Bālavatī

Bālavatī was the daughter of the Vedic ṛshi Kaṇva. She kept a ten-year vow to Bhagavān Sūrya on the bank of the Śābhramatī river. Bhagavān Sūrya came to test her in the form of a brāhmaṇa and gave her jujube fruits that would not cook. Rather than disappoint her guest, she put her own feet into the fire again and again through the day. Moved by her endurance, Bhagavān Sūrya showed his true form and took her to his own world, Sūryaloka. The tīrtha (sacred place) where she did her tapas (austerity) was named Bālāpa after her.

Family

Bālavatī was the daughter of the great Vedic ṛshi Kaṇva. Kaṇva is known for raising Śakuntalā in the Mahābhārata. Her name is explained as “the powerful one” or “the youthful-strong one”. As the daughter of a great ṛshi, she was born into a home of tapas and dharma.

The Sūrya vow

Bālavatī took a hard vow (vrata) to Bhagavān Sūrya for ten years on the bank of the Śābhramatī river. The details of the vow are not given. It involved long austerity, purity and devotion to Bhagavān Sūrya over ten years.

The test

When the ten-year vow was done, Bhagavān Sūrya came down to test her. He appeared as a brāhmaṇa. He gave her five badara (jujube) fruits and asked her to cook them for him. All through the day, however she tried, the fire would not cook the fruits. This was a divine obstacle and a part of the test.

Bālavatī’s answer

Bālavatī would not fail her guest or accept defeat. She was set on sending the brāhmaṇa away satisfied. All through the day she put her own feet into the fire, again and again. She bore great pain to honour the brāhmaṇa’s request. She put atithi-sevā (service to a guest) and the completion of her vow above any cost to herself.

Bhagavān Sūrya shows himself

Bhagavān Sūrya was moved by her great endurance and purity. He showed his true blazing divine form before her. He declared that the tīrtha would be named Bālāpa in her honour for all time. He then took her to Sūryaloka, his own world.

The tīrtha

The tīrtha Bālāpendratīrtha on the Śābhramatī marks her tapas and her reaching Sūryaloka. By her own hard austerity and devotion, she reached the highest worlds.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 152