Ashokasundari

Ashokasundari (Sanskrit: अशोकसुंदरी, Aśokasundarī) or Ashoka Sundari, is a goddess and the daughter of Shiva and Parvati in Hinduism. She gives blessings beauty and luxury. She is referenced to in the Padma Purana (पद्म पुराण), which narrates her story. [1] The goddess is mostly venerated in South India in the form of Bala Tripurasundari.

Ashokasundari
Goddess of Imagination
AffiliationDevi, Daughter of Tripurasundari
MountKailash
Personal information
ParentsParvati (mother) and Shiva (father)
SiblingsGanesha (Younger brother) and Kartikeya (Elder brother)
ConsortNahusha
ChildrenYayati and a hundred daughters

Etymology

Ashokasundari was created from the wish-fulfilling tree Kalpavriksha when Parvati wished for a daughter to reduce her loneliness. The words in her name are derived from her creation. Ashoka refers to the easing of Parvati’s shoka, which means "sorrow", while sundari means "beautiful girl".[2]

Legend

The birth of Ashokasundari is recorded in the Padma Purana. In one of the variants of the tale of Nahusha, Parvati once requested Shiva to take her to the most beautiful garden in the world. As per her wishes, Shiva took her to Nandanvana, where Parvati saw a tree known as Kalpavriksha which could fulfill any wish. Since both the sons of Parvati had grown up and left Kailash, as a mother it caused immense grief and loneliness to Parvati. She asked for a daughter from the wish-fulfilling tree to get rid of her loneliness. Her wish was granted and Ashokasundari was born. Parvati promised that she would marry according to her destiny Nahusha of the lunar dynasty, who would be equal to Indra, the king of heaven. Once, Ashokasundari was roaming in Nandanvana with her maids, a rakshasa (demon) called Hunda saw her and fell in love with her. However, the goddess rejected the advances of the demon and informed him about her destiny to marry Nahusha. Hunda disguised himself as a widow, whose husband was killed by him, and asked Ashokasundari to accompany her to her hermitage. The goddess went with the disguised demon and reached his palace. She came to know of his treachery and cursed him to be killed by Nahusha and escaped to her parents’ abode Mount Kailash. Hunda kidnaps the infant Nahusha from his palace, however, he is rescued by a maid of Hunda and given under the sage Vashistha’s care. After a few years, Nahusha grows up and understands about his destiny to kill Hunda. Hunda abducts Ashokasundari and tells her that he had killed Nahusha. The goddess was consoled by a Kinnara couple who informed her of Nahusha’s wellbeing and prophesied that she would mother a powerful son called Yayati and a hundred beautiful daughters. Nahusha fought Hunda and defeated him after a fierce battle and rescued Ashokasundari, whom he married. Over course of time, in absence of Indra, Nahusha was temporarily made the regent of heaven.[2][3][4]

References
  1. Bibek Debroy, Dipavali Debroy (2002). The holy Puranas. p. 152. "Nakusha and Ashokasundari had a son named Yayati.”
  2. Gaṅgā Rām Garg (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World Vol. 3. Concept Publishing Company. p. 712. ISBN 978-81-7022-376-4.
  3. Vettam Mani (1975). Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. pp. 62, 515–6. ISBN 978-0-8426-0822-0.
  4. George M. Williams (27 March 2008). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Oxford University Press. pp. 217–8, 230. ISBN 978-0-19-5332-61-2.
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