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According to Hindu
mythology and
scriptures,
Rishyasringa (Sanskrit:ऋष्यशृंग,
IAST: Ṛṣyaśṛnga)
('deer-horned' in
Sanskrit) or
Ekashringa
(one-horned), was a
boy born with the
horns of a deer. His
father was the rishi
Vibhandaka, and his
mother was a
celestial paramour 'Menaka'.
According to another
legend, he was
believed to have
been born of a doe
and from the slight
protrusion of his
forehead. According
to legend, his
father was seduced
by the celestial
danseuse 'Menaka' by
order of 'Indra'-
the king of gods,
who feared the yogic
powers gained out of
penance by the rishi
could prove fatal to
the very existence
of heavenly world.
The father was
seduced and out of
his relation with
the danseuse was
born Rishyasringa.
However immediately
after the child was
born 'Menaka', after
completing the duty
she was sent for
left the infant
child and her lover
and made her way to
the heavens. The
incident left the
father with extreme
hatred towards women
folk, and he raised
the boy in a forest,
isolated from
society. He never
saw any girls or
women, and was not
told of their
existence. The
tradition states
that he was endowed
with magical and
miraculous powers.In the usual version of the story, at the time that the boy becomes a young man, the kingdom of Anga suffers from drought and famine. The king, Romapada(Lompada), is told that this can only be alleviated by a brahmin with the powers that come from observance of perfect chastity. The only such person is Rishyasringa. He has to be brought to the city, and be persuaded to carry out the necessary ceremonies. Despite his fear of the power and anger of the boy's father, the king sends young women, and later his daughter 'Shanta', to introduce the boy into normal society. This is done, Rishyasringa uses his powers, the kingdom receives bountiful rains and Rishyasringa then marries the princess Shanta. Much of the story is taken up by accounts of the feelings of the young man as he becomes aware of women for the first time. In this sense (and from his name Eka-shringa) this is a possible origin of the unicorn myth as it relates to virgins. In another version of the story, the forest in which the boy is brought up is part of Anga. The boy's upbringing without knowledge of women is itself the cause of the troubles of the kingdom. The story can be found in both the Ramayana and the Mahābhārata. According to the Ramayana, Ekashringa was the chief priest when the king Dasaratha performed a yagya to beget progeny, and as the consequence of the said yagya were born Rama, Bharata, and the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Kigga The town Kigga near by Sringeri is the place today holds religious values based on Rishyasringa. Lord Shiva temple in the town is said to be worshiped by Rishyashringa. In the modern days also the Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetam performs pooja at Kigga Sri Rushasringeswara temple for rain or to reduce rain. [edit] Sringeri The town of Sringeri in Karnataka is named after this sage. The name Sringeri is derived from Rishyasringapura. This is based on the legend that Sage Rishyasringa performed penance here. The Advaitin philosopher, Adi Shankara, founded the Sringeri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri after seeing a hooded snake giving shelter to a frog in labor, in spite of snakes and frogs being mortal enemies. Adi Shankara realized that the place must have been a spot of penance and established the Dakshninamnaya Sharada Peetham (Southern Seat of Goddess Sharada) here |
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