Ahalya – The Woman of Unblemished Beauty (Part 1)

In the storytelling traditions of Indian culture, many tales of renowned women carry deep moral lessons. Among them, the life story of Ahalya stands out, inviting both reflection and thoughtful discussion.

Ahalya was the daughter of Brahma, the Creator. Her name itself became synonymous with beauty — a woman flawless in every aspect, without the slightest blemish or imperfection. Being the daughter of a Brahmin, some regarded her as the “daughter of Sharada,” the goddess of wisdom. Others believed she was the manasaputri — the mind-born daughter — of Brahma. Though there is no definitive scriptural statement to confirm this, such beliefs have persisted through tradition. When Ahalya reached maturity, Brahma decided it was time to arrange her marriage.

News of Ahalya’s beauty spread far and wide. Indra, king of the heavens, desired to wed her and came to Brahma’s abode with this wish. At the same time, the great sage Gautama, a man of immense penance and virtue, also arrived seeking Ahalya’s hand.

Brahma found himself in a dilemma — to whom should he give Ahalya in marriage? After some thought, he declared a challenge:

“Whoever returns first after circumambulating the Earth shall marry Ahalya.”

Eager to win, Indra mounted his celestial elephant Airavata and set off on the journey around the world. Gautama, however, had no such means of swift travel. After a moment’s reflection, he decided to circumambulate the Kamadhenu, the divine cow present there. He proclaimed:

“I have completed the circumambulation of the Earth!”

This was not mere trickery, but a reflection of a philosophical belief — that the word bhū (Earth) and go (cow) are symbolically one and the same, representing all creation. Accepting this interpretation, Brahma declared Gautama the winner and married Ahalya to him.

By the time Indra returned from his earthly circuit, the wedding had already taken place. Bound by Brahma’s decision, Indra could only leave in disappointment.

(To be continued next week…)