Vanam Vasudasa Valmiki Ramayana-15
Indra destroys fetus of Diti
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
“Indra laughed in him and with an intention to destroy
her fetus entered her body through her vagina and cut the fetus in to seven
segments. When Indra was doing this the fetus wept loudly. Then Diti awakened
and requested him not to harm the fetus. Having got frightened of her
awakening, Indra came out of her womb and fell on her feet. He accepted that he
did a mistake and sought her to pardon him. His intention was to save himself
from her son which was not a sin”.
Birth of seven wind gods, the Saptha Marutganas
The legend of
seven wind gods or the Saptha-Maruts and also the legend of Kings of Vishal is
narrated to Rama by sage Vishvamitra. “Diti was highly anguish but did not
abuse Indra who was responsible for cutting her fetus in to seven segments. She
blamed herself for revealing the reason behind her penance to Indra. She
however requested Indra to bestow the seven segments as rulers of seven
ethereal places under his rulership. Diti also pleaded for citizen friendly
administration in their respective places. She also requested Indra to let
those seven become the presiding deities of cosmic airy divisions and move in
heaven with heavenly forms under the names Maruts. She suggested that one of
them may be allowed to move in Brahma abode, one in Indra abode, one in sky and
the rest on all the four sides as decided by Indra. Indra conceded all her
pleas. Later both of them proceeded to heaven”.
(the seven Maruts
were known as Avaha, Pravaha, Samvaha, Udvaha, Vivaha, Parivaha and Varahava.
The places where they lived were known as “Maruta Skandas).
“This province is
the same province where Indra rendered services to Diti during her penance.
Here only Ikshvaku King through Queen Alambusa gave birth to a highly righteous
son namely Vishala. It was he who constructed the city Vishal in this place.
Vishala’s son was Hema Chandra, his son was Suchandra, his son was Dhoomrashva,
his son Srunjay, his son Sahadev, his son was Kushasva, his son was Soma Datta
and his son was Kaakutsa. Presently Kakutsa’s son Sumathi is the ruler of
Vishal. Successive kings of Ikshvaku have been righteous, kind hearted and
generous”.
Thus, Vishvamitra
completed the narration of Vishal City story.
Conversation between Sumathi and Vishvamitra
On knowing the
arrival of Rama, Lakshmana and Vishvamitra Sumathi came
to the place of Vishvamitra. He enquired about the wellbeing of them. Sumathi
said that he was fortunate and much obliged to see them all there. King Sumathi
raised the topic of Rama and Lakshmana after exchanging greetings. He expressed
the desire to know more about them. Vishvamitra informed him about the visit of
Rama and Lakshmana to the hermitage of success, also about the elimination of
demons, as it happened.
On getting high honors from King Sumathi, they all
slept that night there and continued their journey next day morning. From a
distance away from there they saw the splendid Mithila and nearby in its
precincts another beautiful place.
Legend of Gautama Hermitage
On seeing the
hermitage within the precincts of Mithila, which looked like an unoccupied and
discarded one, Rama enquired about Vishvamitra about it. In reply to Rama, sage
Vishvamitra said, “Long ago here lived the great souled sage Gautama. Sage
Gautama along with his wife Ahalya stayed here and penanced for many years. On
one day, knowing that Gautama went for a bath and was away from the hermitage,
Indra wearing the attire of Gautama came to Ahalya. Praising her beauty, Indra
expressed his desire to copulate with Ahalya. Knowing very well that the person
was Indra in the disguise of her husband, Ahalya with bad intention had shown
inclination to have copulation with him even though it was a sin. After
completing the act, she cautioned Indra to save himself and also to save her
from the curse of her husband and also to leave the place quickly. Thus, after
copulating with Ahalya, Indra came out of the hermitage and got ready to leave
but in the meantime sage Gautama entered the place. Immediately and on seeing
sage Gautama, Indra got into his original form and stood spellbound there being
scared of Gautama. He then started fuming at Indra”.
Gautama cursing Indra and Ahalya
“For taking his
form and in his attires and for indulging in an unacceptable, ill-behaved and
immoral deed, sage Gautama cursed Indra that he shall become fruitless in so
far as his progeny is concerned. Immediately, that very moment, the testicles
of Indra fell down on the ground. Then Gautama went inside the hermitage and
cursed his wife Ahalya also. Gautama cursed her that she shall remain there at
the same hermitage for many thousands of years, devoid of food and consuming
air alone and shall be resting and stirring indiscriminately on ashes unseen by
anyone. Relief from his curse was also advocated by Gautama. He said when Rama
(that is you) arrives there she shall be purified and by welcoming him with all
honors she shall be divested with her greed and enthusiasm. He also said that
afterwards she shall assume her own body form and will meet him. Later Gautama
shed this hermitage and left for peaks of Himalayas”.
Liberation of Ahalya from the curse of Gautama
“The testicleless
and impotent Indra told the fire-god and other Devatas the reason for his
present condition. Indra told them that, he provoked the annoyance of sage
Gautama when he wanted to test his attention on his penance and his
determination to win over anger. Indra interpreted his deed as a divine one
done by him. Due to Gautama’s anger, said Indra, that he was rendered testicleless
and his wife Ahalya was also rejected by him and thus his penance was preempted
by him. He pleaded them to show a way out for his problem”.
“Then all the
Gods including the Fire-God, Sages, Maruts etc. appealed the godly manes that
the testicles of Ram to be given to Indra. Accordingly, they transplanted the
testicles of Ram to Indra. From then onwards, the manes-gods have been enjoying
even the goats that will have no testicles”.
On narrating all
this story sage Vishvamitra suggested Rama to enter the hermitage of Gautama
and liberate Ahalya from the curse of Gautama. Instantly Rama and Lakshmana
entered the hermitage of Gautama and saw the courteously fortunate Ahalya in
her original pleased grandeur form. Both Rama and Lakshmana saluted her. Ahalya
on her part, remembering her husband’s words, extended hospitality like
offering water for their feet and hand washing. Then sage Gautama on knowing
all this through his yogic insight arrived there and welcomed Ahalya into his
fold. Thus, they both were reunited. Then they all moved towards Mithila.
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