Māṇḍakarṇi

Māṇḍakarṇi

Māṇḍakarṇi was a tapasvin (one who practises tapas, austerity) of the Daṇḍakāraṇya forest. His austerity was so severe that it alarmed the devas. For ten thousand years he lived on nothing but wind and water. The devas sent five apsarās to distract him, but all five became his wives. The lake near his āśrama is called Pañcāpsaras, the lake of the five apsarās. It is a sacred tīrtha (holy place).

Great tapas

Māṇḍakarṇi practised tapas for ten thousand years without a break. During all this time he lived on air (vāyu) and water (jala) alone. He gave up food completely. His tejas (radiance) grew very great. The devas saw this, feared for the order of their worlds, and met to decide how to check his austerity.

The five apsarās

The devas sent five apsarās to Māṇḍakarṇi’s āśrama to draw him away from his tapas. The plan did not work as they wished. The apsarās themselves were won over by him. All five gave up their task and became devoted to Māṇḍakarṇi. They stayed with him as his wives.

Pañcāpsaras lake

The lake near Māṇḍakarṇi’s āśrama became known as Pañcāpsaras, the lake of the five apsarās, in memory of this event. It became a sacred tīrtha. Rāma visited this āśrama and lake while travelling through the Daṇḍakāraṇya.

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Chapter 11