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Once, sages like Brigu and Ãngiras performed 'Satra Yãga' in the banks of River Saraswati. 'Satra' are those 'yãgas' that span from twelve days to a thousand years. In a general 'yãga', there is only one 'yajamãn' (the person who performs the yãga) and the rest help him. However, in the case of 'Satra Yãga', everyone is 'yajamãn'. Among these sages who performed the Yãga was Kavasha who was the son of Ilushan.

Kavasha was a gambler. And hence was not a Brahmin. Wondering how such an ill-mannered person happened to be amongst the learned, the sages showed him the way out of the Yãga. They pushed him into a desert far away from the river as they did not want such a sinner to drink the holy water of River Saraswati and thought he would die of thirst for water in the desert.

In the desert, afflicted by unbearable thirst, Kavasha discovered a special 'sookta' (a mantra) to alleviate thirst and through that, won the affection of the gods of the waters. The demigods of the waters blessed him well. The very waters of the river Saraswati from which he was forbidden, surrounded him. Till date, this very spot is popularly called as 'Parisãraka'. Thus Kavasha attained fame.

The sages who heard about Kavasha's fame decided to get him back for the Yãga, as they felt he was free from ills and is known to all the gods. Thus they invited him and chanted his 'sookta' in the 'yãga.'

Even today, those who perform yãga, realizing the importance of this mantra, attain the position of the gods. While chanting it, if it is chanted continuously without breaking in the middle, it is said to fetch sufficient rains. The Vedas speak about the a 'Rik' found in this mantra, through a story - about two kinds of waters fighting between themselves to participate first in the yãga, and sage Brighu resolving their quarrel through the mantra.

These stories go to show that the Veda Mantras are powerful enough to bind the gods themselves. Even a wrong-doer is washed off his sins, if he chants the Vedas religiously and sincerely. Even if abandoned by men, such people are sake and honored by the lords. Thus the Veda Mantras have their own strength, power and fame. If such a small 'sookta' has so much importance, we can realize the power of the entire Vedas!

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