Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Ruru 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, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of Ruru
A hermit famous in the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉.
1) Genealogy. Descended from 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 in the following order: 叠谤补丑尘腻-叠丑峁沢耻-Cyavana-Pramati-Ruru.
Birth.
The beautiful 笔耻濒辞尘腻 was the wife of 叠丑峁沢耻. 叠丑峁沢耻 got the son Cyavana by 笔耻濒辞尘腻. Cyavana married 厂耻办补苍测腻 the daughter of 艢补谤测腻迟颈. A son named Pramati was born to them. The hermit Pramati married the beautiful damsel Prat膩p墨. Ruru is their son. He grew up to be a famous hermit. (顿别惫墨 叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补, Skandha 2).
Marriage.
Ruru happened to see the exceedingly beautiful 笔谤补尘补诲惫补谤腻 the daughter of 痴颈艣惫腻惫补蝉耻 by 惭别苍补办腻. The moment he saw her he fell in love with her. The father of 笔谤补尘补诲惫补谤腻 came to know of this and he decided to give her in marriage to Ruru. Preparations for the marriage were being made. One day during that time 笔谤补尘补诲惫补谤腻 who had been running here and there joyfully, was bitten by a snake and she fell down dead. Ruru instantly reached the spot.
Ruru who was greatly sad and disappointed, got down to the Ganges and bathed. Then rinsing his mouth he took some water in his hand and said "By the favour of God I have acquired by my devotion and worship of gods, devotion and service to my teacher, by my scripture-study, my worship with 骋腻测补迟谤墨, my prayer, and meditation, my penance, my offerings to the holy fire, and my oblations, let her come to life. If she does not come to life, I will die in this Ganges water." Making this prayer, making the gods witnesses he poured the water down.
Immediately a messenger from heaven appeared in the sky and said that she would come to life again provided Ruru was prepared to give half of his life to her. Ruru agreed to it. Thus 笔谤补尘补诲惫补谤腻 came to life again and Ruru married her. (顿别惫墨 叠丑腻驳补惫补迟补, Skandha 2).
Hatred towards Serpents.
A relentless hatred grew up in the heart of Ruru against serpents, because a serpent had killed his wife. He wandered about destroying every serpent he come across. Finally when he confronted 岣寀峁囜笉耻产丑补 he was given exhortations and good advices regarding righteousness by 岣寀峁囜笉ubhla. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 膧诲颈 Parva Chapter 9, Stanza 19). Moreover it is mentioned in 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, 膧诲颈 Parva, Chapter 12, that Ruru had taken a lively interest in the sacrifice of Janamejaya meant for the extermination of serpents.