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Puranic encyclopaedia

by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222

This page describes the Story of Marica included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).

Story of ī

The uncle of 屹ṇa.

Birth.

On the banks of the river ū, there were two states lying adjacent called Malada and ūṣa. The great sages conducted (showering of water) on the head of Indra to absolve him of his sin of killing ṛtܰ at this place. At that time Mala (excreta) and ūṣa (spittings) of Indra fell at those places and so they got the name of Malada and ūṣa. At that place was born after a few years a demoness named ṭa who had the strength of a thousand elephants. A demon called Sunda married ṭa and she got two sons named ī and ܲ. (Sarga 24, ṇḍ, ī쾱 峾ⲹṇa and ṇḍ, Kamba 峾ⲹṇa).

ī in his previous birth.

ī was the servant of the gate-keepers of ղṇṭ. One day Ѳ屹ṣṇ was displeased by a conduct of his and he cursed him to be born as a demon on earth. But he added that īwould get salvation from the curse when he was killed by Śrī 峾 in which capacity վṣṇ would incarnate soon. He would then return to ղṇṭ to his original place. That was how ī was born as the uncle of 屹ṇa.

Āśrama life.

ī and ܲ were two inseparable brothers. They learned all tactics of war and their hobby was to torment the innocent sages of the forests (Sarga 19, kāṇḍa, ī쾱 峾ⲹṇa). When the exploits of ī became unbearable, վś峾ٰ brought and ṣmṇa from ǻ for help. The instant ī heard the fierce twang of 峾’s bow he fled to the other shore of the sea. From that day onwards ī grew matted hair and wore barks of trees and spent his life in an ś. (Sargas 35 and 36, ṇykāṇḍa, ī쾱 峾ⲹṇa).

Death.

When 峾 and ṣmṇa were living in the ٲṇḍṇy with ī they were annoyed by a demoness named Śū貹ṇa. In the fight that ensued very many demons were killed. Śū貹ṇa complained to 屹ṇa who decided to kill 峾 and carry away ī. For this he sought the help of his uncle ī. Flying in his golden վԲ and crossing mountains and oceans he approached ī and told him of his plan. ī who was aware of the force of 峾bāṇa dissuaded 屹ṇa from such a venture. But 屹ṇa persisted in his plan and gave ī the following instructions: "Become a golden deer with beautiful white spots all over the body and roam about near the ś of 峾 for his wife ī to see. I am sure ī will request her husband 峾 to catch hold of you. 峾 and ṣmṇa will follow you and ī will be left alone. I will then carry away ī as takes 䲹Ի (moonlight) and live happily with her. I will be contented if I can then tease 峾 who will be lamenting over his separation from his wife". Thinking that it would be better to die at the hands of 峾 than at the hands of 屹ṇa, ī agreed to do as his nephew desired.

屹ṇa and ī came near the ś of 峾 in 屹ṇa’s aerial chariot. ī on alighting from it took the form of a beautiful fawn and entered the precincts of the ś. The false fawn was capable of attracting the attention of anybody. It is described thus: "It appeared as a wonder to those who saw it. It was golden in colour with blue horns with white lines on it. The ears were like leaves of blue lotus and the face was of the colour of red lotus. The lips were like sapphire and the body beautifully shaped with sides like yellow flowers. The waist was thin and well-shaped and a rain-bow-coloured tail adorned its back. The whole body was silver-spotted and the deer was a feast for the eyes of anybody."

The deer went and grazed in places where it could be seen by ī. It would run away from the ś and graze hidden from ī but would come back again to the vision of ī. It would mix with the deer of the ś for some time and run away from them to distant places. Like a butterfly it flitted about always trying to attract the attention of ī. Other deer approached it but on getting its scent flew away from it. The false deer suppressing the demon-instinct in him to kill and eat the animals which came near it played well the role of a fawn.

ī was enamoured of the deer and expressed to 峾 her desire to get it. 峾 followed it and finding it keeping a distance always got suspicious and shot it down with an arrow. The deer cried "Hā ṣmṇa" and fell down dead. The cry was intended to mislead ṣmṇa and draw him also away from ī. (Chapters 43-44, ṇy ṇḍ, ī쾱 峾ⲹṇa).

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