| Lomasha | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Romasha[1] |
| Affiliation | Rishi |
| Texts | Mahabharata,Puranas |
Lomasha (Sanskrit:लोमश,romanized: Lomaśa) is asage featured inHindu texts. He is most prominently featured in theMahabharata, where he narrates a number of legends to thePandavas during their period of exile in the forest.[2]
In theMahabharata, Lomasha is described to have visitedIndraloka to pay his respects toIndra. He observed the PandavaArjuna seated upon half of the deity's throne. Indra explained to the sage that Arjuna shared the throne with him due to the virtue of being his son, and described the circumstances of the prince's birth and identity. He instructed the sage to return to earth, to the forest ofKamyaka, and offerYudhishthira reassurance that his brother would return to him after gainingcelestial weapons, and ask him to bathe inpilgrimage sites along with the other Pandavas. The deity also bade the sage to protect Yudhishthira from therakshasas that resided in the forest.[3] Accordingly, Lomasha visited Yudhishthira and conveyed the aforementioned message of Indra, and offered to accompany him during his pilgrimage.[4] Hearing Yudhishthira's grievances about the success of his unrighteous foes, Lomasha preached to the prince regarding the nature ofdharma. Citing the example of the superiority of thedevas over theasuras, the sage assured him that those who did not adhere to dharma would be destroyed.[5] The sage regaled the tales of a number of personages to the Pandavas, such as those ofAgastya,Rama,Parashurama, andRishyashringa.[6] He accompanied them during their visits to a number of holy sites such as theNaimisha forest,Gaya, and the riverYamuna, and explained their significance to them.[7]
The legend of Indra slayingVritra is narrated by Lomasha.[8][9]
In thePadma Purana, the legend of Lomasha coming across five maidens of thegandharva race who had fallen in love with the son of a sage is described byNarada. The young man rejected their advances, and when they attempted to claim him by force, he turned them intopishachas, and they responded in kind. Feeling sorry for their plights, the sage had them bathe in the holy waters of theNarmada river, which returned them to their original forms. Lomasha advised the young man to take the five maidens as his wives and live together by the banks of the river.[10]
In theSkanda Purana, Lomasha narrates a number of legends, such as that of theSamudra Manthana[11] and the conflict between theasuras, led byVirochana, and thedevas, led by Indra.[12]
In theTulasi Ramayana, Lomasha is stated to have once engaged in a discourse on the merits ofnirguna (non-qualified Absolute) worship over that ofsaguna (qualified Absolute) worship ofBrahman. The sage Bhushundi refused to accept these views. In his fury, Lomasha cursed him to become a crow, thus being renamedKakabhushandi.[13]
