Devayani

Devayani
Devayani standing besides Yayati, questions Sharmishtha
Information
Spouse(s)	Yayati
Children	Yadu, Turvastu

In Hindu mythology, Devayani (Sanskrit: देवयानी, Devayānī) was the important daughter of Shukracharya, Daitya guru and his wife Jayanti, daughter of Indra. She was married to Yayati, son of Nahusha and gave birth to two sons Yadu and Turvasu.

Kacha, son of Brihaspati (king of suras) was sent to the Shukracharya to learn the Mrita Sanjivini Mantra (technique of bringing dead back to life). His father tells him to impress Devayani, dearest daughter of Shukracharya in order to get the blessings of Shukracharya. Kacha follows his advise and unknown to him Devayani falls in love with him. Shukracharya's Daitya disciples want to kill Kacha as he was the son of their rival and could do them harm if he learns Mrita Sanjivini Mantra. They try to kill him twice but Shukracharya brings him back to life on Devayani's insistence. At last they burn him, mix that ash in alcohol and give that to Shukracharya. Shukracharya realises that later and he teaches Mrita Sanjivini Mantra to Kacha and asks him to come out of his stomach by killing him. Kacha comes out and brings Shukracharya back to life with the help of Mantra.

Kacha starts his journey back to Deva loka when Devayani expresses her love for him and asks him to marry her. Kacha tells her that she is like a sister to him as she was the daughter of his guru, equivalent to father according to Hindu Dharma. This infuriates Devayani and she curses him that he would not be able to use Mrita Sanjivini Mantra. Kacha curses her that she wouldn't get a husband of strong character..

Sharmishtha was the daughter of Vrisaparva, the Daitya king, for whom Shukracharya was an adviser. Once Sharmista and Devayani go to take bath in a nearby forest along with Sharmista's retinue. After bathing, Devayani confuses Sharmista's saree with her own and wears it. Sharmista comes back and scold her for that and belittles her by saying that she was the daughter of her father's employee. This infuriates Devayani who tries to attack Sharmista. Sharmista takes her saree and throws naked Devayani in a well and leaves the forest with her retinue. Later Yayati, son of Nahusha, comes there for water and helps her to come up. She tells him that as he held her hand, he should be her husband. Though Yayati gets attracted to Devayani's beauty, he fears Shukracharya and tells her that he couldn't marry her without the permission of her father.