Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.846

c7.846

4) Transformation again; Ilā expressed to Vasiṣṭha, her grief at having been turned into a woman, the sage requested Śrī Parameśvara to restore her to her former form as a man. Śiva said that Ilā would be a man and a woman every alternate month, throughout life. During the month when she was a man he would engage himself in matters of Government, and the next month, when a woman, she would stay in the inner apartments in the palace. Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 32 says that Ikṣvāku, brother of Purūravas ruled the state till the latter became a major. As soon as Purūravas attained majority Sudyumna handed over to him the reins of Government and retired to the forest for tapas, and during this period he was taught the Navākṣara mantra by sage Nārada. Sudyumna adored Devī with this Mantra. She appeared to him and blessed him with the state of salvation. (Bhāgavata).