Mandakarni
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Mandakarni (मंडकर्णी) was a Rishi mentioned in Ramayana. Mandakarni Ashrama (मंडकर्णी-आश्रम) has been referred as Panchapsarasa.
Origin
Variants
- Māṇḍakarṇi (मंडकर्णी)
- Mandakarni Ashrama मंडकर्णी-आश्रम दे. Panchapsaras पंचाप्सरस (p.684)
- Mandakarni-Ashrama मंडकर्णी-आश्रम
Jat clans
History
History
Māṇḍakarṇi ( माण्डकर्णि) was a hermit, mentioned in Book III (Aranya Kanda) of Ramayana. His story is told to Rama by sage Dharmabhrit during the journey through the Dandaka forest, when Rama, standing on the bank of the forest lake, asks about the origin of wondrous music coming from an unknown source.
Māṇḍakarṇi is said to have performed austere rites by staying in a stream and feeding on nothing but air for ten thousand years. Through these rites he gained great power, which alarmed the Gods. Frightened by his Tapas, they sent five lovely Apsaras to beguile him and seduce him from his vows. They succeeded in their mission, and became bound to Māṇḍakarṇi as his wives. Through his holy power he created a wondrous palace under the lake for the heavenly dames to enjoy. The lake is called Panchāpsaras ([the lake of] Five Apsaras (Nymphs)). When wanderers come to the bank of the lake, they sometimes hear heavenly strains and charming music coming from beneath the water. This, Ramanaya tells, is the sound of Apsaras playing with their zones and bracelets for Māṇḍakarṇi's pleasure, who also restored his youth through his exceptional penance.[1][2]
Panchapsaras पंचाप्सरस name means [the lake of] Five Apsaras, female spirits of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, which can be translated into English as "nymphs", "celestial nymphs" and "celestial virgins". The lake is visited by Rama, considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, during his journey through the Dandaka forest. The lake is said to had been created by sage and hermit Māṇḍakarṇi through the power of his penance.[3][4]
Identity of 5 Apsaras: Ramayana mentions the Urvashi, Rambha, Menaka and Tilottama among Panchāpsaras.[5]
In Ramayana
Aranya Kanda/Aranya Kanda Sarga 11 mentions the stories of Sages Mandakarni and Agastya.
11. Oh, Rama, this is an all-time lake built by the ascetic power of the sage Mandakarni, known as Five Apsara Lake (Panchapsarasa). [4-11-11][6]
12. He that great saint Mandakarni practiced rigorous ascetics for ten thousand years staying in the waters of the lake, and consuming air alone. [4-11-12][7]
पंचाप्सरस
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[8] ने लेख किया है ...पंचाप्सरस (AS, p.516) का उल्लेख मंडकर्णि (या मंदकर्णि) मुनि के आश्रम के रूप में वाल्मीकि ने किया है-'तत: कर्तुतपोविघ्नं सर्वदवैर्नियोजित: प्रधानाप्सरस: पंचविद्युच्यलितवर्चस:, इदं पंचाप्सरो नाम तड़ागं सार्वकालिक निर्मितंतपसा तेन मुनिना मंदिकर्णिना'।
कालिदास ने रघुवंश 13, 38 में पंचाप्सरस् सरोवर के पास शातकर्णि मुनि का आश्रम माना है-'एतन् मुने मानिनिशातकर्णि पंचाप्सरो नाम विहारिवारि, आभाति पर्यंतनं विदुरान्मेघांतरालक्ष्य मिवेंदुबिंबम्'।
स्थानीय किंवदंती के अनुसार मैसूर राज्य में स्थित गंगावली या गंगोली का अभिज्ञान पंचाप्सरस से किया जाता है। पंचाप्सरस पाँच नदियों का संगम स्थल है।
External links
References
- ↑ Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899
- ↑ William Crooke. The popular religion and folk-lore of northern India (Volume 1)
- ↑ Valmiki Ramayana translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1870–1874). Commentaries to Book III, Canto XI.
- ↑ http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/william-crooke/the-popular-religion-and-folk-lore-of-northern-india-volume-1-oor/page-5-the-popular-religion-and-folk-lore-of-northern-india-volume-1-oor.shtml William Crooke. The popular religion and folk-lore of northern India (Volume 1)
- ↑ Ananda W. P. Guruge, 1991, The Society of the Ramayana, Page 180-200.
- ↑ इदम् पंच अप्सरो नाम तटाकम् सार्व कालिकम्, निर्मितम् तपसा राम मुनिना माण्डकर्णिना [3-11-11]
- ↑ स हि तेपे तपः तीव्रम् माण्डकर्णिः महामुनिः, दश वर्ष सहस्राणि वायु भक्षो जलाशये [3-11-12]
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.516