As we know that whenever there was an ascetic doing Tapasya (penance) on earth, Devraj Indra (the king of the gods) used to feel in Svarga Loka that his throne is now in danger. As a result, he used to send some beautiful Apsaras (nymphs) to break the asceticism of that ascetic without fully understanding the matter. Consequently, after being immersed in the bliss of love due to Kamadeva's (god of love) intervention, the ascetics usually fall in love with the Apsaras, and whatever happens after that, you can understand very well but what happened this time is very interesting indeed.
It is a matter of time when the great Rishi Kandu sat on the banks of river Gomati and was absorbed in severe austerity. Seeing his intense Tapasya, Devraj Indra thought that the sage Kandu might want to become king of Svarga, and therefore he decided to disrupt his stringent penance. He chose Pramlocha, one of the most beautiful apsaras of Swarga, for the task of destroying Sage Kandu’s Tapasya.
Rishi Kandu used to visit the river every morning to offer his prayers and as soon as Pramalocha came down to earth near the sage Kandu's hermitage, his eyes fell upon this enchanting Apsara, which immediately made him fall succumbed to romantic aspirations for the most gorgeous Apsara Pramlocha. He invited her to be his partner and lived in conjugal bliss with her. He forgot all about his penance and Indra breathed a sigh of relief as now his plan was completely successful.
Then after some time passed, he eagerly waited for Pramlocha to return to Svarga Loka. But as if the waiting time was not even ending. Gradually the wait of a few moments changed to days, and then days to months, and years. Now Pramlocha's condition was also bad because Indra's goal of destroying the penance of Rishi Kandu had already been accomplished but even after many years had passed, Rishi Kandu was not ready to let her go.
Then some more years passed and Pramlocha wishes to return to Devaloka but Kandu still did not let her go, as he was madly in love with her, and was not at all keen to allow her an exit. However, Pramlocha was well aware of the wrath of sage Kandu, so now she had no other option but to be with him. Then after years and years passed, one day as evening set foot, Kandu came out of his hut, as if he was going somewhere. On seeing, Pramlocha asked where you are going, in return, he replied, as now the evening took place, I just come back by finishing my evening worship (the evening prayer ritual) as the day had come to an end, just wait for me.
Then Pramlocha started laughing at him and said, after so many years, now you have an idea to do the evening prayer, for so many years you were busy enjoying with me nonstop and many such prayers had gone unattended. On this, the sage Kandu said that you had come here in this morning and started giving me knowledge about the rituals and worship. Kandu said, you came here this morning, I brought you to my hut and now it is evening. I do not understand what you are trying to say. Make yourself clear. Pramlocha replied it is true that I came here in the morning, but that was a morning that dawned many years ago and it has been hundreds of years since that day.
Then Pramlocha told him everything about Indra's deceit and said that it has been 907 years, 6 months, and 3 days since I came here. Are you sure? Asked Kandu, It feels like a single day to me. Yes, I am sure, Pramlocha replied. She was very much scared while telling him the truth about being deceived by Indra, as she felt that Kandu might curse her.
Hearing this, Kandu bubbled with anger and frustration but did not curse her as he realized, she was assigned the task by Indra. He blamed himself for being lured by the Apsara, as he had failed to keep control on his lust. Kandu's head bowed down with shame and then, being ashamed of himself, he went towards Purushottam Dham and performed penance for his sins and seek an apology from the lord Vishnu. Later, he became a blessed person by Vishnu.
0 comments:
Post a Comment