Suśīlā Gandharvī

Suśīlā was the daughter of the gandharva Suśīla. She was one of five inseparable gandharva kanyakās (maidens) who came to the Acchoda sarovara (lake) to give pūjā to Gaurī. Her four companions were Pramohinī, Susvārā, Sutārā and Candrikā.

She was cursed (śāpa) to become a piśāca after she pressed herself upon the brahmacarī (celibate student), the son of the ṛshi Vaidyanidhi. She was freed by bathing in the Narmadā under the guidance of Lomaśa Maharshi. She then married the brahmacarī in gāndharva-vivāha on the bank of the Revā, and in the end she reached Vishṇu-loka.

Character and role

Suśīlā was named after her father, the gandharva Suśīla. Like all five kanyakās, she was skilled in all the arts of music, dance and citralekhana (drawing). They all grew up together in Kubera’s realm.

At the high point of the account, the kanyakās tried to hold the brahmacarī back. Suśīlā and Susvārā took hold of his hands. This was part of the shared act that led to the cursing on both sides and to their becoming piśācas at the Acchoda sarovara.

After Lomaśa Maharshi’s grace freed them and the Narmadā touched them, Suśīlā was among those who married the brahmacarī in gāndharva-vivāha on the bank of the Revā. Afterwards she reached Vishṇu-loka.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Svarga Khaṇḍa, Chapters 22–23