Hinduism: Details about 'Ahalya'
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Ahalya (Sanskrit: अहल्या, ahalyā) was the wife of the sage Gautama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. After her adultery with the god Indra, Gautama cursed her to suffer tapas (austere penance); some versions of the story say she was made invisible or was turned to stone. She was liberated by Rama and Lakshmana. In detailThe story of Ahalya is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayan 23rd Sarga. The name Ahalya is composed of two words – Aa is a negation term and Halya means deformity. Therefore Ahalya means one without any deformity. Ahalya was very beautiful. Indra once saw Ahalya and was captured by her beauty and longed for her. Once when rishi Gautama was away from his ashram, Indra disguised himself as Gautama and came to the ashram with the intention of possessing her. Ahalya could not recognise Indra and consented to Indra's overtures. After mating, Indra tried to run away fearing the anger of Gautama, who would come there at any moment. Just as Indra stepped out of the ashram, Gautam came and saw him. Indra grew pale with fear. Gautam saw that Indra was in his (Gautama's) disguise and after seeing Indra's pale face he understood what had happened. He cursed Indra to become a eunuch. Then he turned towards Ahalya and cursed her saying that she would do severe tapas (meditation on god) in the ashram for a long time. Then Gautam left the place. Later after several years, Rama and Lakshmana while going to Mithilapuri with Sage Vishwamitra saw this ashram. They asked Vishwamitra about this ashram who told them about Ahalya's story. Rama and Lakshmana entered the ashram and saw that Ahalya was meditating. They touched her feet and sought her blessings. Ahalya was happy to meet them. Meeting Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu released Ahalya from the effects of Gautama's curse. There are certain (#Gautama cursed her to become invisible and to feed only on air while meditating: This is completely false. Ahalya used to take khanda-mool (roots and tubers), water, etc. from the jungle for eating. She was not invisible. It is mentioned in verse 13 of 23rd sarga, that neither sur (good man) or asura (bad man) could look at her. The correct meaning of this verse can only be given by a yogi (a person learned of vedas and practising yoga). Unlearned commentators say that she was invisible. Now the right meaning of this verse is: Ahalya used to do severe tapas. It is a deep vedic knowledge that when tapaswi (male doing meditation) or tapaswini (female doing meditation) reaches the extreme stage of tapa (meditation) then there will be a very bright glow on his/her eyes and face. So no one can look at him/her continuously. No one can look at the sun continuously. Similar is this case. So this is the correct meaning of verse 13.
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