Pulastya

In Hindu mythology, Pulastya (Sanskrit: पुलस्त्य) was one of the ten Prajapati or mind-born sons of Brahma,[2] (Manas Putra) and one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the first Manvantara.[3] Pulastya was born from the Karṇa—ear—of Brahmā. (Chapter 65, Ādi Parva and Bhāgavata). while other source states- Pulastya (पुलस्त्य) was created as a Sādhaka (aspirant) by Brahmā out of his vital breath named Udāna, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.16.

Pulastya
Personal information
ParentsBrahma (father)
SpouseManini (also known as Havirbhu)[1]
ChildrenVishrava, Agastya

The seven great Rishi or saptarshi of the first manvantara are Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatsya, and Vashishtha'.

In Puranic literature

He was the medium through which some of the Puranas were communicated to the mankind.[4] He received the Vishnu Purana from Brahma and communicated it to Parashara, who made it known to mankind.

He was father of Vishrava and the great Rishi, Agastya. Vishrava Muni was the father of Kubera and Ravana, and all the Yaksha are supposed to have sprung from him. Pulastya was married to one of Rishi Kardam's nine daughters named Havirbhoo. Pulastya Rishi had son Vishrava who in turn had two wives: one was Kaikesi who gave birth to Ravana, Shurpanakha, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana; and another was Ilavida and had a son named Kubera.

Once, Bhishma did a great tapas at a place called Gangadwar. Being pleased by his austere penance, Lord Brahma instructed Pulastya to go to Gangadwar and bless Bhishma. After reaching there, Pulastya told Bhishma that Lord Brahma was pleased by his penance. 'Ask any boon you wish for' said Pulastya. Bhishma thanked his good fortune of getting a chance to meet Sage Pulastya. He requested Pulastya to reveal how Lord Brahma had created the world. Padmapurana is thus told by Pulastya to Bheeshma.

Pulastya is the story teller to the questions of Narada in Vamanapurana.

In Ramakien

In Thai National epic Ramakien, Pulastya is call Latsatian. He was the second king of Lanka and the father of Thotsakan.[5]

Archaeology

Certain sources claim that the famous granite statue of a king in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, which was first thought to be of King Parakramabahu the Great, might actually be the Pulastya Rishi. This idea was later proven to be false by Prof. Senarath Paranawithana. Apart from this, no other statues, carvings, paintings or friezes of Pulastya Rishi have been found on the island.(Sri Lanka)

  • The historical statue in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka which is meant to be of Pulatsya sage. This idea was proven false by Prof. Senarath Paranavithana.

References
  1. "History of Kubera". Manuscrypts. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  2. Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 - 1896). "The Mahabharata". Sacred texts.
  3. Inhabitants of the Worlds Mahanirvana Tantra, translated by Arthur Avalon, (Sir John Woodroffe), 1913, Introduction and Preface. The Rishi are seers who know, and by their knowledge are the makers of shastra and "see" all mantras. The word comes from the root rish Rishati-prapnoti sarvvang mantrang jnanena pashyati sangsaraparangva, etc. The seven great Rishi or saptarshi of the first manvantara are Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulatsya, and Vashishtha. In other manvantara there are other saptarishi. In the present manvantara the seven are Kashyapa, Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja. To the Rishi the Vedas were revealed. Vyasa taught the Rigveda so revealed to Paila, the Yajurveda to Vaishampayana, the Samaveda to Jaimini, Atharvaveda to Samantu, and Itihasa and Purana to Suta. The three chief classes of rishi are the Brahmarshi, born of the mind of Brahma, the Devarshi of lower rank, and Rajarshi or Kings who became rishi through their knowledge and austerities, such as Janaka, Ritaparna, etc. Thc Shrutarshi are makers of Shastras, as Sushruta. The Kandarshi are of the Karmakanda, such as Jaimini.
  4. John Dowson (5 November 2013). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature. Routledge. pp. 244–. ISBN 978-1-136-39029-6.
  5. "ความรู้เรื่อง'ทศกัณฐ์'จาก อ.อักษรศาสตร์ จุฬาฯ-'วัฒนธรรมย่อมเปลี่ยนไปตามผู้เสพ'" (in Thai). Matichon Online. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  • Buck, William. Ramayana. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976.
  • Dowson, John (1820–1881). A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature. London: Trübner, 1879 [Reprint, London: Routledge, 1979]. This book is in the public domain (and no copyright notice appears in the latest edition).
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