Sukanya ( sa, सुकन्या, lit=wonderful virgin, translit=Sukanyā) is a princess In
Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology is the body of myths and literature attributed to, and espoused by, the adherents of the Hindu religion, found in Hindu texts such as the Vedic literature, epics like ''Mahabharata'' and ''Ramayana'', the Puranas, and reg ...
. She is the daughter of Sharyati, the son of
Vaivasvata Manu, and the wife of the sage
Chyavana.
Legend
Marriage
According to the narrative found in the
Vana Parva of the
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
, Sage
Chyavana was so absorbed in practising austerities on the side of a lake that termites built up their mound all over his body and only his eyes were left. Once, Sharyati, along with his army and household, came to visit the place. Sukanya, daughter of King Sharyati, seeing only two bright eyes in what seemed to be an anthill, poked them with a stick. Chyavana felt excessive pain and became furious. He obstructed the excretory functions of the men of Sharyati's army. He was propitiated only after the king gave him his daughter, Sukanya, in marriage.
Deduction
Once, the
Ashvins visited the hermitage of Chyavana. They saw the beautiful Sukanya while she was bathing. They tried to convince Sukanya to reject the old and ugly Chyavana, and accept one of them as her husband. Furious, the princess rejected their proposal. The deities then promised to restore the youth and eyesight of Chyavana first, so that she could make an unbiased choice amongst her present husband, and one of them. The princess was tempted, because this would mean that her husband's vigour would be restored. Sukanya promised to consider their proposal, and informed Chyavana. At the behest of Chyavana, Sukanya requested the Ashvins to allow her to make her choice. All three took a bath in the lake, and came out with the same youthful, divine look. Each of them requested Sukanya to be his bride, but she successfully identified Chyavana and selected him, in some accounts, after praying to
Adi Parashakti. In gratitude for his restored youth and eyesight, Chyavana assured the Ashvins that he would ensure that the deities would get their share of the sacrificial offerings.
According to the Mahabharata, Sukanya bore her husband a son called Pramati.
See also
*
Mada
Mada ( sa, मद) is a term used in both Āstika and nāstika, Hindu theology and Hindu mythology, mythology. It is one of the Arishadvargas. It refers to one of the six enemy of the mind or a vice according to the Hindu texts, Hindu scriptures ...
*
Ahalya
In Hinduism, Ahalyā ( sa, अहल्या, IAST: Ahalyā) also known as Ahilya, is the wife of the sage Gautama Maharishi. Many Hindu scriptures say that she was seduced by Indra (the king of gods), cursed by her husband for infidelity ...
*
Rukmini
References
{{reflist
Characters in Hindu mythology