Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Ajamukhi 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 Ajamukhī
(ĀѱĪ).
Genealogy.
Descended from վṣṇ thus: -Ѳī-śⲹ貹-峾ܰī.
Birth
Long ago in the battle between Devas and Asuras one of the routed Asuras had fled to (Hell). ܰ was his daughter. ’s grandson, śⲹ貹 married ܰ. She gave birth to six children—Śūrapadmā, ṃh, ṃhٰ, ܰ, Ajāmukhī, and Gomukha. The Asura woman Ajāmukhī is one of them.
Chief events.
(1) Marriage with ٳܰ. Once Śūrapadmā called his two brothers, ṃhٰ and ܰ and ordered them to set up two cities, one to the north and the other to the south, of Ѳ峾. In obedience to his elder brother, ܰ started with one half of the army and set up a city to the south of Ѳ峾. That city was named Māyāpura. ṃhٰ lived in the city on the northern side of Ѳ峾. Their sister Ajāmukhī went about enticing men to satisfy her lustful passion. Once, in the course of her wanderings, she met ٳܰ in the Himālayan valley. They fell in love and even married. The two Asuras, Ilvala and 辱 were born from their union. They insisted on sharing their father’s achievements between them. ٳܰ cursed them that they would die at the hands of Agastya. (Skanda ʳܰṇa, Asura ṇḍ).
The cutting off of Ajāmukhī’s hands.
While wandering with her lustful passion, Ajāmukhī once went to the Ś temple at ś. There she happened to meet Indra’s wife, Śacīdevī. In order to give her to her brother, Śūrapadmā, Ajāmukhī caught hold of Śacīdevī. Śacīdevī screamed aloud. Suddenly Ś appeared there with His sword. Even then Ajāmukhī refused to release Śacīdevī. Ś rescued Իṇ� (Śacīdevī) by cutting off Ajāmukhī’s hands. Hearing this, Śūrapadmā sent his army and imprisoned the Devas. The imprisoend at the instance of Śūrapadmā, restored Ajamukhī’s hands. Śūrapadmā’s son, Bhānugopa fought against the remaining Devas and defeated them. (Skanda ʳܰṇa, Asura ṇḍ).