A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.672

c5.672

IDĀ. In the Rig-veda Idā is primarily food, refreshment, or a libation of milk; thence a stream of praise, personified as the goddess of speech. She is called the instructress of Manu, and frequent passages ascribe to her the first institution of the rules of performing sacrifices. According to Sāyana, she is the goddess presiding over the earth. A legend in the Satapatha Brāhmana represents her as springing from a sacrifice which Manu performed for the purpose of obtaining offspring. She was claimed by Mitra-Varuna, but remained faithful to him who had produced her. Manu lived with her, and praying and fasting to obtain offspring, he begat upon her the race of Manu. In the Purāṇas she is daughter of the Manu Vaivaswata, wife of Budha (Mercury), and mother of Purūravas. The Manu Vaivaswata, before he had sons, instituted a sacrifice to Mitra and Varuna for the purpose of obtaining one; but the officiating priest mismanaged the performance, and the result was the birth of a daughter, Idā or Ilā. Through the favour of the two deities her sex was changed, and she became a man, Su-dyumna. Under the malediction of Siva, Su-dyumna was again turned into a woman, and, as Ilā, married Budha or Mercury. After she had given birth to Purūravas, she, under the favour of Vishnu, once more became Su-dyumna, and was the father of three sons. According to another version of the legend, the Manu’s eldest son was named Ila. He having trespassed on a grove sacred to Pārvatī, was changed into a female, Ilā. Upon the supplications and prayers of Ilā’s friends, Siva and his consort conceded that the offender should be a male one month and a female another. There are other variations in the story which is apparently ancient.