Citrāṅgadā, Daughter of Viśvakarmā
Citrāṅgadā was the daughter of Viśvakarmā, the divine architect of the devas. She was one of the principal brides at the great gathering at Hāṭakeśvara. There she was married to Sūratha, the king of Vidarbha. Her wedding is part of the longer Hāṭakeśvara account in Chapters 37 to 40 of the Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa.
Who she was
Her name Citrāṅgadā means “one with a brightly adorned body”. Her father Viśvakarmā is the craftsman of the devas who built their cities. She belonged to the highest line of divine builders.
Other figures in the tradition share her name. One is Citrāṅgadā, the princess of Maṇipura, who is the mother of Babhruvāhana in the Mahābhārata. Citrāṅgadā, daughter of Viśvakarmā, is a different person. Her story belongs only to the Hāṭakeśvara account of the Vāmana Purāṇa.
Marriage at Hāṭakeśvara
Citrāṅgadā was among the divine women whose marriages were arranged and carried out at the sacred tīrtha of Hāṭakeśvara. Her husband was Sūratha, the king of Vidarbha, who sought her as his bride. In the course of the wedding, her father Viśvakarmā appears in the form of a monkey.
Sources
- Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 37–40 (the Hāṭakeśvara account)
- Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 37–39 (the marriage)