Introduction
Sanaka is one of the four Kumaras, mind-born sons of Brahma, created at the dawn of creation and remaining eternally youthful sages, dedicated wholly to contemplation and devotion. With his brothers Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara, he is best known for the episode at the gates of Vaikuntha that led to the threefold earthly incarnations of Jaya and Vijaya.
This article follows the Puranic tradition. Where a detail differs between texts, the article says so.
Family
- Father: Brahma
- Siblings: Daksha, Marichi, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasistha, Narada, Atri, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara
The four Kumaras
Brahma created Sanaka and his three brothers as his first mental sons, intending them to help populate the universe, but the four, from birth, chose instead a life of perpetual celibacy and meditation, appearing always as five-year-old children despite their great age and wisdom, and are counted among the great sages in several lists.
The gate of Vaikuntha
When the four Kumaras came to Vishnu's heaven of Vaikuntha to see him, Vishnu's gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya, misjudging their childlike appearance, refused them entry. Insulted at being denied by mere doorkeepers, the sages cursed the two gatekeepers to fall from their heavenly station and be born on earth as mortals, in opposition to Vishnu, for three lifetimes.
Consequence
This curse is given in Vaishnava tradition as the origin of the pairs Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu, then Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and finally Shishupala and Dantavakra, each killed in turn by one of Vishnu's own avatars, after which Jaya and Vijaya returned to their post at Vaikuntha's gate.