Svayaṃprabhā

Svayaṃprabhā was the daughter of a gandharva and a divine tapasvinī (a woman who practises tapas, austerity). She lived in a grand underground realm of lotus ponds and palaces, deep in a mountain cave in the southern forests. Her dear friend Hema, the daughter of Viśvakarma, told her to guard the cave and wait for the day when the vānaras who served Śrī Rāma would come to her.

When the search party came, Svayaṃprabhā received them kindly and told them the history of the cave. She then took the vānaras in an instant to the shore of the ocean. After that she went herself to Bhagavān Rāma for his darśana (sight). Bhagavān Rāma gave her the vara (a boon) of nityānapāyinī bhakti, devotion that never ends. She then left for Badarikāśrama to go on with her tapas.

Who she was

Svayaṃprabhā was the daughter of a divine gandharva. She was close to Hema, the daughter of Viśvakarma, the divine builder. Through her tapas, which pleased Maheśvara, Hema had obtained a grand underground palace with lakes full of lotuses, in a mountain cave in the southern wilderness. The two were close friends. Hema owned the wonderful realm, and Svayaṃprabhā was the trusted friend she left in charge of it.

The word of Hema and her task

Hema was leaving for Brahmaloka. She came to Svayaṃprabhā with a task and a foretelling. She said: “Stay here and do your tapas. In the Tretā Yuga the Rāmāvatāra will take place. Vānaras who serve Rāma and are searching for Sītā will come to this cave. Learn from them where Rāma is to be found. Then go and have his darśana. By this you will gain mukti (liberation).” With these words Hema left, and Svayaṃprabhā settled down to wait.

Receiving the vānaras

The vānaras of the southern search party entered the cave, drawn in by the sight of animals going in and coming out. Svayaṃprabhā knew them at once as the servants of Rāma whom Hema had foretold. She welcomed them warmly and served them fruits and water until they had recovered from their thirst and weariness.

She then told them who she was and told them the history of the cave. She said she was now ready for the second part of Hema’s word: she would go for Rāma’s darśana. She told the vānaras to close their eyes. By the power of yoga she had gathered through long tapas, she took them in an instant to the shore of the great southern ocean.

Darśana of Bhagavān Rāma and the gift of bhakti

Svayaṃprabhā went straight to Mount Pravarashaṇa, where Bhagavān Rāma was staying. She fell at his feet and praised him with words full of devotion. Bhagavān Rāma was moved by her bhakti and gave her the highest vara: nityānapāyinī bhakti, a devotion that would never leave her. It would last through every state and every birth, unbroken and steady.

At Bhagavān Rāma’s command she left for Badarikāśrama, the high Himālaya tīrtha of everlasting tapas. There she went on with her life of devotion.

Sources

• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa