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'''Ila''' ({{lang-sa|इल}}) or '''Ilā''' ({{lang-sa|इला}}) is a deity in [[Hindu mythology|Hindu legends]], known for their sex changes. As a man, he is known as Ila or '''Sudyumna''' and as a woman, is called Ilā. Ilā is considered the chief progenitor of the [[Lunar dynasty]] of Indian kings – also known as the Aillas ("descendants of Ilā").
'''Ila''' ({{langx|sa|इल}}) or '''Ilā''' ({{langx|sa|इला}}) is a deity in [[Hindu mythology|Hindu legends]], known for their sex changes. As a man, he is known as Ila or '''Sudyumna''' and as a woman, is called Ilā. Ilā is considered the chief progenitor of the [[Lunar dynasty]] of Indian kings – also known as the Aillas ("descendants of Ilā").


While many versions of the tale exist, Ila is usually described as a daughter or son of [[Shraddhadeva Manu|Vaivasvata Manu]] and thus the sibling of [[Ikshvaku (Hinduism)|Ikshvaku]], the founder of the [[Solar Dynasty]]. In versions in which Ila is born female, she changes into a male form by divine grace soon after her birth. After mistakenly entering a sacred grove as an adult, Ila is either cursed to change his/her gender every month or cursed to become a woman. As a woman, Ilā married [[Budha]], the god of the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] and the son of the lunar deity [[Chandra]] (Soma), and bore him a son called [[Pururavas]], the father of the Lunar dynasty. After the birth of Pururavas, Ilā has transformed into a man again and fathered three sons.
While many versions of the tale exist, Ila is usually described as a daughter or son of [[Shraddhadeva Manu|Vaivasvata Manu]] and thus the sibling of [[Ikshvaku (Hinduism)|Ikshvaku]], the founder of the [[Solar Dynasty]]. In versions in which Ila is born female, she changes into a male form by divine grace soon after her birth. After mistakenly entering a sacred grove as an adult, Ila is either cursed to change his/her gender every month or cursed to become a woman. As a woman, Ilā married [[Budha]], the god of the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] and the son of the lunar deity [[Chandra]] (Soma), and bore him a son called [[Pururavas]], the father of the Lunar dynasty. After the birth of Pururavas, Ilā has transformed into a man again and fathered three sons.


In the [[Vedas]], Ilā is praised as '''Idā''' ({{lang-sa|इडा}}), goddess of speech, and described as the mother of Pururavas.
In the [[Vedas]], Ilā is praised as '''Idā''' ({{langx|sa|इडा}}), goddess of speech, and described as the mother of Pururavas.


The tale of Ila's transformations is told in the [[Puranas]] as well as the [[Indian epic poetry|Indian epic poems]], the ''[[Ramayana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.
The tale of Ila's transformations is told in the [[Puranas]] as well as the [[Indian epic poetry|Indian epic poems]], the ''[[Ramayana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.


