Wednesday 16 March 2016

Kalmashpada's son

When Kalmashpada was living his life as a rakshasha, he roamed around the land looking for humans to eat. One day he saw a brahmana couple. Wanting to eat them, he grabbed the brahmana. The brahamana lady started pleading with the Rakshasha. She said, I know you are Kalmashpada, son of Soudasa. Please leave my husband. I want to conceive a child through him. If you really want to eat, eat me instead of my husband.

The king, under the spell of the rakshasha, did not listen and killed the brahmana.
The dead brahmana's wife then collected wood from the forest and lit a pyre. Collecting the remains of her husband, she cursed Kalmashpada, saying if he ever touched a woman, he would die. His clan would be carried forth through Vashishtha, whose son you killed. Saying this, she jumped into the pyre.

Years later, Kalmashpada was relieved from the rakshasha. He went back to his kingdom and led a pious life. Not having any children and wishing for a child, he went to his wife, Madayanti.

Madayanti knew about the curse and she told the king, the moment he touched her, he would die. He went to Vashishtha with his wife, and asked the sage to help beget a child.
 Thus Vashistha saved the clan from getting destroyed.


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