Shravana Kumara - Revision history

Dokania: /* Death */ Added valmiki Ramayana reference

2026-09-24T14:47:02Z

Death: Added valmiki Ramayana reference

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 24 September 2026
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	[[File:King Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his aged Parents.jpg\|thumb\|left\|251x251px\|Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his parents (painting by Laharu of Chamba)]]		[[File:King Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his aged Parents.jpg\|thumb\|left\|251x251px\|Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his parents (painting by Laharu of Chamba)]]

	According to the [[Ramayana]], while hunting in the ~~forest~~ of ~~Ayodhya~~, the ~~then-Prince Dasharatha heard a~~ sound ~~near~~ a ~~lake~~ and shot an arrow~~, hoping to hit an animal. When he crossed~~ the ~~lake to collect his kill~~, ~~he found that his arrow had~~ fatally ~~struck a teenage boy who was bleeding~~. ~~The injured boy was Shravana, who then told Dasharatha he had come to the lake to collect water for his sick and aged parents, who were both blind and whom he had been carrying on a sling~~. ~~With his dying breath, Shravana requested Dasharatha to take water to his parents and to tell them what happened~~.		According to the ''[[Ayodhya Kanda]]'' of the ''[[Valmiki Ramayana]]'', the incident is recounted by King [[Dasharatha]] to Queen [[Kaushalya\|Kausalya]]. In his youth as crown prince, Dasharatha possessed the skill of ''śabdavedhī'' (archery guided solely by sound). On a night during the rainy season, while hunting on the banks of the [[Sarayu]] river, he heard the sound of water filling a pitcher and mistook it for an elephant drinking. Dasharatha shot an arrow toward the sound, fatally striking an ascetic youth.<ref name="VR_2.63">{{cite web \|url=https://srivalmikiramayana.com/en/?pid=2618 \|title=Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Sarga 63 \|website=Sri Valmiki Ramayana}}</ref>

	Shravana ~~then~~ succumbed to his ~~wounds~~. When Dasharatha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasharatha that he too would experience 'Putrashoka' (Sanskrit, '<nowiki/>''putra''<nowiki/>' is child/son and '''shoka''<nowiki/>' is sorrow, or grief; grief due to loss of a son). Thus, Shravana's sick and thirsty parents died without drinking water.<ref name="indiatoday2008">[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/20080602-an-unfinished-ancient-tale-736413-2008-05-23 An unfinished ancient tale]. IndiaToday.in. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2012-09-14.</ref>		Upon rushing to the scene, Dasharatha found the unnamed hermit's son (popularly identified as Shravana Kumara) dressed in tree bark and deer skin with matted hair (''jaṭā''), who had been drawing drinking water for his elderly, blind parents. Grieving that his dependent parents would perish without him, the dying youth instructed Dasharatha to inform his father before the sage could curse him. Sensing Dasharatha's horror and fear of committing ''[[brahmahatya]]'' (the sin of killing a [[Brahmin]]), the youth assuaged his conscience by revealing that he was not a Brahmin, but the son of a [[Vaishya]] father and a [[Shudra]] mother.<ref name="VR_2.63" />

			At the hermit's request, Dasharatha pulled the arrow from his body, whereupon the youth succumbed to his injury and died.<ref name="VR_2.63" />

			When Dasharatha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasharatha that he too would experience 'Putrashoka' (Sanskrit, '<nowiki/>''putra''<nowiki/>' is child/son and '''shoka''<nowiki/>' is sorrow, or grief; grief due to loss of a son). Thus, Shravana's sick and thirsty parents died without drinking water.<ref name="indiatoday2008">[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/20080602-an-unfinished-ancient-tale-736413-2008-05-23 An unfinished ancient tale]. IndiaToday.in. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2012-09-14.</ref>

	[[File:The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasaratha.jpg\|thumb\|right\|180x180px\|The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasarath.]]		[[File:The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasaratha.jpg\|thumb\|right\|180x180px\|The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasarath.]]