==Birth==
==Birth==
 
According to the ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ilā was born as the eldest daughter of Vaivasvata Manu, the progenitor of mankind, and his wife Shraddha. However, the parents desired a son and so prayed and performed austerities to propitiate the deities [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]] and [[Varuna]], who changed Ilā's gender. The boy was named Sudyumma.<ref name="LP_MBH"/><ref name="williams">{{cite book|last= Williams|first=George Mason|title=Handbook of Hindu mythology|publisher=ABC-CLIO Inc.|location=Saint Barbara|year=2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068/page/156 156]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068 |url-access= registration| isbn=978-1-57607-106-9}}</ref> The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', the ''[[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]]'',<ref name="bhagavat">For translation, see {{cite book|last=Swami Vijnanananda|title=The S'Rimad Devi Bhagawatam|publisher=BiblioBazaar, LLC|year=2008|volume=1|pages=62–6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kt02ZSt2Q8AC&q=Ila+Budha&pg=PA62|orig-year = 1921 | isbn=978-1-4375-3059-9}}</ref> the ''[[Kurma Purana]]'', the ''[[Harivamsa]]'', the ''[[Markandeya Purana]]'' and the ''[[Padma Purana]]'' (referred to as "''Bhagavata Purana'' et al. texts" further)  narrate a variant: Ila's parents could not have any children for a long time and approached the sage [[Agastya]] for a solution. The sage performed a [[yajna]] (fire sacrifice) dedicated to Mitra and Varuna to attain a son for the couple. Due to either an error in the ritual or a failure to offer the appropriate sacrifice, Mitra and Varuna instead sent a daughter to the couple. In one version, the couple supplicated the deities, who transformed Ilā's gender. In another version, this transformation happens after the erroneous hymns are rectified and the son is called Ila.<ref name = "williams"/><ref name="BP_KP">O'Flaherty pp. 303-4</ref><ref name = "Pattanaik46"/><ref name=connerila/> According to a variant, Shraddha wished for a daughter; [[Vashistha]] heeded her wish while performing the sacrifice and thus, a daughter was born. However, Manu desired a son so Vashistha appealed to Vishnu to change the gender of his daughter. Ilā was renamed Sudyumna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hudson|first=D. Dennis|title=The body of God: an emperor's palace for Krishna in eighth-century Kanchipuram|publisher=Oxford University Press US|year= 2008|pages=413–4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMCxbOezDi4C | isbn=978-0-19-536922-9}}</ref> The accounts describe Ila as either the eldest or the youngest child of Manu. As the child of Manu, Ila had nine brothers, the most notable was [[Ikshvaku (Hinduism)|Ikshvaku]], the founder of the [[Solar dynasty]].<ref name="samuel">{{cite book|last=Samuel|first=Geoffrey|title=The origins of yoga and tantra: Indic religions to the thirteenth century|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2008|pages=67–8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JAvrTGrbpf4C&q=Ila&pg=PA67 | isbn=978-0-521-69534-3}}</ref><ref name="Shashi" /><ref name="p1">{{cite book|last=Pargiter, F.E.|title=Ancient Indian Historical Tradition|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|year=1972|pages=253–4}}</ref> As the son of Manu, Ila is the grandson of [[Surya]].<ref name="Shulman">Shulman p.59</ref> According to another account found in the ''[[Vayu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'', Ilā was born female and eventually changed back to female.<ref name=p1/>
According to the ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ilā was born as the eldest daughter of Vaivasvata Manu, the progenitor of mankind, and his wife Shraddha. However, the parents desired a son and so prayed and performed austerities to propitiate the deities [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]] and [[Varuna]], who changed Ilā's gender. The boy was named Sudyumma.<ref name="LP_MBH"/><ref name="williams">{{cite book|last= Williams|first=George Mason|title=Handbook of Hindu mythology|publisher=ABC-CLIO Inc.|location=Saint Barbara|year=2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068/page/156 156]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068 |url-access= registration| isbn=978-1-57607-106-9}}</ref> The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', the ''[[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]]'',<ref name="bhagavat">For translation, see {{cite book|last=Swami Vijnanananda|title=The S'Rimad Devi Bhagawatam|publisher=BiblioBazaar, LLC|year=2008|volume=1|pages=62–6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kt02ZSt2Q8AC&q=Ila+Budha&pg=PA62|orig-year = 1921 | isbn=978-1-4375-3059-9}}</ref> the ''[[Kurma Purana]]'', the ''[[Harivamsa]]'', the ''[[Markandeya Purana]]'' and the ''[[Padma Purana]]'' (referred to as "''Bhagavata Purana'' et al. texts" further)  narrate a variant: Ila's parents could not have any children for a long time and approached the sage [[Agastya]] for a solution. The sage performed a [[yajna]] (fire sacrifice) dedicated to Mitra and Varuna to attain a son for the couple. Due to either an error in the ritual or a failure to offer the appropriate sacrifice, Mitra and Varuna instead sent a daughter to the couple. In one version, the couple supplicated the deities, who transformed Ilā's gender. In another version, this transformation happens after the erroneous hymns are rectified and the son is called Ila.<ref name = "williams"/><ref name="BP_KP">O'Flaherty pp. 303-4</ref><ref name = "Pattanaik46"/><ref name=connerila/> According to a variant, Shraddha wished for a daughter; [[Vashistha]] heeded her wish while performing the sacrifice and thus, a daughter was born. However, Manu desired a son so Vashistha appealed to Vishnu to change the gender of his daughter. Ilā was renamed Sudhyumna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hudson|first=D. Dennis|title=The body of God: an emperor's palace for Krishna in eighth-century Kanchipuram|publisher=Oxford University Press US|year= 2008|pages=413–4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMCxbOezDi4C | isbn=978-0-19-536922-9}}</ref> The accounts describe Ila as either the eldest or the youngest child of Manu. As the child of Manu, Ila had nine brothers, the most notable was [[Ikshvaku (Hinduism)|Ikshvaku]], the founder of the [[Solar dynasty]].<ref name="samuel">{{cite book|last=Samuel|first=Geoffrey|title=The origins of yoga and tantra: Indic religions to the thirteenth century|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2008|pages=67–8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JAvrTGrbpf4C&q=Ila&pg=PA67 | isbn=978-0-521-69534-3}}</ref><ref name="Shashi" /><ref name="p1">{{cite book|last=Pargiter, F.E.|title=Ancient Indian Historical Tradition|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|year=1972|pages=253–4}}</ref> As the son of Manu, Ila is the grandson of [[Surya]].<ref name="Shulman">Shulman p.59</ref> According to another account found in the ''[[Vayu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Brahmanda Purana]]'', Ilā was born female and remained female.<ref name=p1/>


