Mayavati
| Mayavati | |
|---|---|
 Mayavati, and Pradyumna returning to Dvārakā | |
| Devanagari | मायावती |
| Sanskrit transliteration | Māyāvati |
| Weapon | Daitya Magic |
| Mount | Mount Gandhamadana |
| Genealogy | |
| Died | |
| Consort | Pradyumna |
| Offspring | Aniruddha |
Mayavati worked as the cook of Shambara, and was the wife of Pradyumna, In the Vishnu Purana, and the Harivamsa she was also the wife of Shambara, at the end of Chapter XXVII, the Vishnu Purana talks about how Mayavati never had intercourse with Shambara and instead, She seduced Shambara with her Maya), and the end of the chapter Vishnu Purana and the Harivamsa talk about her purity and chastity.[1][2][3]
Backstory of Mayavati[edit]
Tārakāsura had began destroying the universe, after performing penance, He was granted 2 boons from Brahma, Taraka asked that none should be equal to him, and the second that only the son of Shiva could slay him. Brahma granted him these boons. Taraka then took control of Svarga, and he expelled the devas from it. Indra then went to Brahma to ask for assistance, Brahma said he couldn't do anything, Hence, Indra went to Kāma and Rati, Shiva was in deep Tapas, Kāma brought dancing Apsaras and music, When Kāma shot the arrow of love to Shiva, He (Shiva) started to experience love. But when he saw Kāma scheming, He immediately burnt him to ash with his third eye. Parvati had to then perform deep Tapas to marry Shiva, They then gave birth to Shadanana, who destroyed Taraka.[4][5][6]
After Shiva burnt Kāma, Rati underwent severe penance (and in the Matsya Purana, and the Padma Purana she smeared Kama's ashes on herself), and begged Parvati to request Shiva to revive Kama. Parvati reassured her that he will be reborn as Pradyumna. Shiva then advises Rati to take the form of Mayavati and wait for Pradyumna in Shambara's kitchen[7][8][9]
Finding & Raising Pradyumna[edit]
Not even after 10 days of Pradyumna's birth, The wicked demon Shambara kidnapped him from Dvārakā in the form of Satyabhama, He (Shambara) throws Pradyumna from his vehicle, A huge fish swallows him, and the next day, the same fish was caught by some fishermen and Shambara orders Mayavati to make food of the fish.[10] She starts slicing the fish but finds a baby in it (Pradyumna), She immediately recognised him as her consort Kāma and decided to raise him, after Pradyumna grew up, Sage Nārada appeared before her and told her about how Pradyumna was Kāma, Mayavati decided to tell Pradyumna the truth, Later, She taught him the art of daitya magic and war. Pradyumna then went to Shambara and provoked him for war, then, Pradyumna was able to defeat Shambara with one swing of his sword. [4][9][11]
References[edit]
- ^ Hopkins p. 214
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2014-08-30). "Sambara killed by Pradyumna [Chapter XXVII]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2020-11-14). "An Account of Pradyumna [Chapter 105]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ a b W.J. Wilkins (1900). "Kamadeva". Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic. Sacred Texts Archive. ISBN 1-4021-9308-4.
- ^ Kama: Mani pp. 378–9
- ^ Benton p. 41
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2018-03-31). "Return of Pradyumna [Chapter 91]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 10 - Chapter 55". www.srimadbhagavatam.org. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ a b Tree, ISKCON Desire (2013-02-11). "Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10, Chapter 55, Text 01 | Srimad Bhagavatam Class". Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2022-07-16). "Verse 6.8.25 [Garga Samhita]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "The Vishnu Purana: Book V: Chapter XXVII". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2024-07-14.