Dokania: Updated

2026-09-24T14:15:32Z

Updated

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:45, 24 September 2026
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	{{short description\|Ramayana character}}		{{short description\|Ramayana character}}
	{{for multi\|the month of the Hindu calendar\|~~Shraavana~~\|the Nakshatra\|Shravana}}		{{for multi\|the month of the Hindu calendar\|Shravana (month)\|the Nakshatra\|Shravana\|other people\|Shrawan Kumar (disambiguation)\|other uses\|Shravan (disambiguation)}}
	{{Infobox deity		{{Infobox deity
	\| type = ~~Hindu~~		\| type = hindu
	~~\| name = Shravana Kumara~~
	\| image = Dashrath Raja and Shravan.jpg		\| image = Dashrath Raja and Shravan.jpg
	\| caption = A fallen Shravana and ~~Prince~~ Dasharatha		\| caption = A fallen Shravana and prince Dasharatha
	\| texts = [[Ramayana]]		\| texts = [[Ramayana]]
	\| father = Shantanu		\| father = Shantanu
	\| mother = ~~Gyanvanti~~		\| mother = Jnanavanti
	}}'''~~Shravana~~ Kumara''' ({{~~Lang-~~sa\|श्रवण कुमार}}) is a character mentioned in the ancient [[Hindu text]] ''[[Ramayana]].'' He is best known for his filial piety towards his parents. He was killed accidentally by ~~Prince~~ [[Dasharatha]].<ref name = shra1/>		}}'''Shravan Kumara''' ({{Langx\|sa\|श्रवण कुमार}}) is a character mentioned in the ancient [[Hindu text]] ''[[Ramayana]].'' He is best known for his filial piety towards his parents. He was killed accidentally by King [[Dasharatha]].<ref name = shra1/>

	==Life ==		==Life ==

	Shravana Kumara's parents, Shantanu and ~~Gyanvanti~~ (Malaya), were hermits. They were both blind. When they became aged, Shravana wanted to take them to the four most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage to purify the soul. Since Shravana Kumara could not afford the transport, he decided to put each parent in a basket and tie each basket to an end of a bamboo pole, which he would carry on his shoulder while on their pilgrimage.<ref name = shra1>{{Cite book\|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=xiv9_Cp3OtQC&q=Sarayu+shravan+kumar&pg=PA89 \| title = The Story Of Sri Ram \| first= Prem P.\| last= Bhalla \|work = p. 89 \| date= 2009\| isbn = 9788124801918 }}</ref>		Shravana Kumara's parents, Shantanu and Jnanavanti (Malaya), were hermits. They were both blind. When they became aged, Shravana wanted to take them to the four most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage to purify the soul. Since Shravana Kumara could not afford the transport, he decided to put each parent in a basket and tie each basket to an end of a bamboo pole, which he would carry on his shoulder while on their pilgrimage.<ref name = shra1>{{Cite book\|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=xiv9_Cp3OtQC&q=Sarayu+shravan+kumar&pg=PA89 \| title = The Story Of Sri Ram \| first= Prem P.\| last= Bhalla \|work = p. 89 \| date= 2009\| publisher = Peacock Books \| isbn = 9788124801918 }}</ref>

	According to [[Punjabi culture\|Punjabi]] folklore, Shravana's mother was distantly related to King [[Dasharatha]].		According to [[Punjabi culture\|Punjabi]] folklore, Shravana's mother was distantly related to King [[Dasharatha]].{{Citation needed\|date=December 2025}}

	== Death ==		== Death ==
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	According to the [[Ramayana]], while hunting in the forest of Ayodhya, the then-Prince Dasharatha heard a sound near a lake and shot an arrow, hoping to hit an animal. When he crossed the lake to collect his kill, he found that his arrow had fatally struck a teenage boy who was bleeding. The injured boy was Shravana, who then told Dasharatha he had come to the lake to collect water for his sick and aged parents, who were both blind and whom he had been carrying on a sling. With his dying breath, Shravana requested Dasharatha to take water to his parents and to tell them what happened.		According to the [[Ramayana]], while hunting in the forest of Ayodhya, the then-Prince Dasharatha heard a sound near a lake and shot an arrow, hoping to hit an animal. When he crossed the lake to collect his kill, he found that his arrow had fatally struck a teenage boy who was bleeding. The injured boy was Shravana, who then told Dasharatha he had come to the lake to collect water for his sick and aged parents, who were both blind and whom he had been carrying on a sling. With his dying breath, Shravana requested Dasharatha to take water to his parents and to tell them what happened.

