Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.3136

c7.3136

KUŚADHVAJA I. A brahmin, son of Bṛhaspati. Penniless and poor, the brahmin once sought the help of King Sālva. The miserly king did not give him anything. Thereafter he began worshipping Bhagavān with the object of making some money. While meditating upon Bhagavān a girl emerged out of his mouth. She was named Devavatī. When she came of age an asura called Śambhu desired to marry her; but Kuśadhvaja did not agree to the proposal. Enraged at the refusal Śambhu killed Kuśadhvaja while the latter was asleep one night. But Devavatī cursed and reduced the asura into ashes. Then she took herself to penance to secure Mahāviṣṇu as her husband when Rāvaṇa happened to come there, and he tried to make her his wife. But, she repelled all his attempts at which he caught hold of her by the hair. She escaped by cutting her hair. She then immolated herself in burning fire. It was this Devavatī, who was, in her next life, born as Sītā, daughter of King Janaka (Uttara Rāmāyaṇa).