Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2819

c8.2819

PURUMITRA. II. The first Maṇḍala of the Ṛgveda mentions a Rājarṣi youth Vimada marrying the daughter of Purumitra. PURUNĪTHA. See under Paruṇītha. PURŪRAVAS. I. A prominent king of Candravaṃśa (lunar race).
1) Origin of Candravaṃśa and birth of Purūravas. Descending in order from Brahmā came Atri—Candra—Budha Purūravas. The dynasty which came from Candra was called the Candravaṃśa. Though Budha was the first king of Candravaṃśa it was Purūravas who became celebrated. The story of the birth of Purūravas is given below: Brahmā in the beginning deputed the sage Atri for the work of creation. Atrimaharṣi started the penance called anuttara to acquire sufficient power for creation. After some years Saccidānanda brahma with an aura of lustre reflected in the heart of that pure and serene soul. In sheer ecstasy tears rolled down his cheeks and the glittering flow of water was lustfully drunk by the zones taking the form of women with a view to producing progenies. They became pregnant but were unable to bear the embryo of Atri and so they threw them away. Brahmā took them all and made them into one armoured youth and took him in his chariot to his land. Then the brahmarṣis requested Brahmā to make him their lord. When the ṛṣis, devas, gandharvas and nymphs praised him reciting sāmaveda the majestic lustre of the youth increased. It was from this that auṣadhas (medicines) originated and that is why Candra is considered to be the lord of medicines, dvija and Vedasvarūpa. The Candramaṇḍala is full of chemicals. It increases and decreases according to the white half and black half of the moon-based month. Dakṣa gave in marriage to Candra twentyseven beautiful maidens. Then Candra did penance meditating on Viṣṇu for ten thousand Kalpas. Viṣṇu pleased by his penance asked him to name a boon and Candra said “When I perform a yāga in svarga all the devas like Brahmā should come in person to my yāgaśālā and take the yāgabhāga. Śūlapāṇi should remain as a watchman at my Rājasūya.” Accordingly with the blessing of Viṣṇu, Candra conducted the yāga in which Atri, Bhṛgu, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Devas, Vasus, Maruts and Viśvadevas took part. Candra gave as yāga-fees to Ṛtviks all the three worlds. The yāga was complete and when Candra rose up after a bath nine devis fell in love with the amorous beauty of Candra. Lakṣmī, wife of Viṣṇu, Sinīvālī, wife of Kardama, Dyuti, wife of Vibhāvasu, Puṣṭi, wife of Dhātā, Prabhā, wife of Sūrya, Kuhū, wife of Haviṣmān, Kīrti, wife of Jayanta, Amṛtumālī wife of Kaśyapa and Dhṛti wife of Nanda, abandoned their husbands and went with Candra. Candra treated them all as his own wives and gave them erotic pleasure to their hearts’ content. Those who saw this non-virtuous act stood dumbfounded unable to curse Candra. Attracted by the dazzling brilliance of Candra Tārā, wife of Bṛhaspati, went with him. Enraged at this, Bṛhaspati joining with other devas prepared for a fight against Candra. Devas took sides and by the mediation of Indra a conference of both the parties was held and Tārā was sent back to Bṛhaspati. Tārā was pregnant and Tārā confessed that the child in her womb was that of Candra. So when that child was born Candra took it away and named it Budha. Brahmā and other ṛṣis gave Budha a seat among the planets. Budha married Ilā and they got a son named Purūravas. (See under Ilā). After that Budha performed a hundred Aśvamedhayāgas. He then enjoyed world prosperity as lord of Saptadvipa living in the beautiful Himādriśṛṅga. (Chapter 12, Bhāga 3, Padma Purāṇa).