama & Ravana, Kumbhakarna wakes up and is asked to fight Rama’s brother.
Good that he was, Kumbhakarna, knowing that Ravana was on the wrong side, even told his brother what he felt.
However, his loyalty to Ravana was of great importance to him, and he continued to fight, where he eventually killed Rama.
Final birth of Jaya
In his last birth, Jaya was Shishupala, the son of Srutashubha (Krishna’s aunt).
He was born with three eyes and four hands, and it was prophesied that the person who will cure this disease will kill him in the end.
When Krishna took the baby in his lap, the extra eye and arms immediately disappeared!
It is also clear that Krishna will kill him in the future.
Srutashubha, recovering from motherly feelings, requested Krishna to forgive her son for his hundred mistakes to which Krishna agreed.
When he was growing up, Shishupala had a friend Rukmi, Rukmini’s brother.
When Yudhishthira performed the Rajsuya yagna, (a ritual to establish the independence of the king), Shishupala, and several others were invited to the occasion.
Seeing this, Shishupala lost his love and started insulting not only Krishna but also Bhishma.
So when he insulted Krishna again, he broke his promise to Srutashubha and killed him immediately with Sudarshan Chakra.
Vijaya’s last birthday
Vijaya took his last birth on earth as Dantavakra, the king of Karusha.
Dantavakra was an ally of Jarasandha, the king of Magadha and an enemy of Krishna.
He was also a friend of Shisupala, who we now know, was also killed by Krishna.
When Yudhishthira performed the Rajsuya yagna, Dantavakra was defeated by Sahadeva, his brother.
Many of his friends including Shisupala and Salva died in Krishna’s attack during the yagna.
Having had enough of Krishna and avenging the killing of his dear friends, Dantavakra immediately marched to Dwarka with the intention of killing him.
Krishna, with one swift movement, struck him in the chest, killing him instantly.
And in this way, Vijaya was also freed from the curse of the Kumaras.