Ashtavakra

Kahoda was the best among other disciples of Sage Uddalaka. Uddalaka was so pleased with him for his dedication and devotion, that he had his daughter Sujata married to him. Sujata, eventually got pregnant, and with the desire of wanting the intellectual and spiritual growth of her child in the womb she began to sit in the classes taught by Uddalaka and Kahoda, listening to their chanting of Mantras. Sujata used to attend classes with such rapt attention that the babe in her womb heard and grew aware of each and every syallable of the Vedas so perfectly that he would get restless in the womb if someone makes a mistake in the recitation. Thus the babe in the womb of Sujata started growing with a perfect knowledge of the Vedas. It was one day, as Kahoda recited the Vedas, the child in the womb squirmed in distress. Sujata informed Kahoda that he had pronounced the syllable wrongly as indicated by the child in the womb. This happened on eight occasions. Kahoda perceived this as arrogance on the part of something, yet to manifest itself in the world, and he cursed the foetus with eight deformities. So, when the baby was born, it had eight bends, was crooked in eight places. Naturally, he was named Ashtavakra (the one with eight curves).
Sujata wanted more money to raise her child the best. So around the time Ashtavakra was born, she asked her husband to go to king Janak who was then preparing for a fire worship ceremony (Yagna) hoping that the ceremony will bring money to the family.
When Kahoda approached Janak, the king received him respectfully but said with regret "Kahoda, I am unable to perform the Yagna which I decided to perform several years back. Sage, Bandi arrived from no where and asked me to start the Yagna only after he is defeated in an academic discussion with the sages participating in the Yagna. His condition further includes that the sages who come forth for the debate, if defeated, will be drowned. So far he has killed many learned sages. Now it is up to you to take the challenge." Kahoda agreed to debate with Bandi. He was defeated and drowned in the nearby river.
Ashtavakra, after his brith was brought up by Uddalaka and his disciples and within a short time mastered everything that was expected of a 'Brahmin'. Uddalaka and his disciples took pains to see that Ashtavakra was always kept in the dark about the fate of his father. However, Ashtavakra came to know the truth when his young uncle, Shwetaketu inadvertently, blurted out that the person who Ashtavakra thought was his father, was, in fact, not his father. Ashtavakra then demanded the truth from his mother and decided to confront Bandi and defeat him in an argument.
Ashtavakra then made his way to the King's palace and presented himself as a challenger. The kind-hearted King could not bear the thought of someone so young losing to Bandi and meeting the same fate as countless other Brahmins, and tried to dissuade the young boy. Ashtavakra, was, however adamant, and after an initial test, Janaka decided to let him face Bandi. Ashtavakra won the argument and demanded that Bandi restore to life all the sages and Brahmins he had forced to be drowned. One of the conditions of the contest was that if Bandi loses he would grant any wish of his vanquisher.
Bandi was supposedly the son of Varuna - the Lord of all water bodies - and was sent incognito to land to get rishes, or sages, to conduct a ritual that his father wanted to perform. By the time Ashtavakra met Bandi, Varuna's ritual was also complete and he had rewarded all the sages and Brahmins and so when Bandi was defeated, he revealed his true identity and the reason behind the 'drowning' of his victims. At Bandi's request, Varuna bade the sages and Brahmins farewell and brought them to surface. Kahoda was extremely pleased see his son. Bandi then asked Ashtavakra to take a dip in the river, with the blessings of his father, Varuna, which would make him normal. Ashtavakra did as he was told and came out of the river as a handsome young man. Janak rewarded Ashtavakra and Kahoda. They went back to their hermitage to be united with the family. Uddalaka, was so happy to see his worthy grandson surpassing in knowledge to all the great sages of his time. Sujata rejoiced at seeing her handsome son and the husband.
Ashtavakra wanted to marry Suprabha who was the daughter of Rishi Vadanya. She was extremely beautiful. When Vadanya was approached for this he first wanted to test the intensity of Ashtavakra’s love towards Suprabha. Ashtavakra accepted all the conditions of Sage Vadanya, and was successful in doing all that the sage wanted. Sage Vadanya was very happy with Ashtavakra and gave him his daughter in marriage.
Later Ashtavakra grew into a spiritually advanced Rishi and realised Atman. He went to Mithla and instructed King Janaka about the concept of Atman. These teachings form the content of the Ashtavakra Gita or Ashtavakra Samhita. This presents the traditional teachings of Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism) with much clarity and power. The work was much appreciated and quoted by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his disciple Vivekananda, as well as by Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.