All Topics  
Menaka

 
Menaka

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Menaka
 
 
  Topics Menaka Topic Home

In Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology

Hindu mythology is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas....
, Menaka is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras.

She was sent by Indra
Indra

Indra is the god of War and Weather, also the King of the gods or Deva and Lord of Heaven or Swarga in Hinduism. Mentioned first as the chief deity in the sacred Hindu text of Rig Veda, Indra is bestowed with a heroic and almost brash and amorous character....
, the king of the Devas
Deva (Hinduism)

Deva is the Sanskrit word for "god, deity". It can be variously interpreted as a god, spirit, demi-god, Celestial, deity or any supernatural being of high excellence....
, to break the severe penance undertaken by Vishwamitra. She successfully incited Vishwamitra's lust and passion when he saw her swimming naked in a lake near a waterfall. She succeeded in breaking the meditation of Vishwamitra and the two made love for many years. However, she fell in genuine love with him.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Menaka'
Start a new discussion about 'Menaka'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Recent Posts

What is the symbolisation behind menaka? she was sent to break the concentration of a man whose inte...
Why was the Apsara Menaka specifically used aganist Vishwamitra?








Encyclopedia


In Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology

Hindu mythology is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas....
, Menaka is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras.

She was sent by Indra
Indra

Indra is the god of War and Weather, also the King of the gods or Deva and Lord of Heaven or Swarga in Hinduism. Mentioned first as the chief deity in the sacred Hindu text of Rig Veda, Indra is bestowed with a heroic and almost brash and amorous character....
, the king of the Devas
Deva (Hinduism)

Deva is the Sanskrit word for "god, deity". It can be variously interpreted as a god, spirit, demi-god, Celestial, deity or any supernatural being of high excellence....
, to break the severe penance undertaken by Vishwamitra. She successfully incited Vishwamitra's lust and passion when he saw her swimming naked in a lake near a waterfall. She succeeded in breaking the meditation of Vishwamitra and the two made love for many years. However, she fell in genuine love with him. When Vishwamitra realizes that he had been tricked by Indra, he is enraged. But he merely curses Menaka to be separated from him forever, for he loved her as well as knew that she had lost all devious intentions towards him long ago.

Later, Menaka is also said to have been the mother of Shakuntala
Shakuntala

In Hindu mythology Sakuntala is the mother of Emperor Bharata and the wife of Dushyanta who was the founder of the Paurav Dynasty. Her story is told in the Mahabarata and dramatized by Kalidasa in his play The Recognition of Sakuntala....
, who was left at the hermitage of a wise sage when she was a baby. Later Shakuntala became the love of King Dushyanta
Dushyanta

Dushyant or Dushyanta was a great king in classical Indian literature and mythology. He is the husband of Shakuntala and the father of the Bharata ....
 and gave birth to his son Bharata
Bharata

Bharata ??? may refer to:*a name of Agni*a name of Rudra*a name of Manu , according to the Vishnu Purana*Bharata , a celebrated hero and monarch of India, first of twelve Cakravartins ...
.