Prem Purana by Usha Narayanan

Author:Usha Narayanan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789386815767
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2017-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

Vedavati was a young tapasvini meditating upon Vishnu in order to be united with him. She was none other than Goddess Lakshmi born on earth as the daughter of King Kushadhwaja. The king in his conceit had stopped worshipping the goddess who had blessed him with good fortune. An angry Lakshmi had left him, leaving him prey to calamities and loss. The rains failed and the land dried up, the royal treasury became empty, his enemies attacked and the king was driven from his throne and kingdom. Kushadhwaja then embarked on a severe penance to placate the goddess. She finally took pity on him and promised that she would be born as his daughter.

Soon afterwards, the king’s wife gave birth to a miraculous child who chanted the Vedas as soon as she was born. Hence, they named her Vedavati, and with her blessings they regained their fortunes and their kingdom. The goddess, having kept her promise, left the palace to begin severe penances in the forest, wishing to return to her lord in Vaikunta. This was where Ravana chanced upon her.

He saw the divine maiden who glowed with the lustre of a loftier realm and was spellbound by her incredible beauty. Her garb was simple but her face and form were so lovely that he grew dazzled and lovelorn.

‘Who are you, fair maiden? An apsara or a goddess? What do you do in this fierce forest, all alone?’ he asked. But Vedavati’s eyes remained closed and her lips continued to chant the sacred mantras. ‘Marry me and be my queen,’ Ravana persisted, growing more impatient by the moment. ‘I am Ravana, king of Lanka, and I offer you a life befitting your youth and beauty.’

Vedavati’s eyes flew open and rage shimmered in them. ‘How dare you address me in such terms?’ she asked, her voice fierce. ‘I am Princess Vedavati and I will marry no one but the lord of the universe, the great Vishnu himself. Leave my presence at once, asura.’

‘You are speaking to none other than the lord of the universe, foolish maiden,’ Ravana scoffed. ‘Your Vishnu is nothing compared to my strength and my wealth. Give up your fruitless penance and come with me so that you may enjoy pleasures beyond imagination. Sweet Vedavati, your lips are meant to be kissed, your body to be caressed . . .’

‘Raging fool!’ Vedavati cried out, cutting him short. ‘You rant without knowing that you face certain doom!’

‘If you will not come with me willingly, I must take you by force,’ snarled Ravana as he grabbed her by her hair. Vedavati rose to her feet, her wrath surging forth in a wave towards him. Her hand chopped down like a sword to lop off the tresses that he had touched.

‘You have defiled me, rakshasa,’ she said, ‘and you will soon face the consequences of your lust.’

He leapt back as a fierce fire rose between them. Vedavati stepped into the fire, her heart fixed on the radiant lord reclining on Adisesha.

Thwarted by a woman again, Ravana exploded into a frenzy.

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