In the ''[[Ramayana]]'', Ila is born as a son of Kardama, the [[Prajapati]] born of the god [[Brahma]]'s shadow. Ila's tale is told in the ''Uttara Kanda'' chapter of the Ramayana, while describing the greatness of the [[Ashvamedha]] – the horse sacrifice.<ref name = "Pattanaik46"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Swami Venkatesananda |title=The concise Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki|publisher=SUNY Press|year=1988|pages=397–9}}</ref>
In the ''[[Ramayana]]'', Ila is born as a son of Kardama, the [[Prajapati]] born of the god [[Brahma]]'s shadow. Ila's tale is told in the ''Uttara Kanda'' chapter of the Ramayana, while describing the greatness of the [[Ashvamedha]] – the horse sacrifice.<ref name = "Pattanaik46"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Swami Venkatesananda |title=The concise Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki|publisher=SUNY Press|year=1988|pages=397–9}}</ref>
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==Curse and marriage to Budha==
==Curse and marriage to Budha==
[[File: King Ila argument with Bhuda son of Chandra.jpg|thumb|The male Ila with Budha.]]   
[[File: King Ila argument with Bhuda son of Chandra.jpg|thumb|The male Ila with Budha.]]   
In the ''Ramayana'', the ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ila grows to become the king of [[Bactria|Bahlika]]. While hunting in a forest, Ila accidentally trespassed Sharavana ("Forest of Reeds"), the sacred grove of the goddess [[Parvati]], the consort of the god [[Shiva]]. Upon entering Sharavana, all-male beings except for Shiva, including trees and animals, are transformed into females.<ref group = "Notes">Sharavaṇa ("Forest of Reeds") is described as the place where [[Murugan|Skanda]], the son of Shiva, was born. The ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' narrates that once the sages intruded on the love-making of Shiva and Parvati so Shiva cursed the forest that all-male beings entering it would be transformed into females.</ref> One legend tells that a female ''[[yakshini]]'' disguised herself as a deer and purposefully led Ila to the grove in order to save her husband from the king.<ref name="Shulman" /> The ''Linga Purana'' and the ''Mahabharata'' emphasize the sex change of Ila to be a deliberate act of Shiva to start the Lunar dynasty.<ref name="LP_MBH">For Linga Purana and Mahabharata, O'Flaherty p. 303</ref> The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' et al. texts tell that Ila's entire entourage, as well as his horse, also changed their genders.<ref name="BP_KP"/>
In the ''Ramayana'', the ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ila grows to become the king of [[Bactria|Bahlika]]. While hunting in a forest, Ila accidentally trespassed Sharavana ("Forest of Reeds"), the sacred grove of the goddess [[Parvati]]. Upon entering Sharavana, all-male beings except for her husband [[Shiva]], including trees and animals, are transformed into females.<ref group = "Notes">Sharavaṇa ("Forest of Reeds") is described as the place where [[Murugan|Skanda]], the son of Shiva, was born. The ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' narrates that once the sages intruded on the love-making of Shiva and Parvati so Shiva cursed the forest that all-male beings entering it would be transformed into females.</ref> One legend tells that a female ''[[yakshini]]'' disguised herself as a deer and purposefully led Ila to the grove in order to save her husband from the king.<ref name="Shulman" /> The ''Linga Purana'' and the ''Mahabharata'' emphasize the sex change of Ila to be a deliberate act of Shiva to start the Lunar dynasty.<ref name="LP_MBH">For Linga Purana and Mahabharata, O'Flaherty p. 303</ref> The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' et al. texts tell that Ila's entire entourage, as well as his horse, also changed their genders.<ref name="BP_KP"/>


According to the ''[[Ramayana]]'', when Ila approached [[Shiva]] for help, Shiva laughed with scorn but the compassionate Parvati reduced the curse and allowed Ila to switch genders every month. However, as a male, he would not remember his life as a female and vice versa. While Ilā roamed the forest in her new form with her female attendants, [[Budha]], the god of the [[planet Mercury]] and the son of the moon-god [[Chandra]], noticed her. Although he had been practising [[asceticism]], Ilā's beauty caused him to fall in love with her at first sight. Budha turned Ilā's attendants into ''[[Kimpurusha Kingdom|Kimpurusha]]s'' ([[hermaphrodite]], lit. "is it a man?")<ref name=p1/><ref>Vanita, Kidwai p.18</ref> and ordered them to run away, promising that they would find mates as Ilā had.<ref name="rama">For Ramayana, Meyer pp. 374-5 or Shulman pp. 58-9</ref>
According to the ''[[Ramayana]]'', when Ila approached [[Shiva]] for help, Shiva laughed with scorn but the compassionate Parvati reduced the curse and allowed Ila to switch genders every month. However, as a male, he would not remember his life as a female and vice versa. While Ilā roamed the forest in her new form with her female attendants, [[Budha]], the god of the [[planet Mercury]] and the son of the moon-god [[Chandra]], noticed her. Although he had been practising [[asceticism]], Ilā's beauty caused him to fall in love with her at first sight. Budha turned Ilā's attendants into ''[[Kimpurusha Kingdom|Kimpurusha]]s'' ([[hermaphrodite]], lit. "is it a man?")<ref name=p1/><ref>Vanita, Kidwai p.18</ref> and ordered them to run away, promising that they would find mates as Ilā had.<ref name="rama">For Ramayana, Meyer pp. 374-5 or Shulman pp. 58-9</ref>
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The descendants of Ilā through [[Pururavas]] are known as Ailas after Ilā or as the [[Lunar Dynasty|Lunar dynasty]] (Chandravamsha) due to their descent from Budha, the son of the moon-god Chandra.{{sfn|Thapar|2013|p=308}}<ref name = "Pattanaik46">Pattanaik p.46</ref> Most versions of the tale call Ilā the father as well as the mother of the Ailas.<ref name = "Pattanaik47"/> The ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', in which Sudyumma's curse does not end, state that as a male, Sudyumma also bore three sons named Utkala, Gaya and [[Vinatashva]] (also known as Haritashva and Vinata).<ref name=p1/> The three sons ruled the kingdom for their father as Sudyumma was unable to do so himself due to his alternating gender. The sons and their principalities are called the ''Saudyumna''s. Utkala, Gaya, and Vinatashva ruled [[Utkala Kingdom|Utkala]] country, [[Gaya, India|Gaya]], and eastern regions including northern [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kurus]] respectively.<ref name=p2>Pargiter, F.E. (1972). ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.255.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Garg|first=Ganga Ram|title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu world |publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=1992 |volume=1|page=17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w9pmo51lRnYC&q=Ila&pg=PA17 | isbn=978-81-7022-374-0}}</ref> With the assistance of the family priest Vasistha, Sudyumma regained control of the entire kingdom. He was succeeded by Pururavas.<ref name="LP_MBH"/>
The descendants of Ilā through [[Pururavas]] are known as Ailas after Ilā or as the [[Lunar Dynasty|Lunar dynasty]] (Chandravamsha) due to their descent from Budha, the son of the moon-god Chandra.{{sfn|Thapar|2013|p=308}}<ref name = "Pattanaik46">Pattanaik p.46</ref> Most versions of the tale call Ilā the father as well as the mother of the Ailas.<ref name = "Pattanaik47"/> The ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', in which Sudyumma's curse does not end, state that as a male, Sudyumma also bore three sons named Utkala, Gaya and [[Vinatashva]] (also known as Haritashva and Vinata).<ref name=p1/> The three sons ruled the kingdom for their father as Sudyumma was unable to do so himself due to his alternating gender. The sons and their principalities are called the ''Saudyumna''s. Utkala, Gaya, and Vinatashva ruled [[Utkala Kingdom|Utkala]] country, [[Gaya, India|Gaya]], and eastern regions including northern [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kurus]] respectively.<ref name=p2>Pargiter, F.E. (1972). ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.255.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Garg|first=Ganga Ram|title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu world |publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=1992 |volume=1|page=17|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w9pmo51lRnYC&q=Ila&pg=PA17 | isbn=978-81-7022-374-0}}</ref> With the assistance of the family priest Vasistha, Sudyumma regained control of the entire kingdom. He was succeeded by Pururavas.<ref name="LP_MBH"/>


