There are a few instances in Hindu mythology where it is believed that kings married their sisters. One well-known example is the legendary king Yayati, who is said to have married his sister.
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Yayati was a ruler of the Kuru dynasty, which was an ancient Indian dynasty mentioned in the Mahabharata. According to Hindu mythology, Yayati had two wives, Devayani and Sharmishtha. Devayani was the daughter of Shukracharya, the guru of the Asuras (demons), and Sharmishtha was the daughter of Vrishaparva, the king of the Asuras.
The story goes that Yayati fell in love with Devayani and they got married. However, Yayati’s father-in-law, Shukracharya, disapproved of their marriage because Yayati was from the human race, not the Asura race. Despite this, Yayati and Devayani continued to be together.
As Yayati desired more power and longevity, he approached Shukracharya for a boon. Shukracharya agreed to grant him the boon but on the condition that Yayati would exchange his youth with Shukracharya’s old age. Yayati agreed, and for a certain period of time, he was granted greater strength and longevity while Shukracharya became young again.
During this time, Yayati also married Sharmishtha, who was Devayani’s close friend and secretly in love with Yayati. When Devayani discovered this, she was furious and felt betrayed. However, Yayati convinced Devayani to accept Sharmishtha as their co-wife, and they continued to live together.
The story of Yayati marrying his sister is often considered a part of Hindu mythology and legends rather than factual history. It is important to note that Hindu mythology often contains symbolic and metaphorical elements, and the tales are not always meant to be taken literally.
In summary, it is believed in Hindu mythology that Yayati, a king from the Kuru dynasty, married his sister Sharmishtha, along with his primary wife Devayani.