PULAHA. One of the Prajapatis. The references about Havirbhu alias Maninl. Visravas had two wives named him in the Puranas are the following : Kaikasi and DevavarninI alias Ilabila. KaikasI had (1) Pulaha was one of the spiritual sons of Brahma. three sons, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhisana and (Sloka 12, Chapter 204, Vana Parva). a daughter named Surpanakha. Ravana got of his (2) Ksama, wife of Pulaha, delivered three sons named wife Mandodari three sons, Meghanada, Atikaya and Kardama, Urvarivan and Sahisnu. (Chapter 10, Ariisa 1, Aksakumara. Kumbhakarna got of his wife Vajra- Visnu Purana). mala two sons named Kumbha and Nikumbha. Vibhi- (3) Pulaha got of his wife Ksama another son named sana got of his wife Sarama seven sons. Visravas got Karmasrestha. (Chapter 20, Agni Purana). of his wife Ilabila a son named Vais ravana alias Kubera. in (4) Pulaha is included the group of six powerful 3) Birth of Visravas. In olden times in Tretayuga sages. (Sloka 4, Chapter 66, Adi Parva). Pulastya Maharsi was doing penance on Mt. Meru. On (5) From Pulaha were born the butterflies, lions, tigers, a nearby hillock the sage Trnabindu was also doing lambs, wolves and Kimpurusas. (Sloka 3, Chapter 66, penance. Celestial maidens, Naga maidens and their Adi Parva). lovers came to the asrama and by their erotic sports (6) Pulaha took part in the Janmotsava of Arjuna. and dances vitiated the precincts of the asVama. Pulastya (Sloka 52, Chapter 122, Adi Parva). got angry and cursed all the maidens to become preg- (7) Pulaha was also among the sages who dissuaded nant if they entered the as'rama area. Without know- Parasara from conducting a yaga to kill all the raksasas. ing this curse Maninl, daughter of Trnabindu came to (Sloka 9, Chapter 180, Adi Parva). that spot and got pregnant of Pulastya. Pulastya then (8) Pulaha was a member of the court of Indra. (Sloka married her and the celebrated Maharsi Visravas was 17, Chapter 7, Sabha Parva). born to her. was a of Brahma. 4 he saved started (9) Pulaha worshipper (Sloka 18, ) How Ravana. Once Ravana who on (Chapter 11, Sabha Parva). a victory campaign met Kartaviryarjuna on the shores (10) Pulaha did penance at a place on the shores of of Narmada. Kartaviryarjuna chained Ravana in the Alakananda, a tributary of river Ganga. (Sloka 6, former's prison. Pulastya was grieved much to hear Chapter 142, Vana Parva). about the plight of his grandson and going to Karta- (11) He took part in the Janmotsava of Subrahmanya. viryarjuna and explaining things got the release of (Sloka 9, Chapter 45, Salya Parva) . Ravana. (Chapter 46, Brahmanda Purana). (12) Pulaha is included in the twenty one Prajapatis. 5) Other details.
. blessed ParaSara for ( Sloka 35, Chapter 334, Sand Parva) (i) Pulastya once the writing of (13) Pulaha is one among the group of Saptarsis Puranas. (Chapter 1, ArriSa 1, Visnu Purana) . called CitraSikhandins. (Sloka 29, Chapter 335, Santi (ii) Raksasas, Vanaras (monkeys), Kinnaras, Gandh-
. arvas the Parva ) and Yaksas were born from intelligent
is the Sloka . (14) Pulaha also one of Astaprakrtts. (Chapter Pulastya. ( 7, Chapter 66, Adi Parva) for 340, Santi Parva). (iii) He was present the Janmotsava of Arjuna. PULAKA. A daitya who was transformed into an animal. (Sloka 52, Chapter 122, Adi Parva). There is a story in the Skanda Purana about him thus (iv) Parasara once started to perform a Yaga to dest- Pulaka performed penance and got from Siva a boon roy all the raksasas. Pulastya along with other sages that he should possess astonishing smell in his body. The went and persuaded him to withdraw from his venture. demon used to entice even celestial ladies by means of (Chapter 180, Adi Parva). his smell. He thus became a menace to the three (v) Pulastya was a member of the court of Indra. worlds. Devas complained to Siva. Siva got angry (Sloka 17, Chapter 7, Sabha Parva). and commanded him to abandon his demoniac form (vi) Pulastya sits in the court of Brahma and worships and become an animal. Pulaka agreed to do so but him. (Sloka 19, Chapter 11, Adi Parva). requested Siva to grant him the smell even in his state (vii) Once Pulastya taught Bhisma the importance and of an animal. Siva granted that. greatness of all the holy places of Bharata. From then PULASTYA. One of the Prajapatis. onwards Pulastya is called the Guru of Bhisma also. 1) Birth and marriage. Pulastya is one of the six spirit- (Chapter 82, Vana Parva). ual sons of Brahma. Pulastya was born from the (viii) Pulastya got of his wife Gau a son named Kama ear of Brahma. (Chapter 65, Adi Parva and Kubera. (Sloka 12, Chapter 274, Vana Parva) . Bhagavata). (ix) Visravas was born of half of the body of Pulastya. Pulastya had a son named Dattoli (Dambholi) of his (Chapter 274, Sloka 13. Adi Parva) . wife Prlti. This Dattoli in his previous birth was the (x) Pulastya was present for the birth day celebrations Agastya of Svayambhuva Manvantara. (Chapter 10, of Subrahmanya. (Sloka 9, Chapter 45, Salya Parva). Amsa 1, Visnu Purana) . (xi) Pulastya also visited Bhisma lying on his bed of Pulastya had a son named Vis" ravas of his wife Havir- arrows. (Sloka 10, Chapter 47, Santi Parva). bhu. (4th Skandha, Bhagavata) . Mahabharata states that (xii) Pulastya was one among the twentyone Prajapatis. Pulastya had two wives named Sandhya and Pratici. (See under Prajapati) . Havirbhu mother of Vis"ravas had another name, (xiii) Pulastya is included in the group of Saptarsis Maninl. called CitraSikhandins. (Sloka 29, Chapter 335, Santi All these statements taken together indicate that Pulas- Parva). tya had four wives named Prlti, Havirbhu, Sandhya (xiv) Pulastya. is one of the Astaprakrtis. (Chapter and Pratici. 340, (Santi Parva}. 2) Genealogy. The race formed by Pulaslya is given (xv) As synonyms of Pulastya the following terms are his used: below : Pulastya got a son named Visravas of wife Brahmarsi, Viprayogi. (Mahabharata).