In the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'', Ila was disinherited after becoming a female or ''kimpurusha''. Ila's father passed his inheritance directly to Pururavas, ignoring the three sons Ila-Sudyumma bore as a male. Pururavas ruled from Pratishtanapura (present-day [[Allahabad]]), where Ila stayed with him.<ref name = "Shashi">{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|editor=Shashi, Shyam Singh|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD| year=1998| edition=1| volume=20| pages=517–8| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=NzyDQ215nfgC&q=ila+budha&pg=PA588 | isbn=978-81-7041-859-7}}</ref><ref>O'Flaherty p.305</ref> The ''Ramayana'' says that having returned to manhood, Ila ruled Pratishtana while his son Shashabindu ruled over [[Bahlikas|Bahlika]].<ref name = "rama"/> The ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' tells that as a man Sudyumma governed the kingdom and as a woman remained indoors. His subjects were disturbed by his sex changes and did not respect him as they once had. When Pururavas attained adulthood, Sudyumma left his kingdom to Pururavas and went to the forest for penance. The sage [[Narada]] told Sudyumma a nine-syllable [[mantra]], ''Navakshara'', which would please the [[Mahadevi|Supreme Goddess]]. Pleased with his austerities, the Goddess emerged before Sudyumma, who was in his female form Ilā. Sudyumma praised the Goddess, who merged the king's soul with herself and thus, Ilā gained salvation.<ref name = bhagavat/>
In the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'', Ila was disinherited after becoming a female or ''kimpurusha''. Ila's father passed his inheritance directly to Pururavas, ignoring the three sons Ila-Sudyumma bore as a male. Pururavas ruled from Pratishtanapura (present-day [[Allahabad]]), where Ila stayed with him.<ref name = "Shashi">{{cite book| title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh| editor=Shashi, Shyam Singh| publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD| year=1998| edition=1| volume=20| pages=517–8| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NzyDQ215nfgC&q=ila+budha&pg=PA588| isbn=978-81-7041-859-7}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>O'Flaherty p.305</ref> The ''Ramayana'' says that having returned to manhood, Ila ruled Pratishtana while his son Shashabindu ruled over [[Bahlikas|Bahlika]].<ref name = "rama"/> The ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' tells that as a man Sudyumma governed the kingdom and as a woman remained indoors. His subjects were disturbed by his sex changes and did not respect him as they once had. When Pururavas attained adulthood, Sudyumma left his kingdom to Pururavas and went to the forest for penance. The sage [[Narada]] told Sudyumma a nine-syllable [[mantra]], ''Navakshara'', which would please the [[Mahadevi|Supreme Goddess]]. Pleased with his austerities, the Goddess emerged before Sudyumma, who was in his female form Ilā. Sudyumma praised the Goddess, who merged the king's soul with herself and thus, Ilā gained salvation.<ref name = bhagavat/>


