Mandavya was a silent monk who always held his hand straight above his head. Once some thieves stashed their loot in Mandavya's temple. The police came to the temple and questioned Mandavya. But Mandavya did not speak.

Later when police caught the thieves, the police also arrested Mandavya as an accomplice and produced them to the royal court.

The king sentenced all the accused to death-by-spear .

Each culprit was placed on top of a spear until death, but Mandavya remained alive because of his meditative power.

When the king realized that Mandavya was a monk and not a thief, he was brought down, but the spearhead stayed inside his body.

After the unfortunate incidence, Mandavya roamed and spread his teachings. Because of his condition he became known as Oni Mandavya .

Once he met Dharma – the god of Justice – and asked him: "Why did you punish me so harshly? What did I do wrong?"

Dharma said: "You had inserted a blade of grass in a grasshopper’s anus when you were a kid. Your punishment is a result of that cruel act".

"Dharma, you have punished me way out of proportion. Killing a brahmin is more critical than killing any other form of life. I curse you that someday you will be born as a lowly  shudra . Also I proclaim that any guilty act will be adjudged juvenile crime before the age of fourteen.

It was on Oni Mandavya's curse, Dharma was born as Bidur of a shudra chambermaid.