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Antiquity
The
story begins with the solemnization of marriage of Soma with 27
lovely daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Rohini, the buxom beauty of
the charming bevy held greater hold on Soma. Smitten by Savati
matsara, the sorrowing 26 complained to the father about their
miserable lot. Daksha in the capacity of father-in-law chastised
him. Soma assured equal attention to all and would give no occasion
for future discontentment, but only to break it the next moment.
Thereupon, Daksha cursed him to lose his lust ere and be like a
block of dull black stone. Though Soma lost his lust ere, it did not
diminish his infatuation for Rohini. This was, too much for Daksha;
upset by this, he bade the deadly Rajyakshma disease enter his body
and reduce his vigor and vitality. It worked. Caught in its grip, he
grew thinner 'and paler day by day; and it had disastrous effect on
vegetation. It started withering, bringing in its wake slow death to
plants, birds, beasts and people. Finding the calamity, the
compassionate Rishis prayed to Daksha for immediate solution. Soma
too implored for forgiveness, but he regretted saying that he was
incapable of undoing the done. He then advised Soma to worship
Maheswar at a spot, where the river Saraswati meets the sea.
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