The ''Bhagavata Purana'', the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' and the ''Linga Purana'' declare that Ila ascended to heaven with both male and female anatomy.<ref name = "Pattanaik47">Pattanaik p.47</ref> Ila is considered the chief progenitor of the Lunar Dynasty through Pururavas and of the Solar Dynasty through his brother Iksavaku and sons Utkala, Gaya, and Vinatashva.<ref name = "Shashi"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Jainism|editor=Singh, Narendra|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.|year=2001|page=1724}}</ref> The marriage of Ilā, a descendant of the Sun, and Budha, the son of the Moon, is the first union of the solar and lunar races recorded in the scriptures.<ref name="Shulman" />
The ''Bhagavata Purana'', the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' and the ''Linga Purana'' declare that Ila ascended to heaven with both male and female anatomy.<ref name = "Pattanaik47">Pattanaik p.47</ref> Ila is considered the chief progenitor of the Lunar Dynasty through Pururavas and of the Solar Dynasty through his brother Iksavaku and sons Utkala, Gaya, and Vinatashva.<ref name = "Shashi"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Jainism|editor=Singh, Narendra|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.|year=2001|page=1724}}</ref> The marriage of Ilā, a descendant of the Sun, and Budha, the son of the Moon, is the first union of the solar and lunar races recorded in the scriptures.<ref name="Shulman" />
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In the ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'', [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]] performed a fire-sacrifice in order to have children. Idā emerged from the sacrifice. She was claimed by [[Mitra–Varuna|Mitra-Varuna]], but she lived with Manu and together they initiated the race of Manu.<ref name="dowson">{{cite book|last=Dowson|first=John|title=A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology, and religion, geography, history|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=2004|pages= 122–23|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ejh82j8G_CYC&q=Ila+Budha&pg=PA123 | isbn=978-81-206-1786-5|orig-year = 1820-1881}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbr/sbe12/sbe1234.htm|title=''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa'' I.8.1|last=Eggeling|first=Julius (tr.)|year=1882|work=Satapatha Brahmana Part 1 (SBE12)|publisher=at sacred-texts.com|access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref> In this text, Idā is the goddess of the sacrificial meal. She is described as the ''Mānavi'' (daughter of Manu) and ''Ghṛtapadī'' (with the [[ghee]]-dripping foot) and she is represented by a cow, also known as Idā during a sacrifice.<ref>Upadhyaya, G.P. (1967) ''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇam'' (Sanskrit text with Hindi translation), Vol.I, New Delhi: The Research Institute of Ancient Scientific Studies, pp.158-67- ''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa'' I.8.1</ref><ref name="Heesterman">{{cite book|last=Heesterman|first=J. C.|title=The Broken World of Sacrifice: An Essay in Ancient Indian Ritual |publisher=The University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago|year=1993|page=127|isbn=0-226-32300-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HotCD9GJQDkC&q=Ida+Ghrtapadi&pg=PA127}}</ref> Pururavas is mentioned as the son of Ilā in the text.<ref>Misra, V.S. (2007). ''Ancient Indian Dynasties'', Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, {{ISBN|81-7276-413-8}}, p.59 – ''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa'' XI.5.1</ref>
In the ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'', [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]] performed a fire-sacrifice in order to have children. Idā emerged from the sacrifice. She was claimed by [[Mitra–Varuna|Mitra-Varuna]], but she lived with Manu and together they initiated the race of Manu.<ref name="dowson">{{cite book|last=Dowson|first=John|title=A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology, and religion, geography, history|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=2004|pages= 122–23|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ejh82j8G_CYC&q=Ila+Budha&pg=PA123 | isbn=978-81-206-1786-5|orig-year = 1820-1881}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbr/sbe12/sbe1234.htm|title=''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa'' I.8.1|last=Eggeling|first=Julius (tr.)|year=1882|work=Satapatha Brahmana Part 1 (SBE12)|publisher=at sacred-texts.com|access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref> In this text, Idā is the goddess of the sacrificial meal. She is described as the ''Mānavi'' (daughter of Manu) and ''Ghṛtapadī'' (with the [[ghee]]-dripping foot) and she is represented by a cow, also known as Idā during a sacrifice.<ref>Upadhyaya, G.P. (1967) ''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇam'' (Sanskrit text with Hindi translation), Vol.I, New Delhi: The Research Institute of Ancient Scientific Studies, pp.158-67- ''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa'' I.8.1</ref><ref name="Heesterman">{{cite book|last=Heesterman|first=J. C.|title=The Broken World of Sacrifice: An Essay in Ancient Indian Ritual |publisher=The University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago|year=1993|page=127|isbn=0-226-32300-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HotCD9GJQDkC&q=Ida+Ghrtapadi&pg=PA127}}</ref> Pururavas is mentioned as the son of Ilā in the text.<ref>Misra, V.S. (2007). ''Ancient Indian Dynasties'', Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, {{ISBN|81-7276-413-8}}, p.59 – ''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa'' XI.5.1</ref>


==See also==
==Beyond the Indian subcontinent and Hinduism==
*[[Hindu mythology]]
 
*[[LGBT themes in Hindu mythology]]
She is known as '''Mondia Devi''' ({{langx|km|មណ្ឌាទេវី}}) in Cambodia as the wife of Lord [[Budha]] From the hinduism culture passed down from the [[Khmer Empire]] and is the protective goddess of Wednesday, worshipped during the [[Cambodian New Year|Cambodian New Year festival]] if the first day of the year falls on a Wednesday according to the Cambodian calendar ({{langx|km|ពិធីផ្ទេរតំណែងទេវតាឆ្នាំថ្មី}}), as she is believed to descend from heaven to care for the people of this land for one year until the following New Year. In her journey there are some special details that are local and mixed with have cambodia folk culture Unique, such as the vehicle is a [[Donkey]]. It appears with only two hands and has the following symbol as [[Royal Staff|Staff]] and [[Sewing needle]], The color of her clothes is Olive Drab and Her story and details have been adapted and blended with influences [[Buddhism in Cambodia|cambodia buddhism]] and has its own unique identity.<ref>Min Saes (Braḥ Mahā.) (1942) [https://www.worldcat.org/title/Brahmacariyakatha/oclc/23580153 Brahma Chariyakathā], Bibliothèque Royale, Publisher: Royal Library of Cambodia p.185</ref><ref>Astrologer Nhim Pen (1947) [https://books.google.com/books/about/Prakratidin_kambuj%C4%81.html?id=yODnAAAAMAAJ Cambodia Calendar], Contributor: William J. Gedney, Publisher: Association Sutharot, Original from the University of Michigan p.118</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline}}
*{{Commons category-inline}}


