Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Vikukshi 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 վܰṣi
A son of ṣv. It is said that ṣv was born from the spittle of Manu. It is stated in ٱī 岵ٲ, Skandha 7, that after the death of Śپ, the ṣa (giants) attacked ǻ and the sons of the King having fled to different directions, ṣv continued the dynasty of Śپ in ǻ. Hundred sons beginning with վܰṣi, were born to ṣv. Of these hundred sons fifty were employed to rule over the regions of East and North and fortyeight, to rule over the regions in the south and the west. With the remaining two sons the King stayed in ǻ, and carried on administration.
One day King ṣv resolved to conduct the great sacrifice of offering to the manes called Mahāpralayaśrāddha, for which preparations were speedily made. The hermits such as ղṣṭ and others arrived according to invitation. He sent his son վܰṣi to the forest to bring the required amount of flesh for the sacrifice. վܰṣi entered the forest and hunted hare, hog, deer etc. and collected the required quantity of flesh; but on the way home, he became tired of hunger. To appease his hunger he took a small hare from the collection cooked it and ate it. He took the balance to the King who was much pleased with his son and gave the animals to ղṣṭ the family priest for prokṣaṇa (sprinkling of holy water on the animals before sacrifice). But ղṣṭ got angry and said, "flesh which constitutes remains is not acceptable." The king understood the truth only then. He was filled with anger and distress. He expelled վܰṣi from his country for this misdeed. Thus because he had eaten a Śś (hare) վܰṣi got another name Śś岹. Śś岹 not at all caring about the misfortune that befell him, went to the forest and lived on fruits and roots and worshipped ٱī, with ardent devotion.
ṣv died. Śś岹 knew this and returned to ǻ and assumed reign. He performed several sacrifices on the banks of river ū. The famous Kakutstha was the son of this վܰṣi. (ٱī 岵ٲ, Skandha 7).