Kaise naath ahilya taari
- After completing the sacred yajna, Guru Vishwamitra, Rama and Lakshmana left for Mithila, as Guru Vishwamitra had received an invitation for taking his students for participating in the swayamvara, organized for Mother Sita to choose her bride.
- They walked towards Mithila and encountered River Ganga. Guru Vishwamitra asked his students to halt there for they could purify themselves by taking a few dips in the holy waters. Rama and Lakshmana were curious about Mother Ganga. Guru Vishwamitra narrated the story.
- They took a holy bath and resumed their journey. On their way to Mithila, they saw a boulder shaped as a stupified Mother. She was no other than Mother Ahilya.
- Once Indra was lured seeing the Mother and wished to marry her. He could not propose to her by facing her directly. She was already married to Rishi Gautam and was highly virtuous. Indra tried to seek help from all other demigods but was in vain. Finally, he dropped to an evil plan and asked the Moon-God to help. He ordered the Moon-God to hide before the original timings coincided with the true Brahma Muhurta. Rishi Gautam thought that Brahma Muhurta had begun. He arranged his beddings and left to take a holy bath in the river. As he left, Indra appeared at the doorstep in the disguise of Rishi Gautam. Mother Ahilya was meditating. As she saw her consort, she stood up and prostrated before him. Meanwhile, Moon-God realized his mistake, and he reemerged from the clouds. Rishi Gautam realized that that was too early. He returned home and found his wife prostrating another man. He didn’t give her a second thought and cursed her that she turned into a stone. Then, Rishi Gautam realized his mistake and repented with a heavy heart. He meditated and realized that Rama would come to his place and would redeem his consort and him. He practiced penance for several years.
- Guru Vishwamitra asked Rama to touch Mother with his feet, for she attained liberation. Rama was in a fix as he couldn’t disrespect a Mother. He even could not disobey his Guru. Guru Vishwamitra asked him to obey the words. Even Guru Vashishtha had commanded Rama to accept the divine words unrivaled. He brushed his foot against Mother’s toes. She transformed into an ordinary woman.
- She prostrated before Rama. Rama lifted her, and he prostrated before her. He asked her about the ways via which she wished to treat Rishi Gautam. She was in tears and said that she didn’t practice revenge but to forgive everyone. She said that she wished to go to her consort and serve him as she used to.
- Mother Ahilya and Rishi Gautam attained liberation.