{{Hindu deities and texts}}
{{Hindu deities and texts}}
{{Good article}}
{{Good article}}


[[Category: Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category: Earth gods]]
[[Category:Earth goddesses]]
[[Category:Characters in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category: Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Lunar dynasty]]
[[Category: Lunar dynasty]]
[[Category:Androgynous characters in Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Androgynous and hermaphroditic deities]]

Latest revision as of 21:57, 16 March 2026


Ila/Ilā
Budha (Mercury) with consort Ilā
Devanagariइल/इला
Sanskrit transliterationIla/Ilā
AffiliationDevi
AbodeBudhaloka
MantraOm Illaya Namah
Personal information
Parents
SiblingsIkshvaku and 9 others
ConsortBudha (as a woman)
ChildrenPururavas (son as a woman)
Utkala, Gaya and Vinatashva (sons as a man)

Ila (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) or Ilā (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is a deity in Hindu legends, known for their sex changes. As a man, he is known as Ila or Sudyumna and as a woman, is called Ilā. Ilā is considered the chief progenitor of the Lunar dynasty of Indian kings – also known as the Aillas ("descendants of Ilā").

While many versions of the tale exist, Ila is usually described as a daughter or son of Vaivasvata Manu and thus the sibling of Ikshvaku, the founder of the Solar Dynasty. In versions in which Ila is born female, she changes into a male form by divine grace soon after her birth. After mistakenly entering a sacred grove as an adult, Ila is either cursed to change his/her gender every month or cursed to become a woman. As a woman, Ilā married Budha, the god of the planet Mercury and the son of the lunar deity Chandra (Soma), and bore him a son called Pururavas, the father of the Lunar dynasty. After the birth of Pururavas, Ilā has transformed into a man again and fathered three sons.

In the Vedas, Ilā is praised as Idā (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.), goddess of speech, and described as the mother of Pururavas.

The tale of Ila's transformations is told in the Puranas as well as the Indian epic poems, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Birth[edit | edit source]

According to the Linga Purana and the Mahabharata, Ilā was born as the eldest daughter of Vaivasvata Manu, the progenitor of mankind, and his wife Shraddha. However, the parents desired a son and so prayed and performed austerities to propitiate the deities Mitra and Varuna, who changed Ilā's gender. The boy was named Sudyumma.[1][2] The Bhagavata Purana, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana,[3] the Kurma Purana, the Harivamsa, the Markandeya Purana and the Padma Purana (referred to as "Bhagavata Purana et al. texts" further) narrate a variant: Ila's parents could not have any children for a long time and approached the sage Agastya for a solution. The sage performed a yajna (fire sacrifice) dedicated to Mitra and Varuna to attain a son for the couple. Due to either an error in the ritual or a failure to offer the appropriate sacrifice, Mitra and Varuna instead sent a daughter to the couple. In one version, the couple supplicated the deities, who transformed Ilā's gender. In another version, this transformation happens after the erroneous hymns are rectified and the son is called Ila.[2][4][5][6] According to a variant, Shraddha wished for a daughter; Vashistha heeded her wish while performing the sacrifice and thus, a daughter was born. However, Manu desired a son so Vashistha appealed to Vishnu to change the gender of his daughter. Ilā was renamed Sudyumna.[7] The accounts describe Ila as either the eldest or the youngest child of Manu. As the child of Manu, Ila had nine brothers, the most notable was Ikshvaku, the founder of the Solar dynasty.[8][9][10] As the son of Manu, Ila is the grandson of Surya.[11] According to another account found in the Vayu Purana and the Brahmanda Purana, Ilā was born female and eventually changed back to female.[10]

In the Ramayana, Ila is born as a son of Kardama, the Prajapati born of the god Brahma's shadow. Ila's tale is told in the Uttara Kanda chapter of the Ramayana, while describing the greatness of the Ashvamedha – the horse sacrifice.[5][12]

Curse and marriage to Budha[edit | edit source]

The male Ila with Budha.

In the Ramayana, the Linga Purana and the Mahabharata, Ila grows to become the king of Bahlika. While hunting in a forest, Ila accidentally trespassed Sharavana ("Forest of Reeds"), the sacred grove of the goddess Parvati. Upon entering Sharavana, all-male beings except for her husband Shiva, including trees and animals, are transformed into females.[Notes 1] One legend tells that a female yakshini disguised herself as a deer and purposefully led Ila to the grove in order to save her husband from the king.[11] The Linga Purana and the Mahabharata emphasize the sex change of Ila to be a deliberate act of Shiva to start the Lunar dynasty.[1] The Bhagavata Purana et al. texts tell that Ila's entire entourage, as well as his horse, also changed their genders.[4]

