Lakshmi and Vishnu
One day Surya and his son Revanta mount Uchhaisravas and decide to meet Lord Vishnu in Vaikunta. When Mahalakshmi sees the luminous body of her brother Ucchaisravas her heart brims over with love. She recollects how they had been churned out of the Samudra Manthan at the same time.
Vishnu asks Lakshmi, “What are you looking at, dear wife? “But Lakshmi is so spellbound by the horse of light that she just gazes at Uchhaisravas in rapt attention. Vishnu repeats the question thrice. But when Lakshmi does not reply, He follows Lakshmi’s gaze and says, “Does the sight of a mere horse bewitch you so much that you refuse to speak to me, O Lakshmi? I think your heart is not content here with me. So may you be born as a mare.”
Lakshmi immediately comes out of her stupor and says, “Why O Lord, I was only gazing at my brother Ucchaisravas. You say you love me deeply. How then can you curse me to such a dreadful fate? I cannot live without you for even an instant. So please revoke the curse.”
Vishnu remorsefully says, “O Devi, I cannot withdraw the curse. But when you have a son who resembles me in every way, your curse will end and you will return to Vaikunta by my side.”
The very next instant, Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune turns into a shimmering mare. But Vishnu misses Lakshmi and realizes that He cannot live without Her too. So He descends onto the earth as a great blue stallion, mounts Lakshmi, the white mare, who conceives and delivers Vishnu’s child, Ekavira, instantly.
Both Vishnu and Lakshmi regain their original forms as soon as their son Ekavira is born. But Lakshmi does not want to leave her son behind. Vishnu understands her sentiments and says, “Ekavira has a mission to fulfil O Devi. Do not fear for him. Yayati’s son, Turvasu will nurture our son as his own.” Vishnu then uses his Maya to erase everything from Lakshmi’s memory.
Turvasu
In a distant forest, Turvasu has been performing the most austere of penances. He yearns for a son who is like his very soul. Vishnu manifests before him and says, “Raise Ekavira as your own child O Turvasu. He is Lakshmi Devi’s son and as pure as your soul.” Turvasu is overjoyed. He takes good care of the child, crowns him king at the appropriate time and renounces his worldly life. Ekavira rules wisely and practises Dharma at all times.
Ekavira and Yasovati
One day, Ekavira sees a young girl sobbing her heart out along the banks of the Ganga. Ekavira asks her why she is crying and promises to help her in any way he can. The young woman says, “O king, I am Yasovati, a sakhi of princess Ekavali. Princess Ekavali, the daughter of king Rabhya and queen Rukmarekha, is a splendid nymph-like woman who emerged out of her father’s Putrakama Yagna fire.
Ekavali and the apsaras
But right from her childhood Ekavali often goes to untamed and forbidden forests without the slightest of fears in her heart. She talks endlessly in a language of her own with the wood nymphs that live within the lotuses on the banks of this river. She caresses the lotuses gently and breathes in their scent.
One day when I questioned her Ekavali said, “I talk and play with the apsaras who are as small as the lotus buds. They stand within the petals of unfurled flowers. But please don’t tell anyone about this else they will disappear forever.” I agreed to do so. And in time, I too could see and talk to all the shy apsaras. One day, we were shocked when the apsaras suddenly cried out in fear and vanished before our eyes.
Kalaketu
Kalaketu, a danava was smitten by Ekavali’s beauty when he was passing by. So he flew down on his vimana, slung Ekavali over his shoulders and started walking back towards it.
I screamed at him with fear and said, “O danava, spare Ekavali. Take me to your kingdom instead of her. Her parents will be heartbroken if she goes missing.” When Kalaketu heard my cries he said, “I mean your friend no harm. I wish to make her my queen. My city is as splendid as Swarga. She will lack for nothing there.” He then said, “I think it will be best if I take you along too. I’m sure your friend can’t do without your company.”
Kalaketu then transported us to his palace without even waiting for my answer. A hundred Rakshasas stood guard over us. After a few days, Kalaketu proposed to Ekavali. He said, “Will you marry me O lovely Ekavali. I wish to make you the queen of my kingdom. I love you and will gladly become your slave.”
But Ekavali said, “My father says I am destined to marry a Haihaya prince. He has even described the prince to me in great detail. I am already in love with my prince and will marry none other.”
Kalaketu became furious when he heard Ekavali words. So he continued to keep us captive. I did not know what to do. So I prayed sincerely to Devi Bhagawati like I always do and asked her to show me a way out of our predicament.
Devi Bhagawati
That night, the Devi appeared in my dream and said, “I have blessed you with several siddhis. Fly out of this palace in your subtle body and go to the place where Ekavali used to play with the apsaras inside the lotuses. You will meet Ekavira, the king of the Haihaiya clan. He is Sri Lakshmi’s son and my devotee too. He will set you both free.”
Ekavira says, “Take me to Ekavali, Yasovati. I am Ekavira, the Haihaiya prince that the Devi was talking about. I will kill Kalaketu, reunite Ekavali with her parents and marry her after taking her parents’ permission. Yasovati and Ekavira chant the Bhagavati mantra in unison. Devi Bhagawati empowers them with siddhis and they fly to Kalaketu’s kingdom.
Ekavira and Ekavali
Ekavira kills Kalaketu after a long drawn battle and looks for Ekavali. But Ekavali is terrified that Ekavira would force himself on her like Kalaketu had tried to do. Yasovati reassures her that Ekavira was a noble person and the Haihaiya prince her father had told her about. But Ekavali wants to know if Ekavira truly loves her. So she goes out as an old lady wearing unwashed clothes and with dishevelled hair. Ekavira falls in love with Ekavali instantly and does not even notice her appearance.
Yet he does what he has to first. He escorts Ekavali and Yasovati back to their kingdom and asks king Rabhya if he can marry Ekavali. King Rabhya and Rukmarekha are overjoyed at the sudden turn of events and happily get them married.
Yes, Lord Vishnu goes out of the way to fulfil Turvasu’s dream. He does this for all his bhaktas. There is no doubt about this. But through this story, He also says, “O Manavas, your insecurities invariably create only unpleasant situations in your lives that have a huge impact on others’ lives. Be aware of your insecurities. Keep your fears under control at all times. For more often than not you will not even know how to deal with the far-reaching consequences of your impulsive actions.” And that is something worth keeping in mind every time our fears haunt us.
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