Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India

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Muchukunda

Read about Muchukunda at the Urday website.

MUCHUKUNDA. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] In the Puranas, son of Mandhatri, and called 'king of men.' He rendered assistance to the gods in their wars with the Asuras or demons, and he asked and obtained as a reward the boon of a long uninterrupted sleep. Whosoever disturbed him was to be burnt to ashes by fire issuing from his body. Kalayavana was lured into his cave by Krishna and woke the sleeper, who cast a fiery glance upon the intruder which destroyed him. Muchukunda then paid land and honour to Krishna, who gave him power to go to whatever celestial region he wished, and to enjoy all heavenly pleasures. Muchukunda left his cave and went to Gandhamadana to perform penance. The Mahabharata says he was reproved by Kuvera for trusting to his priest more than to his own prowess for success in war, but he replied that the religious aid of Brahmans was as necessary as the warlike powers of Kshatriyas.


Modern Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics. Laura Gibbs, Ph.D. The textual material made available at this website is licensed under a Creative Commons License. You must give the original author credit. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. No claims are made regarding the status of images used at this website; if you own the copyright privileges to any of these images and believe your copyright privileges have been violated, please contact the webmaster. Page last updated: October 16, 2007 12:22 PM