Kalmashapada is a mythological king. He is also known as Saudasa. Once Kalmashapada went to hunting in the jungle and encountered Saktri or Sakti, the son of Vasishtha. He met him in a narrow path in a thicket and asked Saktri to move out of his way. The sage Saktri refused to move and in return Kalmashapada struck the sage with his whip. Saktri cursed the king to become a cannibal or a man eating rakshasa.
Vishwamitra once had a quarrel with Vasishtha. Vishwamitra was looking for a way to harm Vasishtha and his family. Vishwamitra directed a Rakshasa to take control of the king so that he might become the instrument of destroying the family of the rival saint.
Mitrasaha, a Brahman came to visit Kalmashapada and asked for food. The king Kalmashapada ordered his cook to dress human flesh, and give it to the Brahman. Mitrasaha came to know what the food and again cursed that Kalmashapada would become a cannibal. With the effect of this Kalmashapada began to eat men. One of his first victims was Saktri, who he slew and ate. Under the secret impulse of Vishwamitra's demon, Kalmashapada killed and ate greedily all the other sons of Vasishtha. Vasishtha in the end liberated Kalmashapada from the Rakshasa who possessed him, and restored him to his natural character.
This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com
(Last Updated on : 25-09-2009)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Religion
|
|
|
• | Varna System in Ancient India Varna System in Ancient India formed the basic structure of Hindu society. It is among the world’s oldest forms of surviving social stratification. Varna system divided the society into four major sections based on the occupation of the people.
| | • | Nadar Caste One of the most renowned castes of Tamil Nadu is the Nadar caste. The Nadar community is a mixture of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which came under one banner of Nadar caste gradually.
| | • | Concept of Ultimate Reality Concept of Ultimate Reality in Bhagavad Gita states that Brahman is ground of existence and all realities. As per the Concept of Ultimate Reality, Brahman is all-embracing, uncreated and infinite. Brahman is the reason and objective of all that exists in the world..
| | • | Elements of Vastu Vastu Shastra is traditional Indian systems of architecture originating in India. Elements of Vastu are Earth, Water, Air, Space and Fire.
| | • | Sati Sati is the wife of Lord Shiva and the Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is known to have immolated herself unable to tolerate foul words for her husband, spoken by her father Daksha.
| | |
|
|
|
|