Jaya and Vijaya are the two demigod gatekeepers of the abode of Vishnu,
known as Vaikuntha .
According to a story from Bhagavata Purana, the Four Kumaras: Sanaka,
Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara who were the manasaputras of Brahma (sons born from the mind or thought
power of Brahma), visited Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu, to see him.
Jaya and Vijaya, the gate keepers of the Vaikuntha interrupted the
Kumaras at the gate, thinking them to be children. They also told the Kumaras
that Sri Vishnu was resting and that they could not see him now. The enraged
Kumaras replied Jaya and Vijaya that Vishnu is available for his devotees any
time, and cursed both the keepers Jaya and Vijaya, that they would have to give
up their divinity, be born as mortals on Earth
and live like normal human beings.
Vishnu appeared before them, and the gatekeepers requested Vishnu to
lift the curse of the Kumaras. Vishnu said curse of Kumaras could not be
reversed. Instead, he gave Jaya and Vijaya two options.
The first option was to take
seven births on Earth as a devotee of Vishnu, while the second was to take three
births as his enemy. After serving either of these sentences, they could
re-attain their stature at Vaikuntha and be with him permanently. Jaya and
Vijaya could not bear the thought of staying away from Vishnu for seven lives.
As a result, they chose to be born three times on Earth even though it would
have to be as enemies of Vishnu.
In the first life they were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha in
the Krita Yuga, to Diti (daughter of Daksha Prajapathi) and sage Kashyapa.
In their second life they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna in the
Treta Yuga, and in their third life as Dantavakra and Shishupala in the Dwapara
Yuga.
In all these three births, they were slain by avatars of Vishnu.
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