	Shravana then succumbed to his wounds. When Dasharatha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasharatha that he too would experience 'Putrashoka' (Sanskrit, '<nowiki/>''putra''<nowiki/>' is child/son and '''shoka''<nowiki/>' is sorrow, or grief; grief due to loss of a son). Thus, Shravana's sick and thirsty parents died without drinking water.<ref name="indiatoday2008">[~~http~~://indiatoday~~.intoday~~.in/story/~~An+~~unfinished+ancient+tale~~/1/8741.html~~ An unfinished ancient tale]. IndiaToday.in. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2012-09-14.</ref>		Shravana then succumbed to his wounds. When Dasharatha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasharatha that he too would experience 'Putrashoka' (Sanskrit, '<nowiki/>''putra''<nowiki/>' is child/son and '''shoka''<nowiki/>' is sorrow, or grief; grief due to loss of a son). Thus, Shravana's sick and thirsty parents died without drinking water.<ref name="indiatoday2008">[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/20080602-an-unfinished-ancient-tale-736413-2008-05-23 An unfinished ancient tale]. IndiaToday.in. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2012-09-14.</ref>

	[[File:The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasaratha.jpg\|thumb\|right\|180x180px\|The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasarath.]]		[[File:The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasaratha.jpg\|thumb\|right\|180x180px\|The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasarath.]]
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	== Legacy ==		== Legacy ==

	Local tradition holds that the place where Shravana died was named ~~''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>~~''Sarvan~~''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>~~'' in [[Unnao district]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]] in India, and the spot where Dasharatha shot his arrow came to be known as ~~''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>~~''Sarwara~~''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>~~'' and the place where Shravana's parents died is called ~~''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>~~''Samadha''~~<nowiki/>'''.~~ An old and dilapidated [[Samadhi (shrine)\|memorial for Shravana]] on the banks of the lake is now withering away.<ref name="~~indiatoday2008~~" />		Local tradition holds that the place where Shravana died was named ''Sarvan'' in [[Gonda District\|Unnao district]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]] in India, and the spot where Dasharatha shot his arrow came to be known as ''Sarwara'' and the place where Shravana's parents died is called ''Samadha.'' An old and dilapidated [[Samadhi (shrine)\|memorial]] for Shravana on the banks of the lake is now withering away.<ref name="indiatoday20082" />

			While local tradition holds that the place where Shravana died was named ''Sarvan'' in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, another significant tradition places the event around the Darvan Lake in Ambedkar Nagar district, approximately 80 kilometers from Ayodhya. Nearby villages like ''Serva'' and ''Savana'' are believed to be the spots associated with the story. This region also has a notable site called ''Shravan Dhaam'', which is being developed to commemorate the legend. Unlike the Unnao location which lacks a significant body of water, the presence of the Darvan Lake aligns with the classical narrative where Shravana went to fetch water for his blind parents.

	== Shrine==		== Shrine==
	[[Mukhed]] in [[Nanded district]] of [[Maharashtra]] has a ''[[samadhi]]'' dedicated to Shravana.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.nandedonline.com/2018/03/historical-significance-of-mukhed.html\|title=Historical significance of Mukhed\|website=NandedOnline.com\|access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref>		[[Mukhed]] in [[Nanded district]] of [[Maharashtra]] has a ''[[samadhi]]'' dedicated to Shravana.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.nandedonline.com/2018/03/historical-significance-of-mukhed.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804173019/https://www.nandedonline.com/2018/03/historical-significance-of-mukhed.html\|url-status=usurped\|archive-date=August 4, 2019\|title=Historical significance of Mukhed\|website=NandedOnline.com\|access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref> In the region of Mithila in India, there is a legendary temple associated with Shravan Kumar. The temple is known as [[Mankeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=मढि़या धाम स्थित मानकेश्वर नाथ महादेव की महिमा अपरंपार - The glory of Nareshwar Nath Mahadev at Mudhiya Dham \|url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/sitamarhi-the-glory-of-nareshwar-nath-mahadev-at-mudhiya-dham-18273179.html \|access-date=2026-03-04 \|website=Jagran \|language=hi}}</ref>

	== See also ==		== See also ==
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	* [[Kosala\|Kosala kingdom]]		* [[Kosala\|Kosala kingdom]]
	* [[Sarayu]]		* [[Sarayu]]
			* [[Syama Jataka]]

