Veṇuka
Veṇuka, “the one of the flute”
The Pratisarga Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa tells that Veṇuka was the son of Prajaya, also called Jayapāla, son of Rāshṭrapāla. Śāradā Devī had appeared to Prajaya as a maiden playing the veṇu (flute) and given him the city of Kānyakubja. Because of that veṇu-playing he gained a son named Veṇuka.
King Veṇuka married a lovely maiden named Kanyāmatī, given by the Devī. Seven daughters were born to him of Kanyāmatī. They arose from the auspicious kalā (portion) of the Mātṛkās, and each became famous by a Mātṛkā’s name:
| Daughter | Became famous as |
|---|---|
| Śītalā | Brāhmī |
| Pārvatī | Māheśvarī |
| Kanyā | Kaumārī |
| Pushpavatī | Vaishṇavī |
| Govardhanī | Vārāhī |
| Sindūrā | Indrāṇī |
| Kālī | Cāmuṇḍā |
His son was Yaśovigraha, born of that queen. Sūta tells this.
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 3