The Story of a Princess -12

One day a woman came to the king's court demanding justice. Her clothes were in tatters, she was coated in mud and she looked as if she had cried buckets of tears. Her story was sad, though not an out-of-the ordinary occurrence in our society.

Her name was Ahilya. This is her story:

Ahilya was the second wife of Rishi Gautam. When they married, Gautam was 40 years of age and Ahilya only 20. Her husband already had 3 children from his previous marriage, and was not interested in having more, though she found this out only after her marriage. Gautam was well on the hermit's way and was only interested in his prayers. He married Ahilya so there would be a mother to take care of the kids, freeing him of another 'worldly responsibility'.

 Ahilya soon got to love the kids as her own. She didn't mind having to do all the ashram-work by herself - the cleaning, the food-gathering, taking care of the two cows. She did everything willingly for the sake of the children. The children too grew fond of her and would follow her around the ashram like lambs after their mother.

10 years passed. The kids grew up and, one by one, left their mother's ashram (the ashram was established by Gautam, but the children always called it their mother's, Ahilya's, ashram and this was the term Ahilya used while narrating her story) and went to study with other teachers. Though it broke her heart to see them go, Ahilya knew that it was a necessary part of their education to study away from the comforts of their own home. 

Ahilya was now all alone.

One day, after her bath in the river, she met a very handsome man, radiant like a god. She asked him who he was. He was Indra, the king of heaven. They talked. She liked him. He was intelligent and funny. He told her that she was beautiful. No one had ever complimented her on her looks, including Gautam. She invited him to her ashram. He agreed and that evening had dinner with Gautam and Ahilya.

After that he became a regular visitor. He said he came because he couldn't find such delicious food as Ahilya cooked, even in heaven.

Meanwhile, Gautam was getting jealous. The wife he had no interest in till now, suddenly became the focus of all his attention. His Tapasya began to suffer. 

Indra always came to their ashram in the evening, when Gautam and his students came back from their prayers.  One day Gautam got late, and when Indra came Ahilya was alone in the ashram. 

Ahilya swore in the court that day, that they were sitting outside in all innocence, talking and laughing, when Gautam came back. After Indra had left that night after dinner, the couple had a fight. Gautam accused her of having feelings for another man. She told him that Indra was just a friend, a dear friend, but a friend.

He asked her to choose - choose between her family and her only friend in the world. Gautam threatened that if she left him, she would never see the children again. He would not let her presence 'pollute' their minds. She had no choice. She agreed to stop meeting Indra.

Next evening when Indra came back, she told him what had happened. Indra understood. She knew he was hurting so she asked him if he would still accept offerings made in the sacred fire for him, as the ashram would crumble to dust if the king of gods stopped accepting the havan offerings. But he said he would accept as it was his duty. He asked if she would consider offering up the food she cooked daily, as the kitchen in heaven seemed pathetic in comparison to her cooking. They burst out laughing. It was a good laugh. It was also the last time either of them would laugh for a long time. 

For just then Gautam came out of the forest. He had heard their laughter and he was mad with rage.

Then Ahilya's nightmare started.

Gautam accused her of breaking her promise, her wedding oaths. He accused her of disobeying her husband. He accused her of adultery.

Ahilya stood there stunned, as Gautam hurled expletives as her, calling her a whore, a wanton woman. Numbly she saw Indra trying to pacify Gautam, trying to tell him that she was innocent. 

And then Gautam cursed Indra. He cursed that his body be covered with painful sores. That shocked Ahilya out of her muteness. Indra was innocent, she shouted. But a Rishi's curse is powerful. Innocent or not, the curse had instant effect. Indra's handsome face and the rest of his body was bloodied due to the sores.

Next Gautam cursed Ahilya. He had used up all his Tap, his hermit powers, in cursing a god. So he declared Ahilya to be an outcast. She would cease to be a wife to him and a mother to his children. She would not be seen or acknowledged by any of the ashram-dwellers. They would look past her if she came near. She would be as stone to them, of no importance.

Ahilya knew it would be in vain to ask the other ashram-dwellers for help. They were Gautam's students and would not dare cross him. So, for the first time in their friendship, she took Indra's hand and, supporting him, went into the forest. Seeing this, Gautam's rage grew to madness and he started flinging stones and mud at them. A few hit her. One hit the back of Indra's head and he fell down after a few steps, unconscious.

Thankfully, they had entered the forest by then. Ahilya sat him down against a tree, shielding him from Gautam. She prayed to heaven to take their king back home. She had no medicines to treat him with. A flying chariot soon arrived and carried the bleeding Indra away. That was the last she saw of him.

Once Indra had left, Ahilya looked around herself. A little distance away was the ashram, her home. She considered going back. Then realized the gravity of Gautam's curse and broke down weeping.

She must have spent a whole night weeping. When morning came, she decided to go to the king's court and demand justice.

But even a king cannot go against a Rishi's curse. Ahilya was thrown out of the king's court. 

I was listening, as was my wont, from behind the curtain of the women's balcony. I decided to talk to her. I wouldn't be able to help her much, but I could at least give her some gold to make sure she didn't starve.