	== References ==		== References ==
			{{Commons category\|Shravan}}
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

	{{Ramayana\| state=expanded~~}}{{Mohandas K. Gandhi~~}}		{{Ramayana\| state=expanded}}

	[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]		[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]
	[[Category:Rishis]]		[[Category:Rishis]]

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-20T16:09:15Z

Created a new article

New page

{{short description|Ramayana character}}
{{for multi|the month of the Hindu calendar|Shraavana|the Nakshatra|Shravana}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| name = Shravana Kumara
| image = Dashrath Raja and Shravan.jpg
| caption = A fallen Shravana and Prince Dasharatha
| texts = [[Ramayana]]
| father = Shantanu
| mother = Gyanvanti
}}'''Shravana Kumara''' ({{Lang-sa|श्रवण कुमार}}) is a character mentioned in the ancient [[Hindu text]] ''[[Ramayana]].'' He is best known for his filial piety towards his parents. He was killed accidentally by Prince [[Dasharatha]].<ref name = shra1/>

==Life ==

Shravana Kumara's parents, Shantanu and Gyanvanti (Malaya), were hermits. They were both blind. When they became aged, Shravana wanted to take them to the four most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage to purify the soul. Since Shravana Kumara could not afford the transport, he decided to put each parent in a basket and tie each basket to an end of a bamboo pole, which he would carry on his shoulder while on their pilgrimage.<ref name = shra1>{{Cite book|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=xiv9_Cp3OtQC&q=Sarayu+shravan+kumar&pg=PA89 | title = The Story Of Sri Ram | first= Prem P.| last= Bhalla |work = p. 89 | date= 2009| isbn = 9788124801918 }}</ref>

According to [[Punjabi culture|Punjabi]] folklore, Shravana's mother was distantly related to King [[Dasharatha]].

== Death ==
[[File:King Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his aged Parents.jpg|thumb|left|251x251px|Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his parents (painting by Laharu of Chamba)]]

According to the [[Ramayana]], while hunting in the forest of Ayodhya, the then-Prince Dasharatha heard a sound near a lake and shot an arrow, hoping to hit an animal. When he crossed the lake to collect his kill, he found that his arrow had fatally struck a teenage boy who was bleeding. The injured boy was Shravana, who then told Dasharatha he had come to the lake to collect water for his sick and aged parents, who were both blind and whom he had been carrying on a sling. With his dying breath, Shravana requested Dasharatha to take water to his parents and to tell them what happened.

Shravana then succumbed to his wounds. When Dasharatha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasharatha that he too would experience 'Putrashoka' (Sanskrit, '<nowiki/>''putra''<nowiki/>' is child/son and '''shoka''<nowiki/>' is sorrow, or grief; grief due to loss of a son). Thus, Shravana's sick and thirsty parents died without drinking water.<ref name="indiatoday2008">[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/An+unfinished+ancient+tale/1/8741.html An unfinished ancient tale]. IndiaToday.in. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2012-09-14.</ref>

[[File:The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasaratha.jpg|thumb|right|180x180px|The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasarath.]]
This curse came true when King Dasharatha died without seeing his eldest and most beloved son, [[Rama]], who had to be exiled at the former's own orders (upon the wishes of the latter's step-mother, queen [[Kaikeyi]]).<ref name = shra1/>

== Legacy ==

Local tradition holds that the place where Shravana died was named ''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>''Sarvan''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>'' in [[Unnao district]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]] in India, and the spot where Dasharatha shot his arrow came to be known as ''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>''Sarwara''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>'' and the place where Shravana's parents died is called ''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>''Samadha''<nowiki/>'''. An old and dilapidated [[Samadhi (shrine)|memorial for Shravana]] on the banks of the lake is now withering away.<ref name="indiatoday2008" />

== Shrine==
[[Mukhed]] in [[Nanded district]] of [[Maharashtra]] has a ''[[samadhi]]'' dedicated to Shravana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nandedonline.com/2018/03/historical-significance-of-mukhed.html|title=Historical significance of Mukhed|website=NandedOnline.com|access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Hindu text]]
* [[Kosala|Kosala kingdom]]
* [[Sarayu]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Ramayana| state=expanded}}{{Mohandas K. Gandhi}}

[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Rishis]]