This title of child of mind was given to those who were born of the mind of Brahma, the creator. Lists of seven, nine, and ten are given. In most cases the manasa-putras are thought of as identical to the Prajapatis, the progenitors of all beings in each creation. The…
This story has interesting implications about karma and rebirth. A brahmin woman was mentioned in the Skanda Purana for her bad character and equally bad deeds. Consequently, she was reborn as a dog. But during that lifetime she was able to observe a vow of purification (Sukladvadashi vrata) and was…
Maitreyi was mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas as one of the wisest and most virtuous of women. Maitreyi was married to the great philosopher-sage Yajnavalkya. She was noted as being especially learned in the scriptures. In one of the Upanishads Maitreyi engaged her husband in one of Hindu…
This version of an episode involving King Nimi and the sage Vasishtha was given in the Devi Bhagavata. Nimi and Vasishtha had cursed each other, and the result for Vasishtha was that he was alive but had no body. Vasishtha went to Brahma for advice and was told to merge…
There was a time when the mountains could fly. When they came to earth, they caused injury and suffering. Humans prayed to Indra, and he cut off the mountains’ wings. The mythic tradition used Mainaka in a variety of ways without much regard to an actual location. Mainaka was the…
Sage Pulastya says- “There lived a Kshatriya who kept enemity towards Brahmins. After his death, he was reborn as a demon and spent his life indulging in nefarious activities. Once he saw a hermit doing penance. He wanted to devour him but was unsuccessful in his attempt as the hermit…
