Līlāvatī, Wife of Hārita

Līlāvatī was the devoted wife of the ṛshi Hārita of Maulisthāna. Together they did unbroken tapas (austerity) for twenty-one yugas at the Maulisthāna tīrtha (holy place). They had one wish: to have Bhagavān Nṛsiṃha as their son.

Bhagavān Nṛsiṃha appeared before them in person. In answer to their great devotion, he chose to live at Maulisthāna for ever.

Her name and character

Līlāvatī’s name means “one who has grace or play”. The Padma Mahā Purāṇa describes her as very meritorious, always of virtuous nature and always under the guidance of her husband. The divine appearance at Maulisthāna was given “before the two”, and not to Hārita alone.

The joint tapas

The tapas of Līlāvatī and Hārita at Maulisthāna lasted twenty-one yugas, a length of time beyond human measure. The Purāṇa shows the two as one inseparable pair. When Bhagavān Nṛsiṃha appeared, he spoke to them both. When they told him their wish for a son, they spoke in the dual form. His reply, “I am certainly your son”, was given to both of them as joint parents.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 174