Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Tapati 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 ղ貹ī
A daughter of ūⲹ.
Genealogy.
Descending in order from վṣṇ are �Ѳī�śⲹ貹—ūⲹ�ղ貹ī.
Birth.
ūⲹ married ṃjñ daughter of վś첹. He begot of ṃjñ two children named Իī and Yama. At that time ūⲹ (Sun) was not of the form as seen now. ṃjñ, unable to bear the splendour of ūⲹ who was of the shape of an egg entrusted her maid with the work of serving her husband and left for a temple in the guise of a mare to do penance. disguised as ṃjñ served ūⲹ for a very long period. ūⲹ begot of her two children, ŚԲś and ղ貹ī. Besides these, ūⲹ had another daughter named 屹ٰī also. (Chapter 47, Bhaviṣya ʳܰṇa).
Marriage.
There was a mighty king in the Lunar race called Ṛkṣa in the beginning of ṛtܲ. He had a son named ṃvṇa. He was made king of his country by his father even while he was a boy. He was a pious and righteous man. ղṣṭ was his Guru and he taught ṃvṇa the Vedas along with the ṅg.
Once ṃvṇa entrusting the administration of the state to ղṣṭ went to do penance in the forests. On his way he followed a deer for a long distance on horseback and reached a deep forest named ղᲹ alone. There he saw a lotus pond full of blossomed lotuses and Kalhāra flowers. Celestial maidens were playing there without interruption. Among them he saw a very beautiful maiden. She was ղ貹ī daughter of ūⲹ. Even at first sight they became lovers. The king looking at her lost his balance and fell from the horse. At once great and charming Gandharvas approached the king and sprinkling water on his face brought him back from swoon. ղ貹ī was also upset and the other nymphs took her to her father’s house and consoled her.
ṃvṇa returned on horse-back to his residence the city of ʰپṣṭ. But the king neither slept nor ate any food. The sage ղṣṭ knew that all the ailments of the king were due to his love for ղ貹ī, daughter of ūⲹ. So he flew up by his yogic powers and met ūⲹ sitting in his chariot in all splendour. The sage described to ūⲹ the love affair between ṃvṇa and ղ貹ī and pleaded on behalf of the king for giving ղ貹ī to ṃvṇa. ūⲹ was pleased to hear that and sent ղ貹ī along with ղṣṭ to ṃvṇa. Before long the marriage of ղ貹ī with ṃvṇa was celebrated solemnly at ʰپṣṭnagara. The celebrated emperor Kuru was the son born to ղ貹ī of ṃvṇa. (Chapter 21, Vāyu ʳܰṇa).
How she got that name.
Because she was the daughter of ūⲹ who makes the sky hot (tapa) by his brilliance, she was called ղ貹ī. (Śǰ첹 6, Chapter 171, Ādi Parva).
ղ貹ī becomes river .
Śūrya, father of ղ貹ī, blessed her and said she would thereafter flow west from the Vindhya as a river named . The present holy river is but ղ貹īdevī transformed. (Chapter 47, Bhaviṣya ʳܰṇa).