Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.703

c7.703

Agni, Indra, Vāyu and Yajña (Viṣṇu) once began a yajña on the understanding that the havirbhāga obtained from it should be divided among all the Devas. But, in violation of the agreement, yajña left the place carrying away the whole Yajñabhāga with him, and he drove back the Devas who followed him with the help of the bow presented to him by Devi. Finally the Devas got the string of the bow bitten off by termites and the bow which got straightened up cut off yajña's head. Yajña then apologized for his offence and then the devas got the Aśvinidevas to fix the head of a horse to the trunk of Yajña. (Pañca-vimśabrāhmaṇa 7, 5, 6; Taittirīya āraṇyaka 5, 1; Taittirīya Saṃhitā, 4-9; 1).