Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Ghritaci 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 ҳṛt峦ī
General.
She was an exceptionally beautiful woman, and she revelled in disturbing the peace of the sages and becoming mother of children by them. ҳṛt峦ī, who succeeded in breaking the penance of the sages like ś, ղ and 屹Ჹ occupied a very prominent position among women.
Śܰ첹, the son of ղ.
ղ longed very much to have a son. Ultimately, after receiving instruction and advice from 岹, he reached the peaks of Ѳ峾 and worshipped Ѳ𱹲 and Ѳī for one year with the one-syllabled mantra OM which is the very seed of word. By now the great tejas (effulgence) of ղ lighted up the whole world and Indra got nervous and upset. The great Lord Ś appeared on the scene and blessed ղ that he will have a son who would become a very wise man, very much interested in helping others, and very famous also. ղ returned gratified to his ś. One day, while in the process of preparing the sticks for producing fire, thoughts about a son passed through his mind. Fire is produced by the rubbing of two sticks. But, he thought, how could he who had no wife, become the father of a son? While immersed in such thoughts he saw ҳṛt峦ī standing near him, herself having come along the sky. ղ did not like the presence of ҳṛt峦ī. Fearing the curse of ղ she assumed the form of a parrot and flew away.
The beauty of ҳṛt峦ī as also the flight of the parrot kindled erotic feelings in ղ and seminal emission occurred. The semen fell on the stick used for producing fire, and without knowing the fact he went on using the sticks for producing fire. And, then did appear from it a son of divine lustre. That son became reputed in later years as sage Śܰ첹. (Devī Bhāgavata, Prathama Skandha).
Two children by 屹Ჹ.
Once sage 屹Ჹ was taking his bath in the Ҳṅg, ҳṛt峦ī also came to bathe. On the banks of the river her clothes caught something and were removed from their position. The sight of it caused seminal emission to the Sage. The semen thus emitted was kept in a ٰṇa, (bamboo cup) and when it was due the ٰṇa broke and out of it came a child. It was this child which, in later years, became so very famous as the great ٰṇācⲹ. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 149). On another occasion also, the sight of ҳṛt峦ī caused emission in 屹Ჹ, and Śrutāvatī or Śruvāvatī was the noble daughter born out of it. (Śⲹ Parva, Chapter 48, Verse 63).
Hundred daughters of ś.
ś, son of ś was a saintly king. Once ś fell in love with ҳṛt峦ī and a hundred daughters were born to him of her. Once Wind-God felt enamoured of the hundred girls, but they refused to satisfy his desire. So he cursed them to become crooked or bent down in body. Later on, Brahmadatta, son of the sage Cūli, straightened their bodies and married them. (ī쾱 峾ⲹṇa, ṇḍ, Canto 32).
Birth of Ruru.
On another occasion ҳṛt峦ī attracted and subjugated a King called Pramati. Ruru was the son born to Pramati by ҳṛt峦ī.
Other information.
(1) Once ҳṛt峦ī pleased Sage ṣṭ屹, who introduced her into Kubera’s assembly. (ԳśԲ Parva, Chapter 19, Verse 44).
(2) ҳṛt峦ī danced at the birthday celebrations of Arjuna. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 122, Verse 65).
(3) A daughter called 侱ٰṅg was born to վś첹 by ҳṛt峦ī. (See under վś첹).
(4) A daughter called Devavatī was born to ҳṛt峦ī. (See under Devavatī).