Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Naravahanadatta 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 ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹datta
A famous ³Õ¾±»å²âÄå»å³ó²¹°ù²¹. Udayana the King of Vatsa had been spending his time in play and pleasure with his wives ±Ê²¹»å³¾Äå±¹²¹³ÙÄ« and ³ÕÄå²õ²¹±¹²¹»å²¹³Ù³ÙÄå, when once ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹ appeared before them. The king greeted the hermit and showed hospitality. The King and the queens were childless. ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹ told them: "Hear, oh King. Your wife ³ÕÄå²õ²¹±¹²¹»å²¹³Ù³ÙÄå is the incarnation of RatidevÄ« blessed by Åš¾±±¹²¹. The son born to her would become the emperor of the ³Õ¾±»å²âÄå»å³ó²¹°ù²¹s. Not long after this ³ÕÄå²õ²¹±¹²¹»å²¹³Ù³ÙÄå conceived and gave birth to a radiant son. He was named ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹-datta. At this time °²¹±ô¾±á¹…g²¹²õ±ð²ÔÄå, who had been transformed into a woman by the curse of Indra, gave birth to an extra-ordinarily beautiful girl. (For detailed story see under °²¹±ô¾±á¹…g²¹²õ±ð²ÔÄå). That child was named ²Ñ²¹»å²¹²Ô²¹³¾²¹Ã±³¦³Ü°ìÄå. Even in infancy she was surrounded by a halo of unearthly beauty. Hearing of this child, ³ÕÄå²õ²¹±¹²¹»å²¹³Ù³ÙÄå brought °²¹±ô¾±á¹…g²¹²õ±ð²ÔÄå and tbe infant to the palace. To the wonder of everybody, the infants looked at each other and they were not satisfied how soever long they looked at each other. The king and his wives understood this perfectly well and at the proper time their marriage was conducted.
±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹datta was anointed as the Heir-apparent. Once he was playing in the garden in the spring season, with his ministers Gomukha and others, when the most beautiful ¸é²¹³Ù²Ô²¹±è°ù²¹²ú³óÄå came there. (See under ¸é²¹³Ù²Ô²¹±è°ù²¹²ú³óÄå).
Once ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹datta went for hunting with his minister Gomukha and retinue. Somehow or other he was separated from Gomukha and army in the deep forest. Then he heard a divine song and sound of a heavenly lyre. He went in the direction from which the music came. and reached a Åšaivite temple. Getting in, he saw an excessively beautiful damsel standing in the midst of her attendants and companions singing and playing on a lute, in praise of Åš¾±±¹²¹. At this time a grown-up ³Õ¾±»å²âÄå»å³ó²¹°ù²¹ woman came down from the sky and getting near the damsel, gave her to ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹datta. The name of the ³Õ¾±»å²âÄå»å³ó²¹°ù²¹ damsel was ´¡±ô²¹á¹…kÄå°ù²¹±¹²¹³ÙÄ«. (For other details see under ´¡±ô²¹á¹…kÄå°ù²¹±¹²¹³ÙÄ«).
As ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹datta was spending his days, enjoying the pleasing company of his wife ´¡±ô²¹á¹…kÄå°ù²¹±¹²¹³ÙÄ«, once he went for hunting, with his army. Being very tired they went in search of water, and entered a thick forest. There they saw a lake full of golden lotus flowers and four men plucking flowers. ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹datta approached them. They said that they had been plucking flowers to worship ³Õ¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü. ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹ followed them to the presence of ³Õ¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü. ²Ñ²¹³óÄå±¹¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü was greatly pleased at ±·²¹°ù²¹±¹Äå³ó²¹²Ô²¹datta who was standing with folded hands singing praises of ³Õ¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü in intense devotion and blessed him to become the emperor of the ³Õ¾±»å²âÄå»å³ó²¹°ù²¹s. (°²¹³Ù³óÄå²õ²¹°ù¾±³Ù²õÄå²µ²¹°ù²¹).