||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 136 – The legend of Soma dynasty - King Pururavass

The highest of the spiritual achievement is the attainment of knowledge of the Supreme Lord who resides as soul in living beings, thereby elevation of the soul from worldly matters to the supreme Bhramam.  It is a journey of the mind and intellect from the ‘Sthoola Shareera’ which is Asath, darkness, undergoes changes and death to the ‘Sookshma Shareera’ which is Sath, brilliance and immortal.  This great knowledge can be achieved through the regular practice of Pranayama, meditation, recitation of scriptures and contemplation upon the supreme Lord, the elevation of the soul helps to attain serenity of mind, clarity of thought and proficiency to face any difficult situation with a balanced mind.

Maharishi Vedavyasa describes the Soma dynasty, Chandra who was born from the eyes of  Maharishi Athri / Devi Anasooya, was established as Nakshathravipra Aushadheesha by Lord Bhrama.   Lord moon performed a Rajasooya, later he abducted Thara, the wife of Lord Bhrihaspathi, and it created a ferocious battle between deities and demons.    Lord Bhrama interviewed and ordered Chandra to give away the wife of Brihaspati.  Thus, once again Brihaspati and Devi Thara started living together.  In the meantime, Thara was pregnant with a child, Sage Bhrihaspathi instructed Thara to abandon the fetus, an infant originated with supreme brilliance of the fetus.  Later, Sage Bhrihaspathi and Lord Chandra had a debate on the child born, finally, Lord Bhrama questioned Thara about the birth of the child was revealed that Lord Chandra as the father of the Budha.   Years passed, Budha married Ila and this couple had a son Pururavass.  He was extremely valorous and handsome, ruling the Kingdom. Once he met the celestial Apsara Devi Urvashi who had a curse of Mithra Varuna thereby left the heaven and descends to Earth.  King Pururavss felt a sudden rush of desire to have passionate sport with her, he approached her and said “ Oh! Devi, I am extremely fortunate to meet you on the Earth, my eyes are fortunate to witness your lovely appearance I would like to like to live with you.”   Apsara agreed for the desire of the King Puruvass and put forwarded three conditions to fulfill.  She gave the King two goats, and asked him to protect it as long as they live together, she instructed that she should be served with Ghee in abundance, and thirdly, she should not see the King without clothes in the daylight or other than from the bed.    King Pururavass readily agreed for the conditions and married to the celestial Apsara, a renowned dancer of Indra Loka and lived blissfully for several years.

Lord Indra found celestial Apsara is missing in the abode of Heaven.  He appointed celestial Gandharvas to conduct the search for her, finally, they arrived on the Earth and found her living happily with the King Pururavass.  As planned the Gandharva stolen the goats, Apsara realized her goats were stolen, was in utter grief, and screamed at the King to rush behind the Gandharvas.  King Pururavass, rose from the bed and while running his clothes were slipped out from his body, the celestial Gandharvas tricked on him with a flash of light and revealed King’s nakedness to Devi Urvashi.  Instantly, celestial Apsara Devi Urvashi disappeared from the Earth.  King Pururavass became inconsolable, grieved over the separation of his wife.  He wandered all over the Earth like an insane, conducted journey to Kurukshetra, he met Devi Uruvashi, on the riverbank of Saraswathi.  King Pururavass said “ Oh! My dearest wife, listen to me, I cannot live without you.  I am going to give up my life let my body consume the animals, later I will unite with you in heaven.”  Devi Uruvashi saw the miserable state of King Pururavass and said “ Oh! King, you are ignorant and shameless as well, an extreme desire to be in the association of me put you into utter desolation, if you continue to mourn for the lost physical pleasures with your wife would cause to take birth again and again.   Oh! King does not keep unwarranted affection or desire on a woman and the fox.  The ignorant and a wavering mind keep unlimited affection to both, therefore listen to me, worship Lord Devendhra and Gandharvas, so that you could attain me.   I am already pregnant with your child.  We will meet after a year and once again we will live together happily.” She disappeared from the sight of King Pururavass.  The king returned to the palace and followed her advice, after a year he returned to Kurukshetra and reunited with his wife Devi Urvashi. In this way, King Pururavass and Devi Uruvashi together extended the clan of Soma dynasty.