Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3570

c9.3570

1) Birth of Urvaśī. In days of old two hermits named Nara and Nārāyaṇa did penance to Brahmā in the holy hermitage of Badarikā for a thousand years. (Nara and Nārāyaṇa were the children born to Dharma, the son of Brahmā). Because of the severity of their penance Indra was struck with fear. Thinking that they were doing this severe penance with a view to become Indra, he approached the hermits and told them that they might ask for any boon. Even though Indra told them several times, they did not speak a word nor did they make any stir. Indra’s fear increased. So Indra decided to create some delusions which would arouse in them fear, desire etc., so that their penance might be broken. He began to bring around them wild animals such as lion, elephant wild snake etc. and natural phenomena such as storm, heavy rain, forest-fire etc. to terrify them. The efforts of Indra were futile. The disappointed Indra sent for Kāmadeva (Cupid) and consulted him, as a result of which Kāmadeva and his wife Ratidevī with many celestial maids came to the hermitage in the mountain of Gandhamādana with the intention of hindering the penance of Naranārāyaṇas. The season of spring was created in the forest. The celestial women such as Rambhā and others came before the hermits and began to sing and dance. The hearts of the hermits began to swell with passion. When they opened their eyes what they saw was a beautiful sight. The famous celestial women, Menakā, Rambhā, Tilottamā, Sukeśinī, Manoramā, Maheśvarī, Puṣpagandhā, Pramadvarā, Ghṛtācī, Candraprabhā, Somā, Vidyunmālā, Ambujākṣī, Kāñcanamālā, and others with their ten thousand and eighty hand-maids stood before them. Hermit Nārāyaṇa who got terribly angry struck on his thigh with his hand and instantly there arose a woman of extreme beauty. Because she had originated from the Ūru (thigh) of Nārāyaṇa, that woman, who was the most beautiful in the three worlds, got the name Urvaśī. All the others were struck with wonder at the sight of this new creation. After that so many other beautiful women also were created. The hermit Nārāyaṇa gave all of them to Indra. With shame Indra accepted them and returned to heaven along with them. Thus Urvaśī arrived at the realm of the devas (gods). (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 4).