▲ 48 r/HindutvaRises
u/FrugalWhorz — 1 month ago
Raja Ravi Varma depiction of Shakuntala's birth
The story of Shakuntala’s birth appears in the Adi Parva, within the Sambhava Parva, and unfolds as follows:
Shakuntala was born to the sage Vishwamitra and the celestial apsara Menaka. Soon after her birth, she was left in a forest near the hermitage of Rishi Kanva, who found her and lovingly raised her as his own daughter.
When Vishwamitra realized that he had been deceived by Menaka and the Devas, he was overcome with anger and deep remorse. He felt ashamed that years of penance and ascetic discipline had been undone. Distancing himself from both mother and child, he returned to his spiritual practices in an effort to regain his lost virtue.
u/FrugalWhorz — 2 months ago
Lord Shiva says how Arjuna used Gandiva in his previous birth
>O Lord, at the consecration of Sakra, you and Krishna took up that magnificent bow, which thunders like a rain cloud, and slew the Danavas. O Arjuna, this is that very same Gandiva bow, which is well-suited for your hands. O best among men, I had seized it by employing my illusory power. These two inexhaustible quivers are also yours once again, just as they were before, O son of Pritha.
- 41, Kairata parva, Mahabharata.
u/FrugalWhorz — 2 months ago
Ruru and Pramadvarā: An Unbreakable Bond of Love
Ruru, the son of Pramati and the celestial nymph Ghṛtācī, grew up to become a renowned hermit known for his spiritual radiance. Around the same time, there lived a sage named Sthūlakeśa, devoted to austerity and the welfare of all beings. One day, the apsara Menakā gave birth to a daughter by the gandharva Viśvāvasu, but she left the child abandoned near the sage’s hermitage. Sthūlakeśa found the infant radiant and beautiful like a divine being and, moved by compassion, adopted her. He named her Pramadvarā, as she surpassed everyone in beauty and grace. Years later, Ruru saw Pramadvarā at the hermitage and fell deeply in love. Through his father, he arranged to marry her, and their wedding date was set.
But just days before the wedding, tragedy struck.
While playing with her friends, Pramadvarā accidentally stepped on a hidden snake. It bit her, and she collapsed instantly, losing her life. The hermitage fell into grief, and the sages gathered, mourning her untimely death. Unable to bear the loss, Ruru wandered into the forest, heartbroken. In his despair, he prayed that all his good deeds and virtues might bring her back to life. At that moment, a divine messenger appeared and told
The messenger of the gods said: "O Ruru! The words that you utter in your grief can have no effect. O righteous one! Someone whose mortal time on this earth has run out, cannot come back to life again.
Without hesitation, Ruru agreed.
The gods accepted his offer, and with the approval of Dharmarāja, Pramadvarā was restored to life now living on half of Ruru’s lifespan.
The two were finally married and lived devoted to each other. But the loss and sacrifice left a mark on Ruru. From that day on, he developed a deep hatred for snakes and spent his time destroying them wherever he found them.
Ch 8 to 9 BORI CE
u/FrugalWhorz — 2 months ago