| Pulastya | |
|---|---|
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Brahma (father) |
| Spouse | Manini/Havirbhu, Priti,[1] Havirbhu (another) and Swayamvara |
| Children | Vishrava,Agastya by Manini, Dattoli, Sadwati/Sambhuti, Devbahu, Vinita and some Vanaras by Priti Some gandharvas by Havirbhu Some kinnaras from Swayamvara |
Pulastya (Sanskrit: पुलस्त्य) is one of the tenPrajapati, and one of themind-born sons ofBrahma[2] inHinduism. He is also one of theSaptarishi (Seven great sages) in the first age of Manu, theManvantara.[3]
The sage is said to have emerged from the ear of Brahma in theBhagavata Purana.[4]
TheRamayana describes Pulastya's wedding to Manini, and the birth of his son,Vishrava. Once, Pulastya was engaged in austerities in theashrama of Trinabindu, on the slopes ofMount Meru. Even as he was engaged in a penance in solitude, he was disturbed by a number of youthful maidens, the daughters of other sages,naga maidens, as well asapsaras. They played their musical instruments and danced, seeking to divert his attention. Enraged, Pulastya declared that she among them who fell under his gaze would instantly get impregnated. Terrified of theBrahmin's curse, the girls vanished. During this moment, Manini, the daughter of Trinabindu, who had not been present when the curse was invoked, wandered near the sage, searching for her friends. She found herself pregnant, and rushed to report her condition to her father. The sage Trinabindu requested Pulastya to marry his daughter, and the latter agreed, and so the two lived together in the ashrama. Pleased with his wife's virtuous conduct, Pulastya declared that their child would inherit her virtue, and would be named Vishrava.[5]
Vishrava went on to have two wives: one wasKaikesi who gave birth toRavana,Shurpanakha,Kumbhakarna, andVibhishana; and another wasIlavida, and had a son namedKubera.
Pulastya also becomes the father of Agastya.[6]
Once,Bhishma lived near the sacred source of the riverGanga, called Gaṅgādvāra. Pulastya makes his presence known before Bhishma, pleased by his austerities. Bhishma offers libations of water and pays his respects to the sage. Pleased, Pulastya instructs Bhishma regarding the path ofdharma, which itself had been taught to him by Brahma.[7][8]
He serves as the medium through which some of thePuranas were communicated to the mankind.[9] He received the Vishnu Purana from Brahma, and communicated it toParashara, who made it known to mankind.
Pulastya responds to the questions ofNarada in theVamana Purana by reciting legends.
In ThaiNational epicRamakien, Pulastya is calledLatsatian. He was the second king of Lanka and the father ofThotsakan.[10]
The partially excavated ancient archaeological mounds ofTheh Polar inKaithal district ofHaryana in India is associated with Pulastya.[11]
Certain sources claim that the famous granite statue of a king inPolonnaruwa,Sri Lanka, which was first thought to be of KingParakramabahu the Great, might actually be the Pulastya Rishi. This idea was later proven to be false byProf. Senarath Paranawithana. Apart from this, no other statues, carvings, paintings or friezes of Pulastya Rishi have been found on the island (Sri Lanka).[citation needed]
However, the city where Parakramabahu reigned from was identified asPulastinagara, in the Sinhalese chronicles.[12]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)