Śṛṅgavanta

Śṛṅgavanta

Śṛṅgavanta was a brāhmaṇa ṛshi, the son of the great ṛshi Gālava. He appears in the Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 52. In an assembly of ṛshis he agreed to marry the Vṛddha-kanyā (the old maiden), who had been created by Kuṇirgarga. He married her for one night only (eka rātri).

She offered him half of her stored tapas (austerity) in return. Through this marriage she could rise to the higher worlds. Śṛṅgavanta received half of her tapas. After a long time of grief for her, he reached the same place.

The marriage

Śṛṅgavanta was the son of Gālava, one of the well-known ṛshis of the tradition. The Vṛddha-kanyā made a public offer in the assembly of ṛshis: “I will give half my tapas to whoever will marry me.” Most of the ṛshis held back. Śṛṅgavanta came forward and agreed, but on one condition. The marriage would last a single night only.

She accepted. The marriage rites were done by the śāstras (the rules of the scriptures). That night the Vṛddha-kanyā, who had grown old through decades of tapas, became young and beautiful again. She was dressed in divine ornaments and garlands. Śṛṅgavanta was deeply moved by her, and they lived together for one night.

The parting

At dawn she let him go and said: “O excellent brāhmaṇa! I have fulfilled my vow. May good come to you. I depart.” Then she left her body.

Śṛṅgavanta received the half of her tapas that she had given him through the marriage. He spent a long time in grief and in meditation on her form. In the end he reached the same loka (world) where she had gone.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 52