page_title: Vishvamitra
section_title: Tapasya
hierarchical_section_title: Vishvamitra / Tapasya
caption_attribution_description: English: Vishwamitra was a respected rishi, or sage in ancient India. Lord Indra, frightened by his powers, sent a beautiful celestial nymph named Menaka from heaven to earth, to lure him and break his meditation. Menaka successfully incited Vishwamitra, and Shakuntala, their daughter was born. This artwork by Vasudeo Pandey was printed in Germany.
context_page_description: Maharshi Vishvamitra is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. A near-divine being, he is also credited as the author of most of Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including Gayatri Mantra. The Puranas mention that only 24 rishis since antiquity have understood the whole meaning of—and thus wielded the whole power of—Gayatri Mantra. Vishvamitra is supposed to be the first, and Yajnavalkya the last.
  The story of Vishvamitra is narrated in the Valmiki Ramayana.
  Vishvamitra was a Lodh king in ancient India, also called Kaushik and belonged to Amavasu Dynasty. Vishwamitra was originally the Chandravanshi King of Kanyakubja. He was a valiant warrior and the great-grandson of a great king named Kusha. Valmiki Ramayana, prose 51 of Bala Kanda, starts with the story of Vishvamitra:
  There was a king named Kusha, a mindson of Brahma and Kusha's son was the powerful and verily righteous Kushanabha. One who is highly renowned by the name Gaadhi was the son of Kushanabha and Gaadhi's son is this great-saint of great resplendence, Vishvamitra. Vishvamitra ruled the earth and this great-resplendent king ruled the kingdom for many thousands of years.
context_section_description: Menaka was born during the churning of the ocean by the Devas and Asuras and was one of the most beautiful apsaras (celestial nymph) in the world with quick intelligence and innate talent. However, Menaka desired a family. Due to his penance and the power he achieved through it, Vishwamitra frightened the gods and even tried to create another heaven. Indra, frightened by Vishwamitra's powers, sent Menaka from heaven to earth to lure him and break his meditation. Menaka successfully incited Vishwamitra's lust and passion. She succeeded in breaking the meditation of Vishwamitra. However, she fell in genuine love with him and a baby girl was born to them who later grew in Sage Kanva's ashram and came to be called Shakuntala. Later Shakuntala falls in love with King Dushyanta and gives birth to a child called Bharata. 
  However, later Vishwamitra merely cursed Menaka to be separated from him forever, for he loved her as well and knew that she had lost all devious intentions towards him long ago.
  Vishwamitra was also tested by the Apsara Rambha. She, however was cursed by Vishwamitra.
caption: Viswamitra and Menaka
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