According to the Ramayana, when Ila approached Shiva for help, Shiva laughed with scorn but the compassionate Parvati reduced the curse and allowed Ila to switch genders every month. However, as a male, he would not remember his life as a female and vice versa. While Ilā roamed the forest in her new form with her female attendants, Budha, the god of the planet Mercury and the son of the moon-god Chandra, noticed her. Although he had been practising asceticism, Ilā's beauty caused him to fall in love with her at first sight. Budha turned Ilā's attendants into Kimpurushas (hermaphrodite, lit. "is it a man?")[10][13] and ordered them to run away, promising that they would find mates as Ilā had.[14]

Ilā married Budha and spent an entire month with him and consummated the marriage. However, Ilā woke one morning as Sudyumna and remembered nothing about the past month. Budha told Ila that his retinue had been killed in a rain of stones and convinced Ila to stay with him for a year. During each month she spent as a woman, Ilā had a good time with Budha. During each month as a man, Ila turned to pious ways and performed austerities under the guidance of Budha. In the ninth month, Ilā gave birth to Pururavas, who grew to become the first king of the Lunar dynasty. Then, as per the advice of Budha and Ila's father Kardama, Ila pleased Shiva and Shiva restored Ila's masculinity permanently.[5][14]

Another legend from the Vishnu Purana credits Vishnu of restoring Ilā's manhood as Sudyumma.[2][15] The Bhagavata Purana et al. texts tell that after Pururavas's birth, the nine brothers of Ila – by horse-sacrifice – or the sage Vasistha – the family priest of Ila – pleased Shiva to compel him to give the boon of alternate month manhood to Ila, turning him into a Kimpurusha.[3][4][9] The Linga Purana and the Mahabharata record the birth of Pururavas, but do not narrate the end of Ila's alternating gender condition. In fact, the Mahabharata describes Ilā to be the mother as well as the father of Pururavas.[16] According to another account found in the Vayu Purana and the Brahmanda Purana, Ilā was born female, married Budha, then was transformed into a male called Sudyumna. Sudyumna was then cursed by Parvati and transformed once again into a female, but became a man once again through Shiva's boon.[10]

In almost all versions of the tale, Ila wants to live as a man, but in the Skanda Purana, Ila desires to be a woman. The king Ela (Ila) entered Parvati's grove at Sahya mountain and became the woman Ilā. Ilā wished to remain a woman and serve Parvati (Gauri) and Ganga, the goddess of the Ganges river. However, the goddesses dissuaded him. Ilā bathed in a sacred pool and returned as Ela, bearded and deep-voiced.[5][17]

Later life and descendants[edit | edit source]

The descendants of Ilā through Pururavas are known as Ailas after Ilā or as the Lunar dynasty (Chandravamsha) due to their descent from Budha, the son of the moon-god Chandra.[18][5] Most versions of the tale call Ilā the father as well as the mother of the Ailas.[19] The Linga Purana and the Mahabharata, in which Sudyumma's curse does not end, state that as a male, Sudyumma also bore three sons named Utkala, Gaya and Vinatashva (also known as Haritashva and Vinata).[10] The three sons ruled the kingdom for their father as Sudyumma was unable to do so himself due to his alternating gender. The sons and their principalities are called the Saudyumnas. Utkala, Gaya, and Vinatashva ruled Utkala country, Gaya, and eastern regions including northern Kurus respectively.[20][21] With the assistance of the family priest Vasistha, Sudyumma regained control of the entire kingdom. He was succeeded by Pururavas.[1]

In the Matsya Purana, Ila was disinherited after becoming a female or kimpurusha. Ila's father passed his inheritance directly to Pururavas, ignoring the three sons Ila-Sudyumma bore as a male. Pururavas ruled from Pratishtanapura (present-day Allahabad), where Ila stayed with him.[9][22] The Ramayana says that having returned to manhood, Ila ruled Pratishtana while his son Shashabindu ruled over Bahlika.[14] The Devi-Bhagavata Purana tells that as a man Sudyumma governed the kingdom and as a woman remained indoors. His subjects were disturbed by his sex changes and did not respect him as they once had. When Pururavas attained adulthood, Sudyumma left his kingdom to Pururavas and went to the forest for penance. The sage Narada told Sudyumma a nine-syllable mantra, Navakshara, which would please the Supreme Goddess. Pleased with his austerities, the Goddess emerged before Sudyumma, who was in his female form Ilā. Sudyumma praised the Goddess, who merged the king's soul with herself and thus, Ilā gained salvation.[3]

The Bhagavata Purana, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana and the Linga Purana declare that Ila ascended to heaven with both male and female anatomy.[19] Ila is considered the chief progenitor of the Lunar Dynasty through Pururavas and of the Solar Dynasty through his brother Iksavaku and sons Utkala, Gaya, and Vinatashva.[9][23] The marriage of Ilā, a descendant of the Sun, and Budha, the son of the Moon, is the first union of the solar and lunar races recorded in the scriptures.[11]

In Vedic literature[edit | edit source]

In Vedic literature, Ilā is also known as Idā. Idā, in the Rigveda, signifies food and refreshment, personified as the goddess of speech.[24] Ilā-Idā is also associated with Sarasvati, the goddess of knowledge.[6] Ilā-Idā is mentioned a number of times in the Rigveda, mostly in the hymns known as Āprīsūktas. She is often mentioned along with Sarasvati and Bharati (or Mahi) and Pururavas is described as her son.[25] Idā is the instructor of Manu, in performing ritual sacrifices. According to Sayana – a commentator on the Vedas – she presides over the Earth.[24] Rig Veda 3.123.4 mentions that "land of Ila" was situated nearby banks of Sarasvati river.[26] Rigveda 3.29.3 describes Agni as the son of Ila.[27]

