Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.2482

c4.2482

it is needed". Thinking thus it gazed at the face of Devī with staring eyes and consequently it lost one eye. Pronouncing the word Brahmā Devī did penance for a hundred years. After that Brahmā, the Lord of the three worlds appeared before her and said to her: "I am much pleased. Your penance was flawless. Ask your boon." Kālī replied, "Oh, Lotus-born ! First give this tiger a boon. It will please me." Then Brahmā gave the wonderful tiger leadership of the Gaṇas, devotion to Śiva, invincibility and righteousness. After giving the tiger this boon Brahmā told Pārvatī, "Now, Ambikā, ask your boon. Don't hesitate, I will grant the boon." Then Pārvatī asked the boon. "Brahmā, give me golden colour". Brahmā said "Let it be so", and disappeared. The dark complexion of Pārvatī disappeared. She got the colour of the filament of the lotus flower. From the discarded skin Kātyāyanī was born. Then Indra appeared and asked for her as a gift. Indra requested Pārvatī on behalf of heaven. "Let me have her. Let this Kauśikī be my sister. Because she was born from your Kośa, (outer skin) she is Kauśikī, I am also Kauśika." Devī gave the beautiful Kauśikī to Indra. Sahasrākṣa (Indra who has thousand eyes) took her to the Vindhya mountain; when they reached there Indra told her. "You stay on this mount, honoured and revered by gods. You will be known as Vindhyavāsinī (who stays on the Vindhya). He consecrated the goddess there. She was given a lion as her carrier (Vāhana) "You destroy the asuras?" saying so Indra returned to Heaven. (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 54).