The
Puranana-s have many stories of devoted wives ready to give up their life for
their beloved. But the converse, of men prepared to sacrifice everything for
the sake of a beloved, are few.
The
great Sage Bhrgu, son of Brahma himself, had a son thro wife Puloma – he was
the famous Chyavana, who married Sukanya, and was rejuvenated by the Asvini
twins with the administration of the famous Chyavanaprasa. Their son Pramati
married Pratapi, and begat Ruru, a saint.
Meanwhile,
heavenly courtesan Menaka while disporting in the Ganga, was enjoyed by Visva
Vasu, a minor god, and delivered a beautiful girl baby. She abandoned it in the
hermitage of righteous sage Sthulakesa, who adopted her, named her Pramadvara,
and brought her up. It so happened that Ruru happened to see her and they at
once fell desperately in love. The parents happily agreed; arrangements for the
marriage were immediately started. But alas, Pramadvara, playing in her
father’s hermitage, stepped on a snake, was bitten, and died at once.
Ruru
was disconsolate; and decided to kill himself, but that immersed him in a
dilemma of righteousness – there is no greater sin in Hindu varnasramadharma than suicide. He bathed
and purified himself; took a handful of water, and addressed the gods: “If I
have worshipped you gods duly according to prescribed rights, if I have worshipped
my gurus in proper form; if I have conducted the fire sacrifices with devotion,
and performed penance as prescribed in the Veda, and have recited the Gayatri
to worship the Sun, then let my beloved come back to life! If that does not
happen, I will kill myself at once!”
This
shook even for the gods! They sent a messenger asking him to desist. He was
only a fool trying to turn fate aside. But Ruru was firm; and said: “if it is
fated that she will not live again, then be it fated that I too die!” The
messenger bargained: “worthy Brahmin, there is a way. Give up half your
ordained life span; and make your beloved live again!” Ruru happily made a
solemn oath, declaring that he gave up half his life span so that she might
live again, and be his wife.
Though
this unexpected sacrifice of half his life complicated matters, Visva Vasu, the
father of the girl, hastened up, and petitioned Yama: “consider the youth of
this pair, and their love for each other; consider the sanctity of the boy, and
parentage of the girl; and grant Ruru’s prayer!” Yama was pleased to agree.
They married, and lived happily for as long as half Ruru’s allotted life-span.
(Sequel: this episode was narrated by
Parikshit when cursed to die of snake bite, to justify the measures he (vainly)
took to avoid his fate. But fate and the snake Taksaka countered each of his
moves and killed him).
[Source:
Chapter 9, Book I, Srimad Devi Bhagavatam.]
NARADA
BECOMES A WOMAN
Perhaps
no other character in Hindu Mythology features in as many stories as does
Narada! Here is one of how he lived for a life-time as a woman, begat
children, and failed to commit sati.
Narada
once visited Vaikuntha where Visnu was as usual enjoying the company of Laksmi.
On seeing Narada, Laksmi got up and left. Narada protested: I am not a
libertine; I am a life-long celibate; why should your wife leave in a hurry when
I come in? Am I not beyond the enticement of Maya?
Visnu
smiled and advised him never to pretend to be beyond Maya. Narada asked: What
is Maya like? Show Her to me! Visnu summoned his Garuda (bird-vehicle) and set
off with Narada, until they came to a beautiful lake in a remote forest. Visnu
suggested they bathed, and led Narada into the water, and they immersed
themselves. When Narada emerged from his dive, lo & behold, he was “all girl”!
He saw Visnu hastily grab his (Narada’s) famous Vina and clothes, get on his
Garuda, and disappear in the distance. But at once, forgetfulness came over
him; he did not remember he was Narada, nor that that he had a famous Vina
which he had named Mahati.
The
female form Narada had acquired was beautiful. As she stood bewildered, along
came a handsome king, Taladhvaja, who at once fell in love with her; and she
with him. Though she told him truthfully she knew nothing about herself, not
even her name, he wed her. Enjoying all the pleasures of married life, she forgot
even thoughts of having lived another life. She bore him twelve bright and
brave sons, who married in turn, and they all lived together in a great joint
family. She was involved in all the joys and sorrows of the extended lineage.
And
then a powerful enemy attacked; besieged the capital city. Her husband, sons
and grandsons fought bravely, but were all killed. Having caused the maximum damage, the enemy
withdrew. She was disconsolate, and rushed to the battle ground, weeping
heartbroken over her progeny. Along came an old Brahmin who tried to console
her, and suggested she bathe in the tank nearby so that she could do the
funerary rituals. She did so; and when she emerged, she was Narada once again!
And the old Brahmin was none other than Visnu, ready with his old Vina Mahati,
and his hermit’s dress of skins and hides!
[Source:
Chapters 26-29, Book 6, Srimad Devi Bhagavatam. A slightly different version is
available in the Bhagavatam, Skandha 7. Krishna and Narada were travelling past
a lake, and got down to rest. Krishna warned Narada to bathe before he drank
any of the water, but Narada was in a hurry. And he emerged a woman, all alone
in the forest. She wandered until she came to a sage in deep meditation. He
opened his eyes, saw her, and married her. She bore sixty sons. One day, her
husband and all her sons died simultaneously. She was distraught and wanted to
die on their funeral pyre; but she felt terribly hungry. Nearby, mangoes were
ripe on the tree; in her hurry to pluck them, she heaped the dead bodies of a
few of her sons, stepped on top of them, and plucked a mango. A Brahmin came by
and reprimanded her, and ordered her to bathe at once; which she did, holding
the mango aloft in one hand over the water. And emerged Narada; but the hand
that had not been in water was still female, with bangles on and mango in it.
He dipped again, taking care to immerse the arm and the mango; normal now, with
Vina in hand!]
