SHAKUNTALA

SHAKUNTALA

INTRODUCTION

In Adi Pārva, the first book of the Mahābhārata tells the Shakuntala story

This classic in Hindu lore has by many been retold,

Each with some variation. in its different versions,

But the central thread of this epic story has always been  the same.

APSARAS

In Hindu mythic vision apsaras are lovely  nymphs

That distract with song and dance deities, kings, even sages.

They are sent as obstacles to intense meditation

In order to prevent humans from attaining godly status.

Urvashi, Tilottama, Rambha and Giritachi were some of them.

VISHVAMITRA’S PENANCE & MENAKS

Vishvamitra was a sage a very eminent sage, indeed.

Once he started a penance  order to acquire more spiritual  power still.

When the Vedic god Indra saw this, he did not quite like

For this human trying to become too powerful someday.

So Indra sent Menaka,, a lovely apsara to distract

Vishvamitra from his very  intense meditation.

Menaka metamorphosed the thick forest where the sage

Was in deep meditation into a pretty garden.

Then apsara Menaka seduced Sage Vishvāmitra.

She bore him a daughter and left the baby

On the bank of a river nearby and retreated from the scene.

SAGE KANVA AND THE NAME

Then one day the sage Kanva saw the baby in his grove

It was surrounded by birds. So,  when he took this baby

And adopted it with love, he named it Shakuntala

Which means One who was  Protected by Birds.