The story of Rishyasringa briefly appears in the
Ramayana, while a detailed account is narrated in the
Mahabharata.
Birth According to the
Mahabharata,
Vibhandaka, a renowned sage and a son of
Kashyapa, travels in Mahahrada, when he sees
Urvashi, the most beautiful
apsara (nymph). Aroused, he emits his seed, which fell into the river. A doe, who is a cursed apsara, swallows it and becomes pregnant due to the sage's miraculous powers. After she gives birth to a boy, she is liberated from the curse and returns to heaven. The boy is born with horns and because of which, he is named Rishyasringa.
Vibhandaka decides to raise him isolated from society. Rishyasringa grows up in his father's
ashram in the forest, unaware of existence of any female. He practices
brahmacharya and acquires magical and miraculous powers due to his chastity.
Temptation Meanwhile,
Romapada—the King of
Anga—offends a
Brahmin, due to which no other Brahmin agrees to perform
yajna (fire-sacrifice). This upsets
Indra, the king of the gods, and he stops raining on
Anga. As a result, the kingdom suffers from drought and famine.
Romapada is told that the only way to bring rainfall is by bringing a man with perfect chastity into the kingdom. Romapada learns of Rishyasringa and despite his fear of the power and anger of
Vibhandaka, he sends some courtesans to Rishyasringa to bring him into his kingdom. During
Vibhandaka's absence, the women come to his ashram and meet Rishyasringa. They tell him that they were hermits. Rishyasringa becomes astonished by seeing their appearance and invites them to perform
tapas (penance) with him. Before
Vibhandaka arrives, the women leave the place. Rishyasringa becomes love-sick and ignores his daily duties. The next day, the courtesans return and take Rishyasringa to
Anga. As a result, the kingdom receives bountiful rains and Rishyasringa marries
Shanta. Much of the story is taken up by accounts of the feelings of the young man as he becomes aware of women for the first time. ==Buddhist legends==