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saw him dead and felt such a great shock that she arranged to burn herself on a funeral pyre. At that time, Mahadeva appear. ed and blessed them-"In the next birth you will be born as Niṣādharāja and your wife will be reborn as your companion. You will be given the names of Nala and Damayanti."1
Suratha-It is known from a study of the Devi Mahatmya, otherwise known as Saptarși Candi included in the Markandeya Purana that king Suratha was a devoted worshipper of the Supreme Goddess and as a result of a boon received from the Mother attained after his death to the status of "Savarņī Manu."2
Jada Bharata-Visņu Purāņa gives the story of Jada Bharata, A son of king Rṣabha, he was very much religious and after ruling over kingdom for sometime he handed over the kingdom to his son and took way to the forest to practise Yoga. Before the attainment of perfection, he died and was born as 'Bharata' in the family of Yogis. He is known by the name of Jada Bharata. He went to Saligrama pilgrimage for the practice of Yoga but still could not get freedom from the bondage of death and birth. Once, he was wandering in the forest. Suddenly nearby, one lion roared and out of fear, a pregnant female deer fell in water. The deer died after the fall and the young one born then and there seemed to be alive floating on the water. Out of compassion, Bharata brought him out of water, took him to his Asrama and reared him up. At the time of his death, he thought of the young deer with the result that he was born a deer. On account of being a Yogi, he was a Jatismara (f). When born as deer, he would go to the Saligrama mountain to have his food i. e. leaves. In due course of time, he died and took birth in the pure Yogi's house and was well-versed in all the Sastras. This time also he was named Bharata. Even being full of wisdom, he would behave as a fool and hence people named him JADA
1. Siva Purana
2. Märkandeya Purana 93. 13-14
3. Vişņu Purana 2. 12. 33-34
