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Puranic encyclopaedia

by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222

This page describes the Story of Prabhavati 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 ʰ屹ī

Daughter of the demon ղ. She was married to Pradyumna, son of Śrī ṛṣṇa.

There was once a very valiant demon called ղ. He went into the valley of Meru and performed penance to propitiate . appeared before him and he got from him boons such as strength to conquer and subdue all kings, the secret of leaving the body and entering that of others etc. Empowered with these boons he made ղpura his capital. He got a daughter named ʰ屹ī. His brother ܲ had two daughters named Candramatī and Guṇavatī.

While he was thus living there, he set out on a campaign of victory. He conquered the whole world and then turned his eyes towards Svarga. Going to Indraloka he told thus: "Hi, son of śⲹ貹, I am also born of śⲹ貹. Your mother Aditi and my mother Diti are both wives of śⲹ貹prajāpati. You ruled over Svarga till this time. Now, let me rule over it for some time." Indra was embarrassed by this logical challenge and could not give any reply to him. śⲹ貹prajāpati was then performing a long Yāga and Indra replied he would find a solution to his demand when their father returned after the Yāga. From that moment onwards Indra started thinking of plans to destroy ղ. He went and sought help from Śrī ṛṣṇa residing in ٱ. Krsna promised to help him when the time came. After returning to Devaloka, Indra started planning to kill ղ. ղpurī was surrounded by skyscraping fortresses and admission inside was restricted. He, therefore, called the gaily loitering swans of Devaloka to his side and told them thus: "Look here, swan-ladies. You should go to ղpurī and see ʰ屹ī and then describe to her the beauty and goodness of Pradyumna. Your description should be such that ʰ屹ī should fall in love with Pradyumna. After that you should go to Pradyumna and tell him about ʰ屹ī in a similar way. On completing your mission you should come and report to me."

Obeying the orders of Indra the swans flew to ղpurī. They saw ʰ屹ī in a secluded spot and told her just what they were asked to tell her. Then they flew to the side of Pradyumna and told him about ʰ屹ī. After successfully completing their mission they flew to Devaloka. The marriage day of ʰ屹ī drew near. The swans went to ʰ屹ī again and made her request her father to include the performances of a dramatic troupe also in the programme of marriage festivities. ղ agreed and a troupe was invited. The dramatic troupe comprised among others many soldiers, Śrī ṛṣṇa, Pradyumna and his brothers, all in disguise. Their drama was 峾ⲹṇa. The performance was superb and even ղ stood amazed at their skill. The troupe was encamped in another palace and treated as royal guests. The companion maid of ʰ屹ī, Sūcīmukhī, united her with Pradyumna during the dark hours of the night and they spent the nights in amorous sports. The daughters of ղ’s brother, 䲹Իī and Guṇavatī came to know of these secret meetings and they requested ʰ屹ī to find out suitable persons among the 岹s for them also to enjoy with. ʰ屹ī introduced them to Gada and both sons of ṛṣṇa. The amorous sports of all of them continued freely during the nights.

When things progressed so far, Indra and ṛṣṇa persuaded Pradyumna to kill ղ. Pradyumna started a war with ղ and in the great battle that ensued Pradyumna killed ղ. Pradyumna and his brothers then took the demon girls to ٱ. Pradyumna, Gada and 峾 married ʰ屹ī, 䲹Իī and Guṇavatī respectively. By this time śⲹ貹prajāpati returned to Devaloka after his long yāga. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Chapters 91 to 95).

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