In ancient times, there was a sage named Mandavya, who used to do penance sitting under a tree at the entrance of his ashram. He was observing a fast of silence and used to do penance with one hand raised. He was not even aware of his body.
Once some thieves robbed the king's palace. The soldiers came to know about him and they started chasing the thieves on the run. The thieves hid in the sage Mandavya's ashram in the forest, because the sage Mandavya was doing penance, so he did not even know that someone was hiding in his ashram. When the soldiers chasing the thieves came to the ashram and asked the sage whether any thieves had come here, he did not give any answer to him. He was always meditative. As a result, when the soldiers themselves searched the ashram, the thieves were caught there along with the stolen money. The soldiers thought that in the guise of a sage, Mandavya was the chief of the thieves. To mislead the people, he is disguised as a sage. Therefore, along with the thieves, the soldiers presented Mandavya as their chieftain before the king. The king punished them by crucifixion. The thieves and sage Mandavya were crucified at the appointed time, but the people present there see that the sage Mandavya is also meditating on the cross.
The thieves died by crucifixion, but nothing happened to Rishi Mandavya. Seeing this, the officers, soldiers and general public present there were surprised. When this news reached the king, he himself came running and after getting the sage Mandavya removed from the cross, he repeatedly apologized to him. Since the sage Mandavya was a silent vrat, he forgave the king with a mere hint. The tip of the crucifix was stuck in the body of the Maharishi, but it could not be removed, as a result, the crucifix located outside the body was cut from that place. One tip remained in his body forever, causing him great pain. His name 'Animandavya' became famous due to the tip of the cross 'Ani' being in the body.
He did severe penance even though there was no food in his body. Under the influence of penance, he went to Brahmaloka, then one day there he went to Yamraj's place and he asked him 'Dharmaraj! The physical pain I suffered is the result of what sin of mine, because there is no such suffering without a severe sin. I want to hear that great sin of mine?'
Dharmaraja said 'Shivar! You committed a sin in your childhood. You pierced an insect with the tip of a needle without talking.
The sage asked, 'When did I commit this sin?'
Yamraj said 'Then you were very young.'
Then the sage said, 'When I did not have the knowledge of sin and virtue, in that state you gave such severe punishment for the sin committed, then I also curse you that you will take birth in Shudra vagina on earth.' Due to the curse, Dharmaraja was born as Vidu