The father of SriRama, King Dasaratha who was ruling Ayodya marries Kausalya, princess of Kosala. She gives birth to a female child. But she was with handicap in her leg. The girl was named as Shanta. King Dasaratha felt very bad about the condition of her child and requests his doctors to cure her. But the doctors of entire Kingdom fail to remove the handicap of that girl.
Then by watching the worry of the king, Saint Vasistha who is the rajaguru of Dasaratha adviced King Dasaratha that there is one solution to cure the girl. If the king gives his daughter for adoption to any divine couple the child will be cured.
After discussing with the queen the king decides to give his daughter for adoption. King Dasaratha gives the child to Romapada, who is the king of Angadesa. After that Shanta has cured from the disability due to the treatment and care.
Then she grows up and comes to the marital age. And once in Anga rajya there was severe draught occurs. The saints in the kingdom advises king Romapada to bring saint Rishyashrunga, who was known for bringing rain to any land where he stepped.
Saint Rishyasringa got the name because he was born with the horn of a deer. His father was the rishi Vibhandaka, and his mother was a celestial paramour Urvasi. By the order of Indra, Urvasi seduced rishi Vibhandaka . Because, Indra feared that by the yogic powers the rishi may prove fatal to the very existence of heaven. Because of this Rishyasringa was born to rishi Vibhandaka and Urvasi . After the child was born Urvasi, goes back to heaven leaving the boy to Vibhandaka. By this Vibhandaka develops extreme hatred towards women folk, and he raised his son in a forest, isolated from society. So, Rishyasringa never saw any