Bengali Ramayana - Ahalya

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Vishwamitra then led Rama to the place where

Ahalya was trapped. The sage told Rama to touch a huge

block of stone with his foot. Rama wanted to know why.

The sage then said "Brahma created Ahalya and gave

her to the sage Gautama as his wife. Once when

Gautama was away, Indra came to Gautama's cottage and

raped her. Gautama cursed Ahalya to turn into stone.

Ahalya wanted to know how she would be relieved. Gautama

then said that when Vishnu, as Rama, would come by and

touch you with his foot you will be relieved."

Lakshmana then wanted to know how could Rama touch a woman,

and that too a Brahman's wife with his foot. To this

Vishwamitra said she at present was a stone. Rama touched the

stone with his foot and Ahalya was relieved. Gautama

then came and took Ahalya off with him.