Ritudhwaj Kshatriya and Cavern Worlds

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Dharmapad, aka Dharma/Dean

 

Re: The following was originally posted by Abhishek on the allplanets-

hollow list.

 

 

Once, there was a Somvanshi ruler named Shatrujeet.By the grace of

lord Shiva, he had a virtous son named Ritudhwaj.He was an expert

archer. On the banks of river Reva,a Muni named Galava was performing

a Yangya.But a cruel demon(Rakshasa) named Paataalketu was disturbing

him by throwing bones and flesh in the Havankunda(vessel for Yangya).

The Muni prayed to the Lord for protection. Suddenly,a divine horse

appeared before him and he heard an Aakaash Vaani(divine voice)

say: "Ritudhwaj,the son of king Shatrujeet shall destroy thy enemy by

being seated on this horse".

 

Then the Muni arrived at the king's place along with the horse and

narrated to him the entire incident. At this, the king Shatrujeeta

ordered his son to help the Muni.Ritudhwaj being seated on the horse

went alongwith the Muni to his ashrama

On reaching the ashrama, the prince asked the Muni to show him the

demon.But the Muni said, "I will start the Yangya now.On seeing the

smoke of the Homa,that asura will come running.Then you destroy

him.That asura is a Mayavi one.He comes disguised in various

forms."Saying thus the Muni started the Homa.

 

On seeing the smoke, the asura became alert. He came running there in

the form of a wild boar. He had protruding horns. Then the Muni

said, "Look here the daitya comes."

 

On hearing this the prince became alert. He sat on the horse and

attacked the demon with his arrows. The arrows struck the boar's

heart. But he didn't die. He began to run away and the prince followed

him.The demon went into a forest and entered a cave.He went further

inside and disappeared.The prince too had followed him inside the

cave and after sometime,he arrived at a beautiful palace.He tied his

horse nearby and began to stare at the palace.Shining doors,diamond-

studded walls,golden ceilings,pearl-garlands and beautiful gardens

surrounding the palace shocked the prince.

 

Then the prince saw a beautiful maiden sitting on a diamond-studded

bed.She looked worried.On seeing the prince the lady fainted and fell

down.On seeing her fall another maiden who was her friend came

running there.Then the prince thought thus:This place is a strange

one and there is no other being visible around .So it is better to

turn back and leave.But suddenly the lady woke up and began to

cry.Then her friend said to the prince,

 

"Who are you? Where are you from? Why are you turning back now?"The

prince then asked them as to who they were and what they were doing

in that place. At this the friend of the beauty said: "You are the

reason for her fainting. This beautiful maiden is the daughter of the

great Gandharva Vishvavasu.Her name is Madaalsaa.My name is Kundalaa

and I am the daughter of a Tapasvee.Once I had been to the Himalayas

for meditation and became a friend of Madaalsaa when I met her

there. Once Madaalsaa had come to the Himalayas.At that time the

daitya Paataalketu kidnapped her by force and brought her here. ( The

Rakshasa brought Madaalsaa from the Himalayas to the cavern by way of

flying through the air.It isn't mentioned as to whether the abduction

was through a Vimana or by flying physically but the Marathi word used

is `Aakaashpanthaane' which means by way of air.But we could well

suspect that it could have been similar to a modern UFO abduction!!!)

I also followed them and came here.Now he wants to marry this maiden

and was about to do so tomorrow.But O prince as you have arrived I

request you to save her from that evil one."

 

Later when the daitya arrived there,the prince fought with him and

killed him.He also married Madaalsaa and they went back to their

kingdom along with the horse.