Topic started by Prem Kumar (@ nebula.singnet.com.sg) on Mon Sep 3 07:25:20 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

In Singapore, there's a temple with a god name Aravaan. Who is he? He has a big moustache and is very fierce looking. Who is he?

Responses:

• From: Ramadas (@ globalc32.citicorp.com) on: Mon Sep 3 19:12:13
  
  Is this the same as Iravaan of Mahabharatha? Before the start of the great war, the Pandavas wanted to sacrifice a man so that they win the war. Only a perfectly handsome and complete person can be sacrificed. One of Arjuna's sons (from a lady called Ulupi) called Iravaan volunteered to be sacrificed. But he had a last wish. He wanted to get married and have a nice time for atleast a night. Who would marry a man who is going to die the next day? No woman volunteered for that. So Krishna took the form of "Mohini" (damsel) and got married to Iraavan and after the sacrifice took his actual figure.
  Anyway PremKumar, please tell me where in Singapore this temple is? I would like to visit.
  
  
• From: Sundar (@ access-isdn1-33.gv.psu.edu) on: Mon Sep 3 20:50:17
  
  INteresting!
  
  There are two legends - the southern recension where Aravaan is the perfect warrior and is given as "kaLa bali" - the warfield sacrifice.
  
  In the original story, Uloopi is one of Arjuna's wives that kidnaps him while he's on pilgrimage and marries him. He later leaves, and eventually marries Chitrangada, princess of Manipura.
  
  Many years later, Arjuna is following the horse on his brothers' Ashwamedha sacrifice, and the horse is captured by a young warrior, Babhruvahana. This is Arjuna's son by Chitrangada, whom Uloopi has trained as a worrior, and converted from a feckless young man to a stalwart. They fight, and Babhruvanhana actually kills Arjuna. Uloopi invokes the magical Nagamani gem and revives him. All are united and live happily ever after etc.
  
  The story is that Arjuna needed to be killed by his son because the seven Vasus had demanded such a fate for him from their mother the River Ganga, for ARjuna having killed their brother and Ganga's son Bheeshma by false means. Uloopi overhears this and has ARjuna killed - and revived so that the curse follows him no further.
  
  
• From: Ramadas (@ globalb9.citicorp.com) on: Tue Sep 4 00:13:59
  
  So the Iravaan I was mentioning and the Aravaan are the same? right? There is one such temple
  somewhere near Chingelput in Tamilnadu, I have heard. Every year there is an annual fare there
  when all Transvestites (Eunuchs) gather together
  and enjoy themselves! The Eunuchs claim that they
  are just like the Mohini form of Krishna. They even have a mock funeral for Iravaan and cry like widows afterwards!
  
  
• From: prem kumar (@ fcomet.singnet.com.sg) on: Tue Sep 4 02:14:15
  
  so is aravaan from the story of mahabarata? In singapore, this temple has statue of aravaan and his head is only present and he has a big moustache. he looks more like a kaaval deivam.
  
  
• From: RAO (@ ) on: Sat Jul 31 04:03:01
  
  Give me more details about uloopi and her son aravan.
  
  

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