Janamejaya is the great grandson of Pandavas in the
Mahabharata and he performed the famous yajna or sacrifice to destroy all the
snakes on the earth. Janamejaya was the son of King Parikshit, who was killed
by serpent, Takshaka.
King Parikshit was the son of Abhimanyu and Uttara; and
grandson of Arjuna. He ruled the kingdom for 60 years but due to a curse was
bitten and killed by serpent Takshaka.
Janamejaya decided to take revenge and performed Sarpa Satra – serpent sacrifice. Thousands of snakes were drawn out by the spells chanted during the yajna. They immolated themselves in the yajna fire.
Janamejaya decided to take revenge and performed Sarpa Satra – serpent sacrifice. Thousands of snakes were drawn out by the spells chanted during the yajna. They immolated themselves in the yajna fire.
But Takshaka did not come to the yajna as he was protected
by Indra. Janamejaya, who realized that his main enemy was protected by the
king of Devas, ordered priests to chant more potent mantras.
The mantras forced Indra out of his abode with Takshaka
hanging on to him. On seeing the sacrificial fire, Indra released Takshaka and
fled the scene.
Takshaka was soon heading towards the fire.
But a young sage Astika who happened to witness the horrific
scene of snakes immolating decided to stop it. Astika convinced Janamejaya
about the futility of revenge and reminded him of the great Kurukshetra war.
The king was convinced. As a gift the young sage asked Janamejaya to stop the
yajna. The king stopped the yajna and Takshaka and many other serpents were
saved.
Sage Astika who was pleased by Janamejaya agreed to perform
Ashwamedha ritual for his welfare. It was at this Ashwamedha yajna that the
Mahabharata story was recited by Sage Vaishampayan.
The king who had contracted an incurable disease was cured
after listening to the entire Mahabharata.
At the end of the Ashwamedha Yajna, Janamejaya desired to
see his father and he had a vision of King Parikshit.