Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1651

c9.1651

The fisherman was engaged in the work of ferrying people across the river. Matsyagandhī helped her father in this work. She became a full-bloomed young woman. One day the hermit Parāśara came by that way and when he saw Matsyagandhī, he fell in love with her. She ferried the hermit across the river. In the middle of the river Parāśara created an artificial fog inside which Parāśara took Matsyagandhī as his wife. From that moment Matsyagandhī became Kastūrīgandhī (she who has the smell of Kastūrī (musk)). Kālī became pregnant and delivered instantly. Parāśara left the place after having blessed her that she would not lose her virginity.