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Puranic encyclopaedia

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

This page describes the Story of Pururavas 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 ʳܰū

A prominent king of 䲹Իṃśa (lunar race).

Origin of 䲹Իṃśa and birth of ʳܰū.

Descending in order from came AtriCandraBudha ʳܰū. The dynasty which came from Candra was called the 䲹Իṃśa. Though Budha was the first king of 䲹Իṃśa it was ʳܰū who became celebrated. The story of the birth of ʳܰū is given below:

in the beginning deputed the sage Atri for the work of creation. Atrimaharṣi started the penance called anuttara to acquire sufficient power for creation. After some years Saccidānanda brahma with an aura of lustre reflected in the heart of that pure and serene soul. In sheer ecstasy tears rolled down his cheeks and the glittering flow of water was lustfully drunk by the zones taking the form of women with a view to producing progenies. They became pregnant but were unable to bear the embryo of Atri and so they threw them away. took them all and made them into one armoured youth and took him in his chariot to his land. Then the 󳾲ṣi requested to make him their lord. When the rṣis, devas, gandharvas and nymphs praised him reciting sāmaveda the majestic lustre of the youth increased. It was from this that ṣa󲹲 (medicines) originated and that is why Candra is considered to be the lord of medicines, dvija and Vedasvarūpa. The 䲹Իṇḍ is full of chemicals. It increases and decreases according to the white half and black half of the moon-based month.

ٲṣa gave in marriage to Candra twentyseven beautiful maidens. Then Candra did penance meditating on վṣṇ for ten thousand Kalpas. վṣṇ pleased by his penance asked him to name a boon and Candra said "When I perform a yāga in svarga all the devas like should come in person to my yāgaśālā and take the yāgabhāga. Śūṇi should remain as a watchman at my Ჹūⲹ." Accordingly with the blessing of վṣṇ, Candra conducted the yāga in which Atri, ṛg, , վṣṇ, Devas, Vasus, Maruts and վś𱹲 took part. Candra gave as yāga-fees to Ṛt all the three worlds. The yāga was complete and when Candra rose up after a bath nine ī fell in love with the amorous beauty of Candra. ṣmī, wife of վṣṇ, īī, wife of Kardama, Dyuti, wife of վ屹, ʳṣṭ, wife of ٳ, ʰ, wife of ūⲹ, ܳū, wife of Ჹṣm, īپ, wife of Jayanta, ṃśuī wife of śⲹ貹 and ٳṛt wife of Nanda, abandoned their husbands and went with Candra. Candra treated them all as his own wives and gave them erotic pleasure to their hearts' content. Those who saw this non-virtuous act stood dumbfounded unable to curse Candra.

Attracted by the dazzling brilliance of Candra , wife of ṛh貹پ, went with him. Enraged at this, ṛh貹پ joining with other devas prepared for a fight against Candra. Devas took sides and by the mediation of Indra a conference of both the parties was held and was sent back to ṛh貹پ. was pregnant then and confessed that the child in her womb was that of Candra. So when that child was born Candra took it away and named it Budha. and other ṛṣis gave Budha a seat among the planets.

Budha married Ilā and they got a son named ʳܰū. (See under Ilā). After that Budha performed a hundred Aśvamedhayāgas. He then enjoyed world prosperity as lord of ٲ屹ī貹 living in the beautiful Himādriśṛṅga. worshipping . (Chapter 12, 3, Padma ʳܰṇa).

Testing ʳܰū and the curse.

ʳܰū by his brilliance performed a hundred Aśvamedhayāgas and lived in glory at Himādriśṛṅga. Great demons like śī became his servants. śī attracted by his beauty became his wife. While he was living like that Dharma, Artha and went in disguise to his palace to test him. Hereceived them all well but paid more attention to Dharma. Artha and 峾 got angry and cursed him. Artha cursed him saying that he would be ruined by his greed and 峾 cursed him saying he would go mad by being separated from śī. Hearing that Dharma blessed him thus: "You will live long leading a virtuous life. Your race will increase and remain in glory till the end of the moon and the stars. The insanity caused by your passion for śī would end by the end of sixty years. That celestial maiden would remain then with you for one Manvantara." (Chapter 12, 岵 3, Padma ʳܰṇa).

ʳܰū used to visit Indra daily. One day while he was going through air wellarmed with a bow and arrows he saw a demon named śī carrying away by force śī and 侱ٰ and after defeating śī in a fight recovered the nymphs and gave them back to Indra. Indra praised ʳܰū and in his honour a drama, ṣmīsvayaṃvara, was enacted by śī, ѱԲ and others. śī taking the part of ṣmī started to dance but seeing ʳܰū before her she became lustful and made wrong steps. who was present at the function got angry and cursed her "You will forget all you have learnt. Not only that, you will live as a creeper separated from ʳܰū for a period of sixty years." (For details see under śī). Padma ʳܰṇa says that it was Bharata who cursed śī. This story is slightly different from that found in the other ʳܰṇas.

Sons of ʳܰū.

śī got eight sons of ʳܰū named Āܲ, ṛḍܲ, Vaśyāyus, ٲܲ, Vṛttimān, Vasu, Divijāta and ܲ. Of these Āܲ became the propagator of the dynasty. Of the sons born to Āܲ five sons, ṣa, ṛdś, Raji, Dambha and վ賾 became celebrities. A hundred sons were born to Raji. They were called . (Chapter 12, 岵 3, Padma ʳܰṇa).

Some ʳܰṇas state that ʳܰū had six sons while some state that he had seven sons.

Other details.

The following references are made about him in the Ѳٲ.

(i) Once ʳܰū stole the wealth of some brahmins. The brahmins took Բٰܳ along with them and made representations to the king. ʳܰū did not give back their wealth. The brahmins cursed him and as a result the prosperity of the King waned. Then ʳܰū brought down from svarga three Agnis and performed a yāga and thus regained his lost splendour and prosperity. (Chapter 75, Ādi Parva).

(ii) ʳܰū got six sons of śī named Āܲ, ٳī, , ṛḍܲ, ղܲ and Śܲ.

(iii) Once he asked the wind-god about the origin of the four castes and the superiority of the brahmins over other castes. (Śǰ첹 3, Chapter 72, ŚԳپ Parva).

(iv) At another time he discussed about yajñapurohitas with śⲹ貹. (Chapter 73, ŚԳپ Parva).

(v) ṣv gave ʳܰū a sword which in his old age he gave to his son Āܲ. (Chapter 166, ŚԳپ Parva).

(vi) He once declared that one can attain svarga by the blessings of brahmins. (Śǰ첹 31, Chapter 6, ԳśԲ Parva).

(vii) ʳܰū was famous as a donor of cows. (Śǰ첹 26, Chapter 76, ԳśԲ Parva).

(vii) ʳܰū never ate meat. (Śǰ첹 65, Chapter 111, ԳśԲ Parva).

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