Most Hindu legends narrate about Jyestha's birth during the churning of the cosmic ocean.
She is usually described to be born when the poison Halahala streams from the ocean, while Lakshmi — her antithesis, the goddess of good fortune — is born when the elixir of life emerges.

In the Padma Purana, when the churning of the ocean commences, the poison first appears from the ocean.
It is swallowed by the god Shiva and then Jyestha appears from the ocean, wearing red garments.
When she asks the gods what she is supposed to do, she is ordered to dwell in inauspicious places.
She is described to bring sorrow and poverty.
She is said dwell in houses with quarrel, where liars use harsh language, where evil and sinful men live, where there is long hair, skulls, bones, ashes or charcoal (signs of an unorthodox mendicant).

According to the Linga Purana, the god Vishnu divides the world into the good and the bad.
He creates Lakshmi (Sri) and Jyestha, both born from the churning of the cosmic ocean.
While Lakshmi marries Vishnu, Jyestha is married to the sage Dussaha.
The sage soon discovers that his ugly wife can not bear the sound or sight of any auspicious things and complains to Vishnu or the sage Markendeya (in some versions).
Vishnu/Markendeya recommends Dussaha to take Jyestha only to inauspicious places.
Jyestha is described to stay away from religious people.
Jyestha then earns the epithet Alakshmi, "one who is inauspicious".
She dwells in places where "family members quarrel and elders eat food while disregarding the hunger of their children".
She is described to comfortable in company of false mendicants, naked Jain monks and Buddhists, who were considered as heretics by Hindus.
Eventually tired of her anti-social nature, Dussaha abandons Jyestha in a place where non-Vedic (heretical) rituals are performed.
She then approaches Vishnu for relief.
Vishnu decreed that Jyestha would be sustained by offerings of women.

According to the Kamba Ramayana, Jyestha appears during the churning of the cosmic ocean.
The Hindu trinity — the Trimurti find her and order her to live in inauspicious places.
As Jyestha emerged before Lakshmi, Jyestha is considered the elder sister of Lakshmi.
Thus, Jyestha is also called Mudevi or Mudhevi.

Shaiva Puranas extol her as one of eight portions of the Supreme Goddess (Parashakti), who regulates human lives in different ways.
Most Hindu legends narrate about Jyestha's birth during the churning of the cosmic ocean. She is usually described to be born when the poison Halahala streams from the ocean, while Lakshmi — her antithesis, the goddess of good fortune — is born when the elixir of life emerges.
In the Padma Purana, when the churning of the ocean commences, the poison first appears from the ocean. It is swallowed by the god Shiva and then Jyestha appears from the ocean, wearing red garments. When she asks the gods what she is supposed to do, she is ordered to dwell in inauspicious places. She is described to bring sorrow and poverty. She is said dwell in houses with quarrel, where liars use harsh language, where evil and sinful men live, where there is long hair, skulls, bones, ashes or charcoal (signs of an unorthodox mendicant).
According to the Linga Purana, the god Vishnu divides the world into the good and the bad. He creates Lakshmi (Sri) and Jyestha, both born from the churning of the cosmic ocean. While Lakshmi marries Vishnu, Jyestha is married to the sage Dussaha. The sage soon discovers that his ugly wife can not bear the sound or sight of any auspicious things and complains to Vishnu or the sage Markendeya (in some versions). Vishnu/Markendeya recommends Dussaha to take Jyestha only to inauspicious places. Jyestha is described to stay away from religious people. Jyestha then earns the epithet Alakshmi, "one who is inauspicious". She dwells in places where "family members quarrel and elders eat food while disregarding the hunger of their children". She is described to comfortable in company of false mendicants, naked Jain monks and Buddhists, who were considered as heretics by Hindus. Eventually tired of her anti-social nature, Dussaha abandons Jyestha in a place where non-Vedic (heretical) rituals are performed. She then approaches Vishnu for relief. Vishnu decreed that Jyestha would be sustained by offerings of women.
According to the Kamba Ramayana, Jyestha appears during the churning of the cosmic ocean. The Hindu trinity — the Trimurti find her and order her to live in inauspicious places. As Jyestha emerged before Lakshmi, Jyestha is considered the elder sister of Lakshmi. Thus, Jyestha is also called Mudevi or Mudhevi.
Shaiva Puranas extol her as one of eight portions of the Supreme Goddess (Parashakti), who regulates human lives in different ways.
Jyestha (goddess)