Kavyamata is a minor character in Hindu mythology. She is described as the mother of Shukra, the god of the planet Venus and the preceptor of the Asuras or demons. She is the reason why the god Vishnu was cursed to take Avatars on earth.
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Devi Bhagavata Purana discusses the legend. Once, the Asuras fought a war against the Devas or demi-gods, and their guru Shukra decided to seek the favour of the god Shiva to defeat the Devas. He started penance on Mount Kailash, Shiva's abode, leaving the Asuras unprotected. The Devas came to know of Shukra's intentions and waged a war on the Asuras again. The Asuras rushed to the protection of Kavyamata, the mother of Shukra, while being chased by Vishnu and the Devas. With one glance Kavyamata put all the Devas into a deep sleep. By her meditative power Kavyamata also petrified Vishnu and Indra, the king of the Devas, putting them in a state of paralysis.[1] Vishnu summoned his discus weapon - the Sudarshana chakra, and severed Kavyamata's head. Shukra's father, the great sage Bhrigu, became angry and cursed Vishnu for his sin of woman-slaughter, saying that Vishnu would have to take countless avatars on earth and suffer pain and confinement due to his sin. Then Bhrigu resurrected Kavyamata by sprinkling holy water from his kamandalu (water-pot). Kavyamata woke as if from a deep sleep.[2] Another variant attributes the curse to the resurrected Kavyamata, instead of to Bhrigu. The rest of the story remains the same in all versions.[1]
Although woman-slaughter is considered a sin in Hinduism,[3] in the great epic Ramayana, the god Rama - an avatar of Vishnu - is convinced by his guru Vishwamitra that killing the demoness Tataka is right. To convince his pupil, the sage gives the example of Kavyamata who was plotting to "appropriate herself to the dominion of Indra" and was killed by Vishnu, implying that treacherous and troublesome women could be killed per the duties (Dharma) of the king.[3][4]