(Ahalya) was wife of Sage Gautam. She was a beautiful woman and was known far and wide for her grace.
When Lord Indra came know about Ahilya he was attracted towards her and decided to seduce her.
One day, when Sage Gautam went to take bath in river Ganges Lord Indra disguised as Sage Gautam and had pleasure with Ahilya. When Sage Gautam returned, he came to know about the her act by virtue of his inner powers. Sage Ahilya Gautam was enraged and he cursed both Indra and Ahilya.
Due to his curse, Ahilya lost her human form and turned into a lifeless stone, while Indra's body was wrecked with cracks and holes due to which he attained a repulsive form. Due to this he came to be known as Sahastraksha (having thousand eyes).
Indra deeply repented his action and sought contrite from Sage Gautam.
Sage Gautam had mercy Indra and revealed that he would get rid of curse if he did penance to please Lord Ganesha.
Lord Indra mediated for several years seeking penance from Lord Ganesha in Kadamb Nagar (Kadambnagar). One day Lord Ganesha pleased with his penance appeared and relieved him of the curse. The cracks on his body healed, creating a peacock. The holes on Indra's body (considered as his thousand eye) transformed to patches on the peacock's feathers.
Lord Indra took bath in a pond called Chintamani Sarovar, and erected a temple named Chintamani Ganesh in Kadamb Nagar (now known as Theur). It is one of the Ashtavinayak Yatra temple.
(Note - Years later when Lord Rama went to forest, his foot touched a stone. Due to his divine touch the stone gained a human form. She was Ahilya who was ridden of her curse.)
No comments :
Post a Comment