In the Shatapatha Brahmana, Manu performed a fire-sacrifice in order to have children. Idā emerged from the sacrifice. She was claimed by Mitra-Varuna, but she lived with Manu and together they initiated the race of Manu.[24][28] In this text, Idā is the goddess of the sacrificial meal. She is described as the Mānavi (daughter of Manu) and Ghṛtapadī (with the ghee-dripping foot) and she is represented by a cow, also known as Idā during a sacrifice.[29][30] Pururavas is mentioned as the son of Ilā in the text.[31]

Beyond the Indian subcontinent and Hinduism[edit | edit source]

She is known as Mondia Devi (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) in Cambodia as the wife of Lord Budha From the hinduism culture passed down from the Khmer Empire and is the protective goddess of Wednesday, worshipped during the Cambodian New Year festival if the first day of the year falls on a Wednesday according to the Cambodian calendar (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.), as she is believed to descend from heaven to care for the people of this land for one year until the following New Year. In her journey there are some special details that are local and mixed with have cambodia folk culture Unique, such as the vehicle is a Donkey. It appears with only two hands and has the following symbol as Staff and Sewing needle, The color of her clothes is Olive Drab and Her story and details have been adapted and blended with influences cambodia buddhism and has its own unique identity.[32][33]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Sharavaṇa ("Forest of Reeds") is described as the place where Skanda, the son of Shiva, was born. The Devi-Bhagavata Purana narrates that once the sages intruded on the love-making of Shiva and Parvati so Shiva cursed the forest that all-male beings entering it would be transformed into females.

References[edit | edit source]

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 For Linga Purana and Mahabharata, O'Flaherty p. 303
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Williams, George Mason (2003). Handbook of Hindu mythology. Saint Barbara: ABC-CLIO Inc. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-57607-106-9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 For translation, see Swami Vijnanananda (2008) [1921]. The S'Rimad Devi Bhagawatam. Vol. 1. BiblioBazaar, LLC. pp. 62–6. ISBN 978-1-4375-3059-9.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 O'Flaherty pp. 303-4
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Pattanaik p.46
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Conner & Sparks (1998), p. 183, "Ila/Sudyumna"
  7. ↑ Hudson, D. Dennis (2008). The body of God: an emperor's palace for Krishna in eighth-century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press US. pp. 413–4. ISBN 978-0-19-536922-9.
  8. ↑ Samuel, Geoffrey (2008). The origins of yoga and tantra: Indic religions to the thirteenth century. Cambridge University Press. pp. 67–8. ISBN 978-0-521-69534-3.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Shashi, Shyam Singh, ed. (1998). Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. Vol. 20 (1 ed.). Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. pp. 517–8. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.[permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 253–4.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Shulman p.59
  12. ↑ Swami Venkatesananda (1988). The concise Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki. SUNY Press. pp. 397–9.
  13. ↑ Vanita, Kidwai p.18
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 For Ramayana, Meyer pp. 374-5 or Shulman pp. 58-9
  15. ↑ O'Flaherty p. 320
  16. ↑ Meyer p. 374
  17. ↑ Shulman pp. 61-2
  18. ↑ Thapar 2013, p. 308.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Pattanaik p.47
  20. ↑ Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.255.
  21. ↑ Garg, Ganga Ram (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu world. Vol. 1. Concept Publishing Company. p. 17. ISBN 978-81-7022-374-0.
  22. ↑ O'Flaherty p.305
  23. ↑ Singh, Narendra, ed. (2001). Encyclopaedia of Jainism. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 1724.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Dowson, John (2004) [1820-1881]. A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology, and religion, geography, history. Asian Educational Services. pp. 122–23. ISBN 978-81-206-1786-5.
  25. ↑ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, p.57
    • For hymns, see Ṛgveda I.13.9, I.142.9, I.188.8, II.3.8, III.4.8, VII.2.8, X.70.8 and X.110.8
    • For mother of Pururavas, Ṛgveda X.95,18
  26. ↑ "The hymns of the Rigveda". Benares, E.J. Lazarus and Co. 1920.
  27. ↑ "The hymns of the Rigveda". Benares, E.J. Lazarus and Co. 1920.
  28. ↑ Eggeling, Julius (tr.) (1882). "Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa I.8.1". Satapatha Brahmana Part 1 (SBE12). at sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
  29. ↑ Upadhyaya, G.P. (1967) Śatapatha Brāhmaṇam (Sanskrit text with Hindi translation), Vol.I, New Delhi: The Research Institute of Ancient Scientific Studies, pp.158-67- Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa I.8.1
  30. ↑ Heesterman, J. C. (1993). The Broken World of Sacrifice: An Essay in Ancient Indian Ritual. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. p. 127. ISBN 0-226-32300-5.
  31. ↑ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, p.59 – Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa XI.5.1
  32. ↑ Min Saes (Braḥ Mahā.) (1942) Brahma Chariyakathā, Bibliothèque Royale, Publisher: Royal Library of Cambodia p.185
  33. ↑ Astrologer Nhim Pen (1947) Cambodia Calendar, Contributor: William J. Gedney, Publisher: Association Sutharot, Original from the University of Michigan p.118

Sources[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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