Kuvalaswa (Dhundhumara)
The sage Utanka used to live in a hermitage in a
desoltae place and for many years he practised severe penance to please Lord
Vishnu. At last Vishnu, being satisified with the penance appeared before Utanka
in His form and Utanka recited many hymns in His praise. The Lord was happy by
the hymns and wanted to give a boon. Sage Utanka said that he was satisfied to
get a vision of the God and that he did not want anything else. Lord Vishnu was
happy by the devotion but nevertheless He pressed for a boon. Utanka then asked
for the boon that he should remain devoted to Vishnu come whatever may and he
should never deviate from truth, purity, virtue and self content. At this the
Lord was very pleased and granted the same. He also said that great work will be
accomplished by Utanka for which the three worlds will be gratified. There was a
great Asura named Dhundhu who was undergoing the severemost ascetic penances to
rule the world. There was a great king named Vrihadaswa in the Ikshaku dynasty
and he would be having a very powerful son called Kuvalaswa. Urged and guided by
Utanka, the king, aided by the great Yoga power of Vishnu, would slay the Asura
Dhundhu and would become famous in the world as Dhundhumara. Saying this, Lord
Vishnu disappeared.
After the demise of Ikshaku, his son Sasada
ascended the throne of Ayodhya. After Sasada, came in succession Kakutstha of
great power. King Yuvanaswa was born in the same race and the grandson of
Yuvanaswa was Vrihadaswa. Vrihadaswa's sone was Kuvalaswa. Kuvalaswa had many
sons and was mightier and fiercer than his father. The royal sage Vrihadaswa
installed his son on his throne and was about to retire to the woods to practice
ascetism when sage Utanka, hearing that news came to meet him. Utanka persuaded
Vrihadaswa is many ways not to give up the throne. He said that the king was a
Kshatriya and it was his duty to protect people. He could not relinquish that
duty. There was a terrible Asura named Dhundhu who was the son of the two
ancient demons Madhu and Kaitava (whom Vishnu slayed in an earlier age during
creation). In order to get ascendancy over the three worlds the demon was
performing a terrible penance living in a desert called Ujjalaka, which was near
to Utanka's hermitage. That demon got a boon from Brahma and hence could not be
slayed by deities and gandharvas and rakshasas and other celestials. He was
living underneath that vast desert and once in a year when he came out to
breathe, it caused a great havoc in surrounding nature. Utanka then told
Vrihadaswa to come and slay the asura. He assured that the king's energy will be
enhanced by Lord Vishnu and he would be much more powerful on account of that
divine energy or shakti.
King Vrihadaswa replied with folded hands as a
gesture of respect, that he would not be able to go and slay the asura as he had
renounced his throne and given up all his weapons but he would ensure that
Utanka's purpose did not go in vain. He therefore requested Utanka to take help
of his son Kuvalaswa who he thought would be the best person to confront the
demon. He then asked his son to help in Utanka's mission. Utanka also heartily
agreed to this proposal.
Dhundhu was born of Madhu and Kaitava, the two
Asuras who were slain by Vishnu. Dhundhu was therefore angry with Vishnu and had
one purpose in life, that of defeating Him. He therefore performed severemost
penances and the grandfather of the creation, Lord Brahma, was happy with his
penance and asked him for a boon. Dhundhu replied that he should be unslayable
by deities, demons, rakshasas, gandharvas, nagas, yakshas and other celestials.
Brahma readily agreed and went His way. Dhundhu then went to destroy Vishnu. He
began to distress the celestials and then came to the region of the desert known
as ujjalaka where he spent time is severe penances with the object of destroying
the three worlds. In the vicinity was Utanka's ashrama which was troubled on
account of the asura.
Kuvalaswa then together with his vast army, his
twenty one thousand sons and Utanka came to the spot where the asura was living.
Lord Vishnu enhanced his energy and he was shining like a blazing fire. The
celestials were very pleased with the mission and Indra showered a gentle rain
to wash away all dusts on the way. Cool breeze began to blow and celestial cars
could be seen and celestial drums were beaten to celebrate the success.
Kuvalaswa's sons surrounded the region where the mighty asura lay and excavated
the sand nearby for seven days. They also began to hit the asura hard with their
battle weapons. At this the demon was much afflicted and he was filled with
wrath. He began to emit fire from his mouth which engulfed the army, destroyed
all weapons and burnt to ashes the sons of Kuvalaswa.
Kuvalaswa then himself took charge of the battle.
Aided by the Yoga power of Lord Vishnu, he emitted from his body a stream of
water which soon extinguished the fire of the asura. He then took the mighty
weapon called brahmastra and killed the asura with it. This feat was extremely
wonderful and was applauded by all the sages and the celestials and the king
came to be called as Dhundumara on account of it (literally: one which has
killed Dhundhu). All the celestials and sages then wanted to give boons to the
king for performing for them a highly agreeable task and thus saving the world
from destruction. the king requested that he should be always established in
virtue and should have everlasting friendship with Vishnu, should able to always
give gifts to best of Brahmins and should reside in heaven forever after his
death. The celestials and sages gladly granted the same. The king still had
three of his sons who survived the battle and through them the Ikshaku dynasty
continued its glory.
