We have all heard of several aspects of Prakriti like Kali, Durga, Parvati, Yamuna, Ganga, Sakambhari et al. Each goddesses conveys a profound message through her swaroop and story. Through her incarnation as Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari, this goddess forces us to think and brings about major changes in social norms.
The story of Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari
Long long ago, a powerful Chalukya king called Vishnu Vardhana (also known as Vimaladitya) ruled over Andhra with his capital at Rajamahendravaram. During his reign, a prominent Vysya called Kusuma Shetty lived in Penugonda, a city in Andhra.
Kusuma Shetty, was well known in Penugonda. So, Vishnu Vardhana treated him as a chieftain. Kusuma Shetty and his wife worship Lord Nageshwara, an aspect of lord Shiva every day. With the hope that they would be blessed with a child.
When prayers, fasts and sacrifices bear no fruit, Kusuma Shetty approaches their Kula guru, Bhaskar Acharya, who is well versed in the Shastras. He advises them to perform a Putra Kamesti Yagna. Wihin a few days of performing the yagna, Kusuma Shetty’s wife shows auspicious signs of pregnancy. And Bhaskar Acharya prophecies that her children will ensure the welfare of their clan.
On the tenth day of Vaishakha (by the Telugu calendar), Kusuma Shetty’s wife gives birth to twins, a son and daughter. They name their son Virupaksha and their daughter Vasavamba. Right from their childhood, the twins have starkly different personalities. Virupaksha shows all signs of becoming a powerful king. Whereas Vasavi grows up to be a simple, intelligent, beautiful and highly devout woman. At the appropriate age, Virupaksha marries Ratnavati. But Vasavi chooses to pursue art, architecture, music and philosophy.
One day, Vishnu Vardhana visits Penugonda. Kusuma Shetty welcomes him warmly and takes him around the city. When Vishnu Vardhana spots Vasavi, he falls in love with her, and informs Kusuma Shetty about his intention of marrying her.
Kusuma Shetty feels shocked when he hears Vishnu Vardhan’s decision. For Vishnu Vardhan was much older than Vasavi, belonged to a different caste and already married too. But he feels helpless because he knows he cannot afford to incur the wrath of the ruling king. Kusuma Shetty wonders how he can find a way out of his predicament.
When he discusses the matter with his close family members and friends, they all say that Vasavi was the best person to take this decision. And when they approach the remarkably intuitive Vasavi, she speaks her mind and says, “I prefer to remain single because I am not at all interested in worldly matters.”
Kusuma Shetty conveys Vasavi’s decision to Vishnu Vardhana with trepidation. But is well prepared for the consequences. So, when Vishnu Vardhana’s army attacks Kusuma Shetty, his family and clansmen mercilessly with the intention of taking away Vasavi by force, Kusuma Shetty and his clansmen put up a strong fight and manage to defeat Vishnu Vardhan’s army.
Kusuma Shetty then invites the chiefs of 18 cities and the leaders of all the 714 Gotras to Penugonda and seeks their advice. The leaders of 102 gotras believe they must fight bravely for a good cause. But the leaders of the other 612 gotras feel Vasavi should marry Vishnu Vardhan because it will benefit their entire community. But when Bhaskar Acharya clearly states, “We should uphold dharma even at the cost of our lives,” Kusuma Shetty gets the clarity he is looking for. He decides against marrying Vasavi with Vishnu Vardhan.
Meanwhile, Vishnu Vardhan musters a huge army force with the intention of destroying Kusuma Shetty’s family and his clansmen. When Vasavi hears the news she says, “Why should we sacrifice the lives of so many clansmen to prove our point to the king. Let us drop the idea of war and bloodshed and rebel uniquely. Only people with a strong will power and moral strength have the courage to sacrifice themselves for a noble cause. Let us perform Atma Balidana. For it is our duty to uphold Arya Vysya Dharma. At all costs.”
Vasavi then looks squarely at the leaders of the 102 gotras and says, “I have firm faith in my devotion to God. Will you all do Agni Pravesham along with me?” The leaders by now, intuitively sense that Vasavi was an incarnation of the Devi herself. They all request her to give them the darshan of her swaroop.
The radiant swaroop of Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari
Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari reveals her swaroop as a goddess with four hands. In her upper hands She holds a lotus bud (symbol of detachment, purity, rebirth, and enlightenment) and a parrot (symbol of wisdom and the gentle aspect of Parvati). And She holds her two lower arms in Abhaya mudra (dispels our fears) and Varada mudra (blesses us).
Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari says, “I am an incarnation of Adi Para Shakti. I took birth in the mortal realm in the Kali Yuga to protect a woman’s dignity and uphold Dharma. Let us leave behind a strong legacy. For Dharma dictates that women should always be treated with respect and marry a man willingly.”
Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari then says, “Now let each one of us step into one of these 103 Agni kundas.” Kusuma Shetty and the leaders of the 102 gotras meditate on their respective gods and enter into the holy fire.
When Vishnu Vardhana’s spies report these happenings to him, he dies of shock. Everyone condemns Vishnu Vardhana’s deeds and appreciates Vasavi’s non-violent stand.
Vishnu Vardhana’s son, Raja Raja Narendra meets Vasavi’s brother Virupaksha, and consoles him saying, “Vasavi prevented great bloodshed and stood by Dharma at the same time. Let us all learn from Vasavi’s life. Hence forth let us refrain from violence, treat women with dignity and learn to seek the consent of women before marrying them.”
Virupaksha and Raja Narendra then create many pilgrim centers in places like Kasi and Gaya under the guidance of their Kula guru Baskara Acharya. Also, they enshrine an idol of Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari in Penugonda along with 101 lingams (one for each of the 102 gotras).
Yes, there are slight differences in details of Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari’s story. Some say Vasavi was against marrying Vishnu Vardhana because he belonged to a different caste. Others say Vasavi did not want to deprive Vishnu Vardhana’s wife of her royal status as a queen. That is why though Vishnu Vardhana offered to marry her without a dowry and promised to make her the queen of his kingdom, she rejected his offer.
But the details of Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari’s stories are extremely relevant even today. For whether we like it or not, most women are still taken for granted by most family members. Our points of view are often dismissed with scant regard for our thoughts and emotions. Only the most privileged amongst us are allowed to pursue our careers and live our lives on our own terms.
Even today, the onus of taking care of the home, kitchen and children continues to be the sole responsibility of a woman. Yes, things have changed. Albeit at an extremely slow pace. But even this slow change has had a profound impact on the quality of our lives.
So, the next time we worship a goddess, any goddess – and especially a goddess like Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari, let us be extremely grateful to all of them. For without the grace of the goddess, any goddess – we women would continue to live in the shadow of men.
Thank you Supraja for your input and photos.
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