Dileepa
Encyclopedia
Dilīpa in Hindu mythology
is said to have been one of the most righteous and chivalrous emperors that the Solar Dynasty or the Ikshvaku dynasty
, had ever produced. He was childless for a long time. In the matter of begetting an heir, he took the advice of Vasishta. The sage divined his condition and told him that, once on the way back to earth after fighting a war on the side of the Gods, Dilipa failed to notice the divine cow Kamadhenu
on his way and passed without paying his respects to her. Thereby he incurred the anger of the cow, who cursed the king to go childless. To negate the ill-effects of the curse, the king was advised to worship the divine cow Nandini
who was the daughter of Kamadhenu
, and thereby to earn her goodwill.
The king faithfully served Kamadhenu
for twenty-one days. He slept where the cow slept, ate when the cow ate and washed the cow and took very good care of it. On the twenty-second day, when the cow was grazing in the field, a lion appeared suddenly and pounced to eat Nandini
. The king tried to kill the lion but could not, because the lion happened to be a servant of Lord Shiva
and he cast a spell on King Dileepa that made him motionless. The king wanted to protect the cow but could not do anything but speak. He begged the lion to spare the cow and eat him instead and bowed before the lion.
Seeing that the king was willing to sacrifice himself to save her, the cow was very much pleased. She revealed that the incident was actually a trick which she had played on the king to test his faithfulness. Nandini
removed the curse of her mother and the King very soon begat a son, who came to be called as Raghu
meaning one who was learned in the shastras and who vanquished the enemies in war.
Dilipa was a very pious king known to be by his another name as Khatwang, and performed as many as 100 yagnas or sacrificial rituals. Until he did so, only Indra
, king of the Gods, had earned that distinction. In a bid to prevent Dileepa from equaling his record, Indra
placed many hurdles in the path of the successful completion of the 100th sacrifice, but Raghu
, son of Dilipa, was able to prevail over the forces of Indra
himself, and the sacrifice was completed successfully.
The legends recounted in this article form a substantial portion of Kalidasa
's poetic work, the Raghuvaṃśa
.
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
is said to have been one of the most righteous and chivalrous emperors that the Solar Dynasty or the Ikshvaku dynasty
Ikshvaku dynasty
The Ikshvaku dynasty, in Puranic literature, was a mythical dynasty founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. This dynasty is also known as . The important personalities belonging to this royal house are Harishchandra, Dilīpa, Sagara, Raghu, Rama and Prasenajit...
, had ever produced. He was childless for a long time. In the matter of begetting an heir, he took the advice of Vasishta. The sage divined his condition and told him that, once on the way back to earth after fighting a war on the side of the Gods, Dilipa failed to notice the divine cow Kamadhenu
Kamadhenu
Kamadhenu , also known as Surabhi , is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hindu mythology as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed as the mother of other cattle as well as the eleven Rudras...
on his way and passed without paying his respects to her. Thereby he incurred the anger of the cow, who cursed the king to go childless. To negate the ill-effects of the curse, the king was advised to worship the divine cow Nandini
Nandini
In Sanskrit, it means daughter.It is generally used as a first name for girls.The root, nand, refers to delight, pleasure, enjoyment. The Sanskrit word nadana...
who was the daughter of Kamadhenu
Kamadhenu
Kamadhenu , also known as Surabhi , is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hindu mythology as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed as the mother of other cattle as well as the eleven Rudras...
, and thereby to earn her goodwill.
The king faithfully served Kamadhenu
Kamadhenu
Kamadhenu , also known as Surabhi , is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hindu mythology as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed as the mother of other cattle as well as the eleven Rudras...
for twenty-one days. He slept where the cow slept, ate when the cow ate and washed the cow and took very good care of it. On the twenty-second day, when the cow was grazing in the field, a lion appeared suddenly and pounced to eat Nandini
Nandini
In Sanskrit, it means daughter.It is generally used as a first name for girls.The root, nand, refers to delight, pleasure, enjoyment. The Sanskrit word nadana...
. The king tried to kill the lion but could not, because the lion happened to be a servant of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and he cast a spell on King Dileepa that made him motionless. The king wanted to protect the cow but could not do anything but speak. He begged the lion to spare the cow and eat him instead and bowed before the lion.
Seeing that the king was willing to sacrifice himself to save her, the cow was very much pleased. She revealed that the incident was actually a trick which she had played on the king to test his faithfulness. Nandini
Nandini
In Sanskrit, it means daughter.It is generally used as a first name for girls.The root, nand, refers to delight, pleasure, enjoyment. The Sanskrit word nadana...
removed the curse of her mother and the King very soon begat a son, who came to be called as Raghu
Raghu
The Great Emperor Raghu was a valorous king of the Ikshvaku dynasty. According to the Raghuvamsha, he was born to king Dilipa and his queen Sudakshina. His name in Sanskrit means the fast one, deriving from Raghu's chariot driving abilities. So celebrated were the exploits of Raghu, that his...
meaning one who was learned in the shastras and who vanquished the enemies in war.
Dilipa was a very pious king known to be by his another name as Khatwang, and performed as many as 100 yagnas or sacrificial rituals. Until he did so, only Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
, king of the Gods, had earned that distinction. In a bid to prevent Dileepa from equaling his record, Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
placed many hurdles in the path of the successful completion of the 100th sacrifice, but Raghu
Raghu
The Great Emperor Raghu was a valorous king of the Ikshvaku dynasty. According to the Raghuvamsha, he was born to king Dilipa and his queen Sudakshina. His name in Sanskrit means the fast one, deriving from Raghu's chariot driving abilities. So celebrated were the exploits of Raghu, that his...
, son of Dilipa, was able to prevail over the forces of Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
himself, and the sacrifice was completed successfully.
The legends recounted in this article form a substantial portion of Kalidasa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
's poetic work, the Raghuvaṃśa
Raghuvamsa
Raghuwamsa or Raghu race is a legendary lineage of warrior kings tracing its ancestry to the Hindu solar deity Surya. Kalidasa's famous work, Raghuvaṃśa depicts the legend of this race. The progenitor of the lineage was Raghu, son of the emperor Dileepa. Raghu was father of Aja, and thus...
.
External links
- http://moralstories.wordpress.com/2006/06/08/the-story-of-dilipa-maharaja/