Tales froM Indian Mythology

SR No.: 006950
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A S Raman
Publisher: Kutub Popular
Publication Year: 1961
Total Pages: 166
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 128

Tales from Indian Mythology
"But I cannot visit her as Indra. I must go in disguise."
"Yes, can you assume the form of Gautama ?” enquired Chandra. "I will transform myself into a cock and crow exactly at midnight. Gautama will at once wake up thinking that it is the time for his morning oblations and go out for a bath in the river. Then you should disguise yourself as Gautama and enter his ashram. I assure you, Ahalya shall not suspect you."
"All right," agreed Indra. "Let us see how it works. There is no doubt that I am impatiently waiting for my meeting with Ahalya, just to tell her how much I admire her youth and beauty. But I do not know what is in store for all of us—including Ahalya. I really wish her well and we must ensure that nothing happens to her.”
"My Lord, leave everything to us," said Chandra and Manmatha, "and all will end well.” They departed at the sight of Sachi Devi who sat at the feet of her Lord, Indra.
He now began to imagine wildly his future happiness with Ahalya. But Sachi Devi had strange forebodings about what was going to happen. She cautioned him but he would not heed her warning. Encouraged by the assurances given by Chandra and Manmatha he naively anticipated Ahalya's enthusiastic response to his amorous advances. He scolded his consort whenever she tried to argue with him. She was among the few goddesses who were not jealous of Ahalya, because she realized how ephemeral merely physical charms are. Her piety, her devotion to her husband, her hospitality, her sense of right and wrong—these were the enduring traits in Ahalya's character that Sachi Devi admired most. She feared the worst for her husband