43.224.157.29: Corrected wording.

2021-08-29T00:26:51Z

Corrected wording.

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{{short description|Sage mentioned in ancient Indian scriptures}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Rishyashringa
| aliases = Shringi Rishi, Ekashringa
| image = Rishyashringa Lured into Anga Desha by Dancing Girls.jpg
| alt = Rishyashringa
| caption = Rishyashringa being lured by dancing girls, a painting by Balasaheb Pandit Pant Pratinidhi
| family = [[Vibhandaka]] (father)
| spouse = [[Shanta]]
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr = Information
| gender = Male
}}
'''Rishyashringa''' ({{lang-sa|ऋष्यशृंग}}; {{IAST3|Ṛṣyaśṛṅga}}; Pali: Isisiṅga) is a [[Rishi]] mentioned in Indian ([[Hindu texts|Hindu]]
and [[Buddhist texts|Buddhist]]) scriptures from the late first millennium BCE. According to the Hindu epics ''[[Ramayana]]'' and ''[[Mahabharata]]'', he was a boy born with the horns of a deer who became a seer and was lured by royal courtesans, which led to the [[yajna]] (fire sacrifice) of King [[Dasharatha]]. He also occurs in the [[Jataka tales|Buddhist Jatakas]], where he is mentioned as the son of [[Bodhisattva|Bodhisatta]] and was tried to seduce by royal or divine courtesans.

==Hindu legends==
[[File: Dasaratha sets out toward Angada to invite Rsyasrnga to his abode,C.1597-1605.jpg|thumb|150px|Dasaratha sets out toward Angada to invite Rsyasrnga to his abode – Folio from the Ramayana of Valmiki (The Freer Ramayana), Vol. 1, folio 20;]]
The story of Rishyasringa briefly appears in the ''[[Ramayana]]'', while a detailed account is narrated in the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.
===Birth===
According to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', [[Vibhandaka]], a renowned sage and a son of [[Kashyapa]], travels in Mahahrada, when he sees [[Urvashi]], the most beautiful [[apsara]] (nymph). Aroused, he emits his seed, which fells into river. A doe, who is a cursed apsara, swallows it and becomes pregnant due to the sage's miraculous powers. After she gives birth to a boy, she is liberated from the curse and returns to heaven. The boy is born with horns and because of which, he is named Rishyashringa. Vibhandaka decides to raise him isolated from society. Rishyashringa grows up in his father's [[ashram]] in the forest, unaware of existence of any female. He practices ''[[brahmacharya]]'' and acquires magical and miraculous powers due to his chastity.<ref name="M">{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/652/mode/1up|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto|pages = 652}}</ref><ref name="V">{{Cite journal|last=Verma|first=C D|date=2010|title=The Myth of Rishyashringa: An Indian Source of the "Waste Land" ("The Waste Land" Reappraised in relation to the Mahabharata)|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23342057|journal=Indian Literature|volume=54|issue=2 (256)|pages=151–161|issn=0019-5804}}</ref><ref name="R">{{Cite book|last=Santideva|first=Sadhu|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=TUFZ9XzzHAcC&pg=PA18&dq=Brahma+Mohini&hl=en&ei=dOPiTsOpK8rO4QSbrMGWBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Chapter-1&f=false|title=Ascetic Mysticism: Puranic Records of Siva and Shakti|date=2000|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-7020-998-0|language=en}}</ref>

===Temptation===
[[File:A group of women visiting the sage Rishyashringa.jpg|thumb| Rishishringa entice girls sent by king Lomapada.]]
[[File:Rsyasrnga travels to Ayodhya with Santa.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Rsyasrnga travels to Ayodhya with Santa]]
Meanwhile, [[Romapada]]—the kingdom of [[Anga]]—offends a [[Brahmina]], due to which no other Brahmana agrees to perform [[yajna]] (fire-sacrifice). This upsets [[Indra]], the king of the gods, and he stops raining on Anga. As a result, the kingdom suffers from drought and famine. Romapada is told that the only way to bring rainfall is by bringing a man with perfect chastity into the kingdom. Romapada comes to know about Rishyashringa and despite his fear of the power and anger of Vibhandaka, he sends some courtesans to Rishyasringa to bring him into his kingdom.

During Vibhandaka's absence, the women come to his ashram and meet Rishyashringa. They tell him that they were hermits. Rishyashringa becomes astonished by seeing their appearance and invites them to perform [[tapas (Hinduism)|tapas]] (penance) with him. Before Vibhandaka arrives, the women leave the place. Rishyashringa becomes love-sick and ignores his daily duties. The next day, the courtesans return and take Rishyashringa to Anga. As a result, the kingdom receives bountiful rains and Rishyasringa marries [[Shanta]]. Much of the story is taken up by accounts of the feelings of the young man as he becomes aware of women for the first time.<ref name="M"/><ref name="V"/><ref name = "R"/>

The story can be found in both the [[Ramayana]] and the [[Mahabharata]]. According to the ''[[Ramayana]]'', Rishyashringa was the chief priest when the king [[Dasharatha]] performed a [[yajna]] to beget progeny, and [[Rama]], [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]], and the twins [[Lakshmana]] and [[Shatrughna]] were born.<ref name=".B. Kanuga">{{cite book|author=Kanuga, G.B.|title=The Immortal Love of Rama|year=1993|publisher=Yuganter Press|location=New Delhi|pages=48–52|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHgW9SezCqoC&pg=PA48}}</ref><ref name="tree">{{cite web|url=https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/fascinating-story-of-a-man-who-had-never-seen-a-woman-in-his-life|title=fascinating-story-of-a-man-who-had-never-seen-a-woman-in-his-life|access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref>

[[File: God emerge from fire give food to Dasratha.jpg |thumb| Rishyasringa perform yagna for Dasaratha.]]

==Buddhist legends==
===Naḷinikā Jātaka===
[[File: Story of Rishi Sringa Reverse Shows Woman Carrying Wine Pot and Holding Bunch of Grapes - Circa 2nd Century CE - Bhuteshwar - ACCN 11-151 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5655.JPG|thumb|Story of Rishi Sringa Reverse Shows Woman Carrying Wine Pot and Holding Bunch of Grapes - Circa 2nd Century CE - [[Bhuteshwar]] [[Mathura Museum]].]]
The Naḷinikā Jātaka (Jā 526) introduces a [[bodhisattva|past life of the Buddha]], a [[rishi|sage]], living alone in the Himālayas. There is semen in the urine he passes, a doe who eats the grass in that place gets pregnant from it. A human boy named Isisiṅga ([[Pali]]) is later born to the deer and he grows up in complete seclusion from mankind, and most importantly, from womankind. He even don't know the difference in the body and appearance of the two.<ref name="jataka"/> <ref name="wisdom"/>

The boy's [[wikt: ascetic|ascetic]] power becomes so great that it disturbs the god [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Sakka]], the lord of heaven, who causes a drought to occur in the country and blames it on the boy. He then convinces the King to send his daughter to seduce him and to break the austerity of the young seer and to reduce his ascetic power. The King and his daughter accept Sakka's reasoning and in good faith – and for the benefit of the country – agree to be part of the plot.<ref name="jataka"/>

The girl dresses up as an ascetic and while the father is away gathering roots and fruits in the forest, she manages to seduce the boy, who has never seen a woman before. Through their revelling, the boy does indeed lose his powers, after which the girl departs. When his father returns, the infatuated boy informs him of the girl, only to be instructed and rebuked by his father. He then repents for his actions.<ref name="wisdom">{{cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rishyashringa|title=Rishyasringa|website= wisdomlib|access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref><ref name="jataka">{{cite web|url=http://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Texts-and-Translations/Jatakas/526-Nalinikajataka.htm|title= Text and Translation of Naḷinikā Jātaka and its Commentary|first=Ānandajoti|last= Bhikkhu|access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref>

===Alambusā Jātaka===
Jātaka 523, the Alambusā Jātaka, also recounts a similar story of Isisinga, in one other previous life of Bodhisatta. Here, [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Sakka]] chooses a [[apsara|heavenly nymph]] to seduce the ascetic. The outcome is the same: the sage is seduced, repents and Sakka is thwarted. In response, he grants a boon to the seductress.

The story also appears in the [[Mahāvastu]] (Jones' translation pp. 139–147), but Ekaśr̥ṅga, as he is known here, is the Bodhisattva, and Nalinī is a past life of [[Yaśodharā]]. A major variation in this version of the story is Ekaśr̥ṅga's ignorance of his marriage to the girl. He succumbs to worldly responsibilities, eventually becoming king and fathering 32 children before retiring again to the forest and regaining his former powers.<ref name="jataka"/>

==Present day==
[[File: The Ascetic Rishyashringa at His Hermitage Visited by Women LACMA M.76.149.1.jpg|thumb|150px|The Ascetic Rishyashringa at His Hermitage]]

Rishyashringa was from a place near Sringeri in Karnataka. There is an ancient big temple nearby which is believed to be the place where he lived before moving to Ayodhya.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sage-rishyashringa|url=https://www.sringeri.net/history/sage-rishyashringa|access-date=2020-08-08|website=sringeri.net.in}}</ref> Sringeri is also known as [[Sringeri|ShringaGiri]] (Sanskrit: the hills where RishyaShringa resided). The Shiva linga with which the sage merged, can be seen today at the temple in [[Kigga]].

There is a temple of rishyashringa named 'Chehni fort' situated in [[Banjar,_India|Banjar]] tehsil of Kullu [[District]] Himachal Pradesh. In Banjar valley, Rishyashringa is called "Shringa Rishi" by the locals. An idol of Shringa Rishi with goddess Shanta resides in the temple. This place is about 50  km from Kullu. Lord Shringa is the presiding deity of this secluded valley named Banjar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/banjar-the-abode-of-chief-deity-shringa-rishi-376677|title=banjar-the-abode-of-chief-deity-shringa-rishi-|website=[[The Tribune]]|access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Advaita Vedanta]]
*[[Vaisali (film)]]
*[[Singheshwar (community development block)|Singheshwar]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*'' Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.valmikiramayan.net/bala/sarga9/bala_9_prose.htm Translation of Bala Kanda in Rāmāyaṇa, Sarga 9 by Desiraju Hanumanta Rao]
{{Ramayana}}
{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
[[Category: Sages in the Ramayana]]
[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Rishis]]
[[Category:Jataka tales]]
[[Category:Pali Buddhist texts]]

Rishyasringa - Revision history

43.224.157.29: Corrected wording.