Tirupathi Sri Venketeswara Story and Mahatyam Part 18
Padmavathi's previous birth.
Padmaksha Maharaj performed Varalaksmi vratha and by the grace of that deity had one female child. The child was names Masulungi. Gradually Masulungi grew brighter and brighter and shone like the full moon. She soon learned all arts well. At sixtee she attained puberty.
From her childhood, Masulungi was an ardent devotee of Sri Hari. She worshiped Him Daily with devotion. She dedicated her life to Vishnu and decided to marry Him only.
Padmaksha came to know of her desire. he therefore pronounced swayamvara of Masulungi. Rajas from several kingdoms were invited and all of them were present. Ravana was not invited. yet as he learned about the swayamvara he also was present. Having been attracted by the beauty of Masulungi, Ravana tried to get her by force. Her father Padmaksha intervened. But Ravana killed him, and continued his pressure on Masulungi. The Rajas from other kingdoms fled in fear.
Masulungi appealed to Sri Hari and with his name on her lips managed to disappear from the scene. She reached a place in a forest where rishis were reciting Vedas. As she appeared before the rishis while they were chanting Vedas, she was named vedavati, by them. She took leave of the Rishis and reaching Himalayas sat in meditation of Sri Hari with her eyes closed.
The disappointed Ravana, was returning to his kingdom by air. On his way he saw Masulungi in the Himalayas sitting in penance. A ray of hope passed in his mind. He got down from his chariot and stood before Masulungi. Deeply immersed in her dhyan, she did not open her eyes, and hence did not know Ravana's presence there.
Ravana tickled Masulungi's cheek with his index finger and said, "Darling, having, fled from there, you have arrived here. Do you think that Narayana will save you? You cannot escape from me. I and I alone am the suitable match for you. Come and accept me."
Masulungi was stunned to see Ravana again. She angrily shouted, "you devil, how dare you force a woman against her will? On account of you, I am ending my life throwing myself in fire. You and your race will perish on account of a lady like me." Having thus said, she created fire by her yoga power and threw herself in it and was reduced to ashes, and absorbed in the fire(Agni).
In Ramavathar, Rama with Sita and Lakshmana spent fourteen years in exile. They spent that period in Dandakaranya. One day when Rama and Lakshmana were away from the cottage and Sita was left alone, Raavana tried to carry away Sita. Having come to know of his attempt of Ravana before hand, Agni substituted Sita by Vedavati. He took Sita with him and left her under his wife Swahadevi's protection. Ravana carried to Lanka, Vedavati, who was in Sita's place, mistaking her for Sita.
After Ravana was killed by Rama, Sita entered fire, to pove her chastity. From that fire Agni deva appeared with both the Sitas and explained to Rama how Ravana was deceived. Agni requested Sri Rama to marry Vedavati, who had undergone untold sufferings in Ravana's hands and who had been praying all the time marry him. Sita also agreed to that proposal.
But Rama said he was observing the 'Ekapatni Vratha' in that avatar. He promised to marry Vedavati in the Kaliyuga when he would be born as Srinivasa and she as padmavathi, daughter of Akasa Raju. Please with that Vedavati absorbed herself with Agni. That vedavati is this Padmavathi.
Padmaksha Maharaj performed Varalaksmi vratha and by the grace of that deity had one female child. The child was names Masulungi. Gradually Masulungi grew brighter and brighter and shone like the full moon. She soon learned all arts well. At sixtee she attained puberty.
From her childhood, Masulungi was an ardent devotee of Sri Hari. She worshiped Him Daily with devotion. She dedicated her life to Vishnu and decided to marry Him only.
Padmaksha came to know of her desire. he therefore pronounced swayamvara of Masulungi. Rajas from several kingdoms were invited and all of them were present. Ravana was not invited. yet as he learned about the swayamvara he also was present. Having been attracted by the beauty of Masulungi, Ravana tried to get her by force. Her father Padmaksha intervened. But Ravana killed him, and continued his pressure on Masulungi. The Rajas from other kingdoms fled in fear.
Masulungi appealed to Sri Hari and with his name on her lips managed to disappear from the scene. She reached a place in a forest where rishis were reciting Vedas. As she appeared before the rishis while they were chanting Vedas, she was named vedavati, by them. She took leave of the Rishis and reaching Himalayas sat in meditation of Sri Hari with her eyes closed.
The disappointed Ravana, was returning to his kingdom by air. On his way he saw Masulungi in the Himalayas sitting in penance. A ray of hope passed in his mind. He got down from his chariot and stood before Masulungi. Deeply immersed in her dhyan, she did not open her eyes, and hence did not know Ravana's presence there.
Ravana tickled Masulungi's cheek with his index finger and said, "Darling, having, fled from there, you have arrived here. Do you think that Narayana will save you? You cannot escape from me. I and I alone am the suitable match for you. Come and accept me."
Masulungi was stunned to see Ravana again. She angrily shouted, "you devil, how dare you force a woman against her will? On account of you, I am ending my life throwing myself in fire. You and your race will perish on account of a lady like me." Having thus said, she created fire by her yoga power and threw herself in it and was reduced to ashes, and absorbed in the fire(Agni).
In Ramavathar, Rama with Sita and Lakshmana spent fourteen years in exile. They spent that period in Dandakaranya. One day when Rama and Lakshmana were away from the cottage and Sita was left alone, Raavana tried to carry away Sita. Having come to know of his attempt of Ravana before hand, Agni substituted Sita by Vedavati. He took Sita with him and left her under his wife Swahadevi's protection. Ravana carried to Lanka, Vedavati, who was in Sita's place, mistaking her for Sita.
After Ravana was killed by Rama, Sita entered fire, to pove her chastity. From that fire Agni deva appeared with both the Sitas and explained to Rama how Ravana was deceived. Agni requested Sri Rama to marry Vedavati, who had undergone untold sufferings in Ravana's hands and who had been praying all the time marry him. Sita also agreed to that proposal.
But Rama said he was observing the 'Ekapatni Vratha' in that avatar. He promised to marry Vedavati in the Kaliyuga when he would be born as Srinivasa and she as padmavathi, daughter of Akasa Raju. Please with that Vedavati absorbed herself with Agni. That vedavati is this Padmavathi.
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