Vishwamitra completed his sacrifice and then took the princes to Mithila, the capital of King Janaka, where he was holding a swayamvara for the marriage of his daughter, Seeta. On the way, they came to a beautiful but deserted ashrama where once Sage Gautama used to live long ago with his wife Ahalya. One day Indra, the king of gods, in love with Ahalya’s beauty, came to the ashrama when Gautama had gone out. He took Gautama’s form and went to Ahalya, who thinking him to be her husband Gautama, behaved very lovingly towards him. Gautama saw Indra returning, and realising what had happened, he cursed him. Then, he turned Ahalya into a rock with a curse. She would only be redeemed when Rama’s feet led him to the ashrama. As Rama entered the ashrama, the curse broke. Ahalya came to life, bowed to Rama and was blessed to return to her abode.
Ahalya’s Salvation
