Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Harishcandra 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 Hari艣candra
A King of the solar dynasty very much reputed for his unique truthfulness and integrity. He was the son of the famous 罢谤颈艣补峁卥耻.
Genealogy.
See under 罢谤颈艣补峁卥耻.
A brief life-sketch.
To keep his plighted word and for the sake of truth he gifted away the whole of his kingdom to 痴颈艣惫腻尘颈迟谤补. When that was not sufficient he cleared his debts to 痴颈艣惫腻尘颈迟谤补 with the money got by selling his wife, Candramat墨, his son, Lohit膩艣va and finally himself. And, he earned his livelihood with the wages he got for cremating corpses, himself doing duties as guard at a burning ghat and as the slave to a 颁腻峁囜笉腻濒补. Ultimately the 罢谤颈尘奴谤迟颈蝉 (叠谤补丑尘腻, 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and 艢颈惫补) appeared and heaped on him all the boons he desired and rewarded him with high honours. (See for details para 4 under 痴颈艣惫腻尘颈迟谤补).