Pulaha
Pulaha
Pulaha is a great ṛshi and one of the prajāpatis who stand in the sabhā of Brahmā (Pitāmaha) and worship him. The Vāmana Purāṇa names him among the ṛshis remembered at dawn in the suprabhāta stotra of Bhagavān Śiva, and among those called on to give kalyāṇa (auspiciousness) in the svastivācana that Śrī Hari spoke for Skanda. At the marriage of Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī, Himavān names his daughter in relation to Pulaha as he gives her away. When Bhagavān Vishṇu took the form of Vāmana, the young brahmacārī, Pulaha was among the ṛshis who gave him the gifts of a vaṭu: the yajñopavīta (sacred thread) in one account of the Purāṇa, and an āsana (seat) in the other.
In the sabhā of Brahmā
When the daitya Bali had become unconquerable for Indra, the devas went with Kaśyapa Prajāpati to Brahmaloka. There, in a sabhā ringing with the Sāma chant and the recitation of the Ṛgveda, they saw Brahmā, Lokapitāmaha, guru of the suras and asuras. Around him, worshipping him, stood Daksha, the Pracetases, Pulaha, Marīci, Bhṛgu, Atri, Vasishṭha, Gautama, Nārada and other brahmaṇyas (those devoted to Brahman). With them, taking bodily form, the vidyās, the five elements and their qualities, prakṛti and mahat, the four Vedas with their aṅgas and upāṅgas, and naya, kratu, saṅkalpa and prāṇa also served Brahmā.
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 3
Pulaha in the suprabhāta and the svastivācana
The ṛshis taught the rākshasa Sukeśī the suprabhāta stotra given by Śaṅkara, to be recited on rising at brāhma-muhūrta. In it one prays: “May Bhṛgu, Vasishṭha, Kratu, Aṅgiras, Manu, Pulastya, Pulaha and Gautama, Raibhya and Marīci, Cyavana and Ṛbhu give me a good morning.”
Pulastya Maharshi told Nārada Maharshi of the svastivācana (blessing for well-being) that Śrī Hari spoke for Skanda, for his victory and for the destruction of Mahisha. In it Śrī Hari says: “May Marīci, Atri, Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, Vasishṭha, Bhṛgu, Aṅgiras, Mārkaṇḍeya and the seven great ṛshis always give you kalyāṇa.”
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 14, 32
At the marriage of Śiva and Pārvatī
At the marriage of Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī, Bhagavān Śiva came to the southern vedi, filled with ṛshis, and Himavān came to the maṇḍapa with a madhuparka and sat turned towards the Saptarshis. With joined palms he spoke to Śarva: “O Deva! My daughter, Pulaha’s anna-pautrī, the daughter’s daughter (dauhitrī) of the Pitṛdevatās, this maiden Kālī I give to you. Accept her and bless me.” Then he placed his daughter’s hand in the hand of Hara.
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 27
His gifts to Bhagavān Vāmana
When Śrī Hari had appeared as Vāmana and Brahmā had praised him, Śrī Hari asked for his upanayana, and Bharadvāja Maharshi performed it and gave him the dīkshā of the brahmacarya vrata. Then all who were there brought gifts to the wondrous vaṭu. Pulaha gave the yajñopavīta; Pulastya a white lower garment; Agastya the kṛshṇājina (black antelope skin); Bharadvāja the mekhalā (girdle); Marīci the staff of palāśa wood; Vasishṭha the akshamālā; Aṅgiras a bunch of darbha grass; King Raghu an umbrella; King Nṛga wooden sandals; and Bṛhaspati the kamaṇḍalu (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 62).
In the Saro Māhātmya, Romaharshaṇa tells the gifts this way: Brahmā gave the kṛshṇājina, Bṛhaspati the yajñopavīta, Marīci the āshāḍha daṇḍa, Vasishṭha the kamaṇḍalu, the Aṅgirasas a silk garment, Pulaha an āsana, and Pulastya the pītāmbara (yellow garment). Then Vāmana, who is made of all the devas, set out for the yajña of Bali (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 9).
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 62; Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 9
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 14, 27, 32, 62; Saro Māhātmya, Chapters 3, 9