The Story of Goddess Vasavi Kanyakaparameswari

 Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshvari is a Hindu goddess, worshipped mainly by a community of Jain worshippers in Andhra Pradesh called Komati. She is believed to be a virgin form of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. The Vaishnavas believe that she is a form of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu’s consort.

People of the Komati community regard her as their kuladevata. So do other communities like Arya Vaishya, Kalinga Vaishya, Arava Vaishya, Marathi Vaishya, Beri Vaishya, and the Trivarnika Vaishya. This fact is mentioned in the Vasavi Puranamulu, a Telugu text of the 18th century CE.

To Jaina Komatis, she is Shanti Matha Vasavi, who preached Ahimsa for the benefit of all humanity and helped avoid warfare and loss of life.

Vasavi lived in Penugonda, which was located on the banks of the river Gautami. This river is one of the 7 tributaries of the Godavari River. Penugonda is in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Great sages used to do penance and perform Yagna here. It was also here that Saint Pulasthya had the darshan of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, all at the same time. Lord Muruga also performed penance here, while Guru Bhaskaracharya received the darshan of Brahma.

Penugonda later became the abode of deities like Lakshminarayana and Parvati Parameshvara, who came to be called Konakomala Janardhana and Gowri Nageswara, respectively.

The "Vysya Purana Kavyamu," written by Goddess Vasavi's Guru Sri Bhaskaracharya, claims that she was born in 2617 BC (Julian) on a Friday, Vaisakha, Shuddha Dashami under the Punarvasu Nakshatra. She supposedly undertook "Agni Pravesham" (immolated herself) along with 102 Gotraja couples and gave Viswa Roopa darshan on Thursday, Magha, Shuddha Dwiteeya in the year 2628 BC (Julian). She also advised the Vasavi Sapta Shathi to her devotees on this occasion.

In one of his books, the well-known astrologer Divyashree Bobrulu Rosaiah Siddhanti endorsed the above date and time. So has Ekkirala Vedavyasa who reviewed horoscopes and planetary positions. Siddhanti Sri Lakshmikant Shresthi, too, agreed on the above dates. He also claimed that Goddess Vasavi lived during the time of the Buddha.

Legend of Goddess Vasavi

Birth of Vasavi

According to the legend of Vasavi, the Vysya community comprised 714 Gotrajas who resided in the Penugonda Kingdom under the efficient reign of King Kusuma Shresti and his consort, Queen Kusumamba. Kusuma Shresti was the 16th in the line of kings who succeeded Samadhimuni. The couple had no children, so they performed a Putrakameshti Yagna on Guru Bhaskaracharya’s advice. Goddess Parashakthi is said to have appeared from the Homakundam and given the couple some payasam.

Kusumamba drank the payasam and on the day of Vaishaka Shuddha Dashami, she delivered twins. The boy, who was named Virupaksha, was an avatar of Nandikeswara, while the girl, Vasavi, was an avatar of Goddess Adi Parashakthi. Virupaksha received instruction in martial arts, Dharmashastra, and politics and became proficient in them.

Vasavi learned fine arts and music. Even as a child, she was devoted to Lord Shiva. When she reached her teen years, she was a stunning beauty. Her wish was to dedicate her life to Shiva and remain single as Gowrabalika.

Vasavi Gets a Proposal

King Kusuma Shresti used to pay tributes to Emperor Vishnuvardhana. Once, the latter visited Penugonda, where King Kusuma Shresti gave him a grand welcome. On this occasion, Vishnuvardhana’s eyes fell on Vasavi, who was in the bloom of her youth. He fell in love with her instantly and decided to marry her.

Kusuma Shresti was taken aback by the Emperor’s proposal. He called a meeting of the elders of 714 Gotra to have a discussion on the matter.

Guru Bhaskaracharya told them to take Vasavi's views into account. The king, his wife, Guru Bhaskaracharya, Vasavi, and Virupaksha held a secret meeting. Vasavi informed them that her goal was to uphold the dignity and honor of womanhood. She felt that her birth had a specific purpose - to preach Ahimsa (non-violence) to the world.

Vasavi’s Sacrifice

She appeared in the form of Adi Parashakti and vowed that she would never marry. When Vishnuvardhana heard that Vasavi was not willing to marry him, he became angry and resolved to marry her using brute force. So, he declared war on Penugonda. Vasavi did not want any bloodshed in her name. The dignity and honor of the women in her kingdom were also at stake.  So, Vasavi decided to end her life by immolating herself in the fire.

Among the 714 Gotrajas, 102 were in support of her decision. They, too, decided to immolate themselves along with her. Fearing Vishnuvardhana, the remaining 612 Gotrajas fled Penugonda. The great sculptor Malhara built 103 Homakundas for the ritual. Vasavi and the 102 Gotraja sacrificed their lives in the sacred fire on the day of Magha Suddha Bidige.

Vasavi Reveals her Viswa Roopam

After this, Vasavi emerged from the fire as Kanyakaparameswari, revealing her original form - Adi Parasakthi. She had 18 hands, and she preached spirituality, love, sacrifice, non-violence, and universal and social religiousness. She also laid the foundation for global unity through non-violence and Dharma rakshana. All Vasavi temples celebrate this day as ‘Atmarpana Day.’

The 102 Gotraja couples who immolated themselves with Vasavi got relief from their curses of 16 generations. Vasavi also gave them Moksha. Vishnuvardhana heard this news when he was on his way to Penugonda. On hearing it, his head exploded into thousands of pieces, and he died. The sons of the 102 Gotraja couples went to Kasi to perform their parents’ last rites and returned with 102 Shivalingas. These were installed at a prominent place in Penugonda. Even now, this street is called Lingala Veedhi.

Virupaksha became the King of Penugonda. It was Raja Raja Narendra, Vishnuvardhana’s son, who crowned him king.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President of India, once said that Goddess Vasavi was the first figure to embody non-violence in the entire world. Many others would later walk down the same path - Jesus Christ, Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, Sai Baba, Potti Sriramulu of AP, and Martin Luther King Jr. Thus, one can call her a trailblazer.