Ashokasundari, also known as Bala Tripurasundari, is a Hindu goddess of beauty and luxury. She is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The story of Ashokasundari is mentioned in the Padma Purana. There are no other references to her in the Hindu scriptures. She is a lesser-known goddess and became popular after some episodes about her life in the popular Hindi TV series Devon Ke Dev Mahadev. She is mainly worshiped in Gujarat and South India.
The Meaning of the Name Ashokasundari:
The name Ashokasundari comprises of two words, viz. Ashoka and Sundari. Ashoka means sorrowless, and Sundari means a beautiful woman. Therefore, Ashokasundari literally means “a beautiful woman with no sorrows”.
The Story of Ashokasundari and Nahusha in the Padma Purana:
The story shown in the TV series Devon Ke Dev Mahadev is different from the one in the Padma Purana.
The Birth of Ashokasundari:
Once while sporting, Goddess Parvati said to Mahadeva, “O great god, in my mind a great longing has sprung up. To me (please) show a grove that is best among groves.” Therefore, Lord Shiva took her to the most beautiful forest Nandanavana along with his attendants.
Lord Shiva showed the goddess Nandanavana, which was full of beautiful trees, flowers, and fruits. Then Goddess Parvati asked, “O Shambhu, tell me the auspicious and pure quality of this lord of trees.” Then Lord Shiva told her about the Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling tree that gives anything a person conceives in his/her mind. Then, with his consent, she mentally conceived a virtuous and beautiful daughter, and Ashokasundari was born.
(Per some stories, Goddess Parvati was feeling very lonely because Kartikeya had left Kailash. Therefore, she decided to conceive a daughter.)
What Did Ashokasundari Look Like?
She was lovely in all limbs, virtuous and beautiful that she, helping Cupid, had come to delude the universe. She was having large and lotus-like eyes. Her face was lotus-like; her hands resembled lotuses; she was like a good figure of gold; like that her hair was clean and very bright in splendor, pleasantly bright, very curly and long, was very delicately tied and was covered with fragrant flowers.
That young lady, with her hair tied, looked splendid with the firm knots of hair and excellent form. As on the boundary-line of the trees, the line of the muktā-flowers shines, similarly, on the parting line of her hair, a chaplet of pearls shone. At the root of the parting of the hair of the very respectable lady, there was a mark, like Venus that had risen. On the brows were two lotuses. The lotus-like navel like that of a deer shone with its mass of luster. The brilliance of the mark at the root of the parting of hair displayed the wealth of her beauty in the good world; so also the pearls on her hair and forehead always spread out beauty.
She had good eyebrows, her nose fine, her ears were adorned with jewels. Her cheeks had a golden complexion, were possessed of brightness. The three lines existing on the neck shone very much. Here (i.e., on the neck) there were three lines with (i.e., representing) her good fortune, good character, and love. They were pitchers of Cupid intended for sprinkling (water from). Her even shoulders looked very beautiful and were in the company of the heart. Her arms were good; they were round, soft, of a good complexion, and possessed good marks.
Her lotus-like hands were very even, had the color of lotuses, and were very cool. They were endowed with divine characteristics and possessed the marks of a lotus and swastika on them. Her fingers were straight, held lotuses, and had nails. The nails were very sharp and were like drops of water. The complexion of her body resembled the interior of a lotus. Her (body) odor was like that of a lotus. Her feet resembled red lotuses, were very soft, and very beautiful. The nails growing from the toes had the shape of the flashes (shooting) from gems.
(From the above description, it seems Ashokasundari was born a child and not an infant.)
Goddess Parvati Blesses Ashokasundari:
Ashoka Sundari approached Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and saluted them. Then she asked, “O Lord, O mother, tell me the reason for which I was produced.”
Goddess Parvati replied, “Through curiosity about the truth about the tree I conceived you. O good lady, the fruit, i.e., you, the wealth of beauty is instantly obtained. You are undoubtedly my daughter endowed with all good fortune. You will be known in the world as Ashokasundari. Nahusha, the lord of kings, well known in the lunar family, like god Indra, will be your husband.”
Then the goddess and Lord Shiva returned to Kailasha Mountain. They did not take her with them. Ashokasundari then stayed in Nandanavana and enjoyed her stay with other daughters of gods.
Ashokasundari Curses Demon Hunda:
Once a demon named Hunda entered Nandanavana and saw Ashokasundari playing there. Mesmerized by her beauty, he proposed to marry her. Ashokasundari rejected his offer by saying that she was destined to marry Nahusha, who would be the king of heaven in the future. Even though Nahusha was not yet born, she considered herself his wife and hence told him to look for another woman.
Hunda then tried to convince and lure her into marrying him, but Ashokasundari was firm on her decision. Therefore, Hunda had to leave her for that time, but he did not abandon the thought of marrying her and decided to win her by trickery.
The next day, he assumed the form of a beautiful woman and returned to Ashokasundari. She (Hunda) spoke very sweetly and inquired about her. Ashokasundari did not recognize his disguise and told him everything about her. The lady then said, “O respectable lady, you are a loyal wife, you are engaged in good vows. Your character and behavior are good, your actions are pious, and you are a very chaste lady. O good lady, I am a loyal wife, and am devoted to my husband. I, a great chaste woman, am practicing penance for my husband. That wicked Huṇḍa also killed my husband. For his destruction, I am practicing severe penance. Come to my holy hermitage. I stay on the bank of the Ganges.”
Convinced by her words, Ashokasundari agreed to go with her. Hunda then brought her to his beautiful city which was full of palaces, pitchers, staffs, and chowries. When Ashokasundari inquired about the city, he revealed himself before her and again proposed to her for marriage. Shocked by the deceit, Ashokasundari got very angry and cursed him, “Formerly, I, who had practiced a severe penance with a desire for (obtaining) a groom, will again, desiring your destruction, practice a hard penance. I shall then go to my husband, when I shall see you, killed by the magnanimous Nahusha with sharp arrows like a thunderbolt and resembling serpents, (and see you) the sinner, fallen on the battlefield, with your hair loose, and with blood (oozing from your body).”
Then she practiced penance in a forest to bring about the death of Huṇḍa.
Birth of Nahusha:
King Ayu and Queen Indumati were childless. Therefore, Ayu approached Lord Dattatreya and served him. Propitiated by his service, he gave him a fruit to give to his wife. Ayu returned and gave the fruit to his wife to eat after which she became pregnant. She went to her father’s home for pregnancy. There on one night, she gave birth to Nahusha. Then she returned to Ayu.
Scared of Ashokasundari’s curse, Hunda decided to kill Nahusha as soon as he was born. There was a wicked maid in the lying-in-chamber. Hunda entered her body and then got into the house of Ayu. When everybody was asleep, he kidnapped Nahusha and reached his city. Having called his wife Vipula, he said, “Kill this very sinful child, my enemy. Then hand it over to the cook for (cooking) a meal. Get it carefully cooked in many kinds and varieties. Later I shall undoubtedly eat it from the hand of (i.e., served by) the cook.”
Vipula handed over Nahusha to her maid to kill and cook. The noble cook took the child in his hand and became ready, raising a weapon (to kill the child). But the child was protected by Lord Dattātreya. He laughed again and again. Seeing him laughing the cook was full of compassion. A female attendant of the cook then took him to Sage Vashishtha’s hermitage that night only. Placing the excellent child (there), she then went (back) to her house. Having killed a black antelope, she cooked (its) flesh. The lord of demons, Huṇḍa, after eating deemed the curse of Ashokasundari to be fruitless.
Then he went to Ashoka Sundari who was doing penance in the forest and told her about the death of Nahusha. Although Ashoka Sundari knew that she was destined to marry Nahusha, some doubts came into her mind and she became sad. At that time, a kinnara named Vidvara (along with his wife) visited her and told her how Nahusha was saved by gods.
Sage Vashishtha Takes Care of Nahusha:
The next morning Sage Vashishtha found the child and decided to take care of him. He gave him the best training possible, and Nahusha grew up to be a great archer and a knowledgeable person.
One day, Vashishtha sent Nahusha in the forest to bring sylvan products. When he went into the forest, he heard birds talking about him and Ashokasundari. Then he returned to the hermitage and asked Vashishtha about it. Sage Vashishtha told him the whole story of his life; how Hunda kidnapped Ashokasundari and his destiny to be her husband and all other things. Learning about the story of his life, he became angry and decided to kill Hunda. Therefore, he decided to leave the hermitage.
Nahusha Kills Hunda:
Then Lord Indra appeared there with other gods and gave him many divine weapons and a chariot. Nahusha then reached the city of Hunda, where Hunda was ready with his army to fight with him. Hunda was a brave warrior and put up a good fight against Nahusha but was killed in the end.
Nahusha Becomes A King:
Nahusha then went to Ashokasundari and took her to the hermitage of Vashishtha where they got officially married. They both then went to Ayu and Indumati who were over joyous after seeing them. King Ayu then consecrated Nahusha on his throne. Thus, Nahusha became a king.
Yayati, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas, was the son of Nahusha and Ashokasundari.
The story of Nahusha and Ashokasundari ends here per the Padma Purana.
Nahusha Becomes the King of Heaven:
Per some other stories, Indra had to leave heaven. Therefore, in his absence, gods declared Nahusha as the king of heaven where he ruled for many years and left after Indra’s return.
Story of Ashokasundari per the TV Series Devon Ke Dev Mahadev:
The story of Ashoka Sundari started in episode 4 of season 8 in the series Devon Ke Dev Mahadev. There is a lot of difference between the stories in the Padma Purana and the story shown in this series.
The Birth of Ashokasundari:
After Lord Kartikeya left Kailasha Mountain, Goddess Parvati was feeling lonely. Therefore, Lord Shiva advised her to sit under the Kalpavriksha tree, which would have made her feel better. But Goddess Parvati did not feel better even after sitting under it. Therefore, a sage advised her to make a clay statue of a girl child and pray to Kalpravrisha to make it alive. When Goddess Parvati did so with the permission of Lord Shiva, Ashoka Sundari was born. Then Goddess Parvati took her to Kailasha and taught her how to worship a Shiva lingam. She also told her that Nahusha would be her husband in the future.
Demon Hunda Abducts Ashokasundari:
One day a demon named Hunda took the form of a rabbit and lured Ashoka Sundari far away from Goddess Parvati. He abducted and took her to Patala Loka. He told her that he would wait for her to grow up and then would marry her. Therefore, Ashokasundari cursed him to be killed by Nahusha. The infuriated demon tried to harm her, but Goddess Parvati came there and punished him. Then she took Ashokasundari back to Kailasha.
Ashokasundary Starts Penance:
When Lord Shiva comes back after destroying Tripurasuara, he tells her different stories and narrates the importance of penance to her. Therefore, she decides to do penance. Goddess Parvati opposes her idea but Lord Shiva convinces her.
Goddess Parvati feels lonely without Ashokasundari. When Lord Ganesha knows about the aim of her penance, he goes to Nahusha’s father with the proposal. Ayu and Indumati accept his proposal but request him to meet Prince Nahusha once. When Lord Ganesha sees Nahusha, he finds out that he is a kid and is much younger than Ashokasundari.
Goddess Parvati Transforms Nahusha Into A Young Man:
Lord Ganesha convinces Ayu and Indumati to get Nahusha and Ashokasundari engaged so that they would marry in the future. Therefore, Ayu, Indumati, and Nahusha go to meet Ashokasundari in the forest. They like her and agree to get them engaged. Then Lord Ganesha and Ashokasundari return to Kailasha.
After a few days, Hunda attacks Nahusha but fails to harm him, but this makes his parents worried about him. Therefore, they request Goddess Parvati to increase the age of Nahusha, so that he can get married to Ashokasundari immediately. Goddess Parvati assures them that she would discuss that with Lord Shiva and tell them.
When she tells about this to Lord Shiva, he strictly opposes the idea because it is against nature and would have severe consequences upon Nahusha’s life. But somehow Goddess Parvati convinces him and transforms Nahusha into a young man.
Nahusha and Ashokasundari Get Married:
Lord Ganesha starts preparing for the marriage and suggests Sage Vashishtha’s hermitage as the wedding venue. All the gods attend the wedding and bless the couple. Asura Sumali attacks Nahusha but fails to kill him.
Nahusha Kills Hunda:
When Nahusha and Ashokasundari go to worship Kuldevi, Hunda attacks them. He creates multiple clones of himself, but Nahusha fights with all of them bravely. One of them tries to kill Ashokasundari, but Lord Ganesha kills him and saves her. The original Hunda throws an arrow toward Nahusha from behind a tree, but Lord Kartikeya cuts off that arrow and saves Nahusha. The real Hunda tries to run away, but Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya stop him. Then Nahusha kills him in a duel. Thus, the curse of Ashokasundari was fulfilled.
Nahusha Becomes the King of Heaven:
Due to some reason, Indra had to leave his kingship and do penance. Therefore, all sages and gods decide to make Nahusha the king of Heaven. But after becoming the king of heaven, Nahusha becomes arrogant and starts drinking. On top of that, he develops bad intentions for Indrani, who is Indra’s wife and orders her to sleep with him. But Indrani puts a condition before him that she would fulfill his wish only if he comes in a palanquin carried by Saptarishi.
Nahusha readily agrees and orders Saptarishi to carry his palanquin to Indrani’s palace. The sages being old carry the palanquin slowly, but due to being drunk and eager to reach the palace, Nahusha scolds them for being slow and calls them snakes. Because of the tiredness, one of the sages falters, and Saptarishi stops the palanquin. Angry Nahusha kicks the Rishi, who is Sage Agastya. The infuriated sage curses him to become a snake.
Ashokasundari Leaves with Nahusha:
After cursing Nahusha, Saptarishi and Indrani approach Lord Shiva and apologize to him. Ashoka Sundari tells them that they are not to be blamed, and Nahusha got the fruit of his deeds. Seeing her calmness and composure in such a difficult situation, Sage Agastya limits the curse and says it would be over after Nahusha comes in contact with his children. After that, Ashoka Sundari leaves Kailasha along with her husband.
The story of Ashokasundari in the TV series Devon Ke Dev Mahadev ends here.
Nahusha in the Mahabharata:
In the Dvapara Yuga, when the Pandavas were on their final journey in the Himalayas, Nahusha in his serpent form captures Bhima and decides to eat him. Despite Bhima’s extraordinary strength, Nahusha is too powerful, as he had received a boon while falling, from Agastya, that taken by him, strong beings superior to him, shall immediately lose their strength.
Meanwhile, Yudhishthira was looking for Bhima. He found him and saw what was happening to him. Nahusha reveals himself to be Yudhishthira’s ancestor and tells him of his curse. Yudhishthira and Nahusha discourse with each other on their views of Dharma. Nahusha tells Yudhishthira of his mistakes and asks him to learn from them. Nahusha is relieved from his curse and goes to heaven.
We can infer that Ashokasundari also returns with him to heaven.
Goddess Parvati Curses Ashokasundari:
This is a lesser-known story, which is perhaps a part of folklore. Once Goddess Parvati was planning to take a bath. Therefore, she created a boy from the clay and ordered him to guard the entrance and not allow anyone to enter. When Lord Shiva came to Kailasha, Lord Ganesha did not allow him to enter. Infuriated Lord Shiva cut off his head.
Per some stories, Ashoka Sundari was present there at that time, but she was so scared of the fearsome form of Lord Shiva that she hid behind a salt sack. When Goddess Parvati came out and saw her dead son and Ashokasundari hiding behind the salt sack, she cursed her to become a part of the salt. Therefore, Ashokasundari is associated with salt.
(The story does not tell how she regained her form.)
The Worship of Ashoka Sundari:
The worship of Ashokasundari is less common. She is mainly worshipped in the form of Bala Tripura Sundari, the daughter of the Mother Goddess Tripura Sundari and Lord Kameshwara (Lord Shiva), in South India. She is also worshipped in Gujarat in the month of Chaitra. There are many temples of Bala Tripura Sundari in South India.
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