Shukracharya was the son of 'Vidhata', who was the son of Maharshi Bhrigu. Shukracharya was the Guru (teacher) of the demons. He was proficient in the science of Yoga. Though being a Guru of the Asuras, yet he was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He used to give religious discourses to the 'Asuras' to change their evil nature. Due to his influence, Prahlad, Virochana and Bali, the great devotees of Lord Vishnu were born in the descent of the demons.

Shukracharya knew the art of making dead people alive. Shukracharya brought the demons who got killed by the deities during the battles back to life.

Brihaspati, the Guru of the deities did not have the knowledge of this secret art, so he sent his son 'Kacha' to Shukracharya to learn it. Shukracharya taught him the art of 'Mrita Sanjeevani' with great love.

When, the demons came to know about it, they killed Kacha but Shukracharya saved him. Again the demons killed him but again Shukracharya brought him back to life. One day, the demons killed Kacha and burnt his body to ashes and then mixing those ashes in the Sura (wine) made Shukracharya drink it.

Shukracharya came to know about it by his yogic powers. He said to Kacha: " I will teach you the art of 'Mrita Sanjeevani' even while you are in my stomach by tearing it apart and with the help of that art bring me back to life." Kacha did the same successfully.

Realizing his mistake of consuming Sura and its after effect, he prohibited the Brahmins from consuming it and warned them that it would destroy their religiousness and that they would acquire the sins similar to that of killing a Brahmana and would be condemned both in this world and the other world.

Shukracharya had warned King Bali against donating the land to Lord Vishnu who was disguised as a dwarf but King Bali did not agree.

Shukracharya had a daughter named Devyani, who was married to King Yayati. Shukracharya was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He had recognized Shri Vishnu disguised as a dwarf during the time when King Bali was performing 'Yagya' and he said the following lines in his praise: " O supreme Lord! All the mistakes committed during the religious rites like the chanting of mantras and the performance of the tantras get rectified by the chanting of your holy name."