Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.703

c8.703

MATAṄGA III. A maharṣi born to a barber of a brahmin woman. This clandestine birth was not known either to the brahmin husband or Mataṅga for a long time. Once his brahmin father sent him to the fields for ploughing. He put a donkey to the yoke and ploughed. When the donkey slowed down its work Mataṅga beat it hard. The mother of the donkey saw it and wept. She called Mataṅga to her side and told him that he was the son of a barber and that was why he behaved like a caṇḍāla showing no kindness towards the animal. Mataṅga ran to his house and told his parents what the mother-donkey said. After that he left his house and did penance to become a brahmin. Indra was pleased and he asked Mataṅga what he wanted and he replied he wanted to become a brahmin. Indra made him a brahmin and sent him back. (Chapter 27, Anuśāsana Parva).