Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.700

c8.700

MATAṄGA I. An ancient sage. The Rāmāyaṇa in Araṇya Kāṇḍa describes the āśrama of Mataṅga. Rāmalakṣmaṇas after crossing the forest of Krauñca came to the āśrama of Mataṅga. Kabandha was slain at this place After abandoning his demoniac body Kabandha extolled the greatness of Mataṅgāśrama to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. "The flowers of this āśrama are never plucked and worn on heads. Even if they are not plucked they never fade. They remain fresh always. There is a reason for this. The disciples of Mataṅga once brought a heavy load of fruits for their guru and when they reached the āśrama they were tired and drops of perspiration fell on the plants and they became flowers. Śabarī is performing penance in this āśrama." Mataṅga once cursed Bāli. It happened that while the sage was living on the mountain of Ṛṣamūka Bāli and the asura Dundubhi fought against each other and blood flowing from the body of Dundubhi by a blow of Bāli spurted out and fell on the hands of the sage.