Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Lankalakshmi 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 ṅklakṣmī
A ٱī who was relieved of her curse by a hard stroke of his hand by Ჹū.
How she came to ṅk.
ṅklakṣmī was վᲹⲹṣmī in her previous birth. She was the watch-girl of the treasury of and one day finding her negligent of her duties cursed her "Go to the earth and be the watch-girl of the palace-gate tower of 屹ṇa". She begged for relief and said, "During the incarnation of վṣṇ as 峾 his wife ī will be carried away by 屹ṇa and Ჹū will come in search of her to ṅk. You will then block the way of that mightly monkey and he will then strike you down by a fierce blow of his hand. You will be then released from the curse and come back to me." վᲹⲹṣmī accordingly was born in ṅk and became the watch-girl of 屹ṇa’s palace.
Release from the curse.
Ჹū coming to ṅk in search of ī tried to find an opening through which to enter ṅk. Then he saw a huge tower-gate on the northern side of the mountain Suvelagiri. When he reached the gate he found it closed. The mighty monkey beat hard on the door and the strong door burst into two and fell on to the floor. Instantly a ferocious woman of enormous size rushed to the gate with a piercing roar and blocked it. Ჹū found the situation dangerous and so gave her a powerful blow and felled her. She then very politely asked Ჹū who he was and Ჹū revealed his identity and told her the purpose of his visit. Lankālakṣmī then took leave of Ჹū and leaving ṅk went to Śrī 峾 and worshipped him. 峾 blessed her and she returned to Satyaloka and started doing her duties as before. (Sundara ṇḍ, Kamba 峾ⲹṇa).