[Advaita-l] Pancha Kanya Questions

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste

Some clarifications. In the story Agni became mad with love with the
beautiful Sapta Rishi wives 'Patnir Drushtva Dvijendranam Vahnihi
Kamavasham Yayau'. Then he was hiding in the Garhapatya Fire because
he could be near them. In Yajnas like Darsheshti the wife is sitting
near  the Garhapatya Agni. He was looking at them from Garhapatya and
became happy. 'Pashyamanas Ca Mumude Garhapatyam Samashritaha'. But
after that he became sad and he went away to the forest.

Svaha went to him there and other people saw her in six disguises. But
she could not imitate Arundhati. 'Divyarupam Arundhatyaha Kartum Na
Sakitam Taya'. When Skanda was born he had 6 heads 12 ears 12 eyes 12
arms and 12 feet, one neck and one belly.

On Tue, Jun 12, 2012 at 4:25 PM, Venkatesh Murthy <vmurthy36 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Namaste
>
> On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 10:04 AM, Sunil Bhattacharjya
> <sunil_bhattacharjya at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Namaste
>> If Ahlya also sought Indra then where was the  need for Indra to come in disguise. Have you thought about it ?Indra was aot a human being like you and me. I believe that the devas do have the capability to disguise. If Ahlya too knowingly abetted the adultery then she would been called a Kultaa or promiscuous woman and she would not have been listed among the Panchakahyas.
>
> Of the Sapta Rishi wives Ahalya is not equal to Arundhati. Vasistha's
> wife Arundhati is the best Pativrata. The goddess Svaha could not
> imitate her and use her disguise. There is a story of Fire God Agni
> and Svaha.
>
> Agni was mad in love with the Seven Rishi's wives. But he could not do
> anything. Goddess Svaha was madly in love with Agni. But Agni did not
> want Svaha. Svaha thought of a plan. She went to Agni in the disguise
> of Rishi wives one by one. She went to him six times. Agni was fooled
> and he thought real Rishi wife has come to him. He made love to each
> Rishi wife.  He discharged the seed but Svaha took it in her hands.
> Then she put it on top of the mountain. She did this six times for the
> six wives of the Rishis. But she could not disguise herself as
> Arundhati because she was the most powerful Pativrata. The seed of
> Agni became a boy. This boy is god Skanda. People suspected he was
> born from the six wives of Rishis because they saw Svaha in disguise
> six times. The six Rishis got very upset with the wives and divorced
> them. Arundhati the great Pativrata stayed with her husband Rishi
> Vasistha. The six wives went to Skanda and prayed to him to take them
> to heaven. He did that. Then Svaha came to Skanda and prayed to him to
> make her always live with Agni. Skanda gave her a great boon. When the
> Brahmins offer into Agni something in the Homa they will always say
> 'Svaha'. Svaha became united with Agni. He accepted her.
>
> Even now the Saptarshi stars are seen in the sky with one more star
> Arundhati. She faithfully follows her husband Vasistha. In marriages
> the bridegroom will show the Saptarshis and Arundhhati star to the
> bride and tell her to be like Arundhati and stay with husband always.
>
> The story is showing Svaha went in Ahalya's disguise to Agni but she
> could not do it with Arundhati. Arundhati is greater Pativrata than
> Ahalya. She should be in the Pancha Kanya list but why she is not
> there?
>
>
>
>> Regards,
>> Sunil KB


-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh