The Birth of Shakuntala 

powerful Vishwamitra was, she was in no doubt that Vishwamitra could easily take offence at her intention and harm her. However, she dared not disobey the command of Indra. So, instead she requested Indra to have Marut, the God of the Wind, rob her of her clothes and spread the fragrance of wild flowers in the air at the right moment. She also asked Indra to solicit the assistance of Manmatha, the God of love in accomplishing this mission. With this strategy in place, the beautiful Menaka landed in the hermitage.

Having paid obeisance to the mighty sage who was lost in meditation, Menaka was said to have been looking around when Marut blew her clothes away. As she ran in pursuit of her clothes, abashed and with a look of playful annoyance on her face, Vishwamitra lost his focus and opened his eyes. The sight of the celestial beauty, resplendent, ageless and of perfect form was more than what even the mighty sage could resist. He expressed his desire to be united with her. Now herself besotted with the strapping and powerful sage, Menaka agreed. Soon they were blessed with a beautiful girl child. Mission accomplished, it was now time for Menaka to return to Indralok, the land of the devas or the demigods. Vishwamitra, aware of the insidious trick played on him, pronounced on her a mild curse; a permanent separation between them. Menaka left the hermitage, taking her daughter to the banks of the river Malini where she placed the baby on its banks and returned to her celestial abode.

 A passing rishi, Sage Kanva, another important hermit of the times, found the abandoned baby now sheltered by ‘shakuns’ or large birds. He gave her the name Shakuntala, the child of the birds, and brought her up in his own hermitage, as his daughter.

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