Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.865

c4.865

6) Aruṇa assumed female form. Śīlāvatī, the chaste woman, once did naked Tapas to redeem her husband, Ugratapas from the consequences of a curse. The object of her tapas was to prevent the next dawn (Sunrise). Owing to the intensity of her tapas the Sun ceased to rise, and this gave his charioteer Aruṇa some rest. Then it was that Aruṇa came to know of a programme of naked dance by the women in Devaloka. Women alone were admitted to the dance hall. Aruṇa, therefore, assumed female form and sat among the Deva women, and the beautiful 'female' kindled erotic sentiments in Indra and he enjoyed a night with 'her'. Also, a son was born to them. And, before the day dawned Aruṇa, at the instance of Indra entrusted the child to Ahalyādevī and returned to join duty as the Sun-God's charioteer. (Aruṇa, while he acted as Indra's wife was called Aruṇīdevī). Aruṇa was a bit late to report for duty, and when questioned by Sun he detailed the happenings during the last night. This evoked the desire in the Sun to see Aruṇa in female form. Aruṇa did so, and the Sun enjoyed her. This also resulted in the birth of a son, who too was, at the instance of the Sun, entrusted to Ahalyādevī. Ahalyādevī brought both the children with tender love, which Gautama muni, her husband did not like. He cursed them and turned them into monkeys. After some time Indra went to Ahalyā to see his child and was told the story of Gautama's curse. Indra searched out both the monkeys. In view of the elder one having a long tail he was called Bāli (Vāli) and the neck of the second one being very beautiful, he was named Sugrīva. At that time, Ṛkṣarāja, the monkey King of Kiṣkindhā was very unhappy because he had no sons. He came to know of Bāli and Sugrīva, and requested Indra to give both the monkeys to him as sons. Indra gladly obliged him. Indra blessed Bāli to the effect that half the strength of anybody who attacked him would be added to his own natural power. Indra then sent him and Sugrīva to Kiṣkindhā.