Māṇḍakarṇi

Legend

Māṇḍakarṇi is said to have performed austere rites by staying in a stream and feeding on nothing but air for ten thousand years. Through these rites he gained great power, which alarmed the devas. Frightened by his tapas, they sent five lovely apsaras to beguile him and seduce him from his vows. They succeeded in their mission, and became bound to Māṇḍakarṇi as his wives. Through his holy power, he created a wondrous palace under the lake for the heavenly dames to enjoy. The lake is called Panchāpsaras ([the lake of] five apsaras). When wanderers come to the bank of the lake, they sometimes hear heavenly strains and charming music coming from beneath the water. This, Ramayana tells, is the sound of apsaras playing with their zones and bracelets for Māṇḍakarṇi's pleasure, who also restored his youth through his exceptional penance.

References

References

1. www.wisdomlib.org. (2019-02-19). "Mandakarni, Māṇḍakarṇi: 4 definitions".
2. "Ramáyana Book III: The Forest: Ancilliaries [sic]. Glossary of Important Sanskrit Words, Proper Nouns, and Epithets.".
3. Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899
4. Valmiki Ramayana translated by [[Ralph T. H. Griffith]] (1870–1874). Commentaries to Book III, Canto XI.
5. William Crooke. [http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/william-crooke/the-popular-religion-and-folk-lore-of-northern-india-volume-1-oor/page-5-the-popular-religion-and-folk-lore-of-northern-india-volume-1-oor.shtml The popular religion and folk-lore of northern India (Volume 1)]
6. [http://deccanvolcanological.com/Lonar_Symposium.pdf Lonar Crater Lake (Special Volume No.1) Proceedings: Symposium on Multi Disciplinary Approach to Understand the Lonar Lake (12–14 December 2008)] {{webarchive. link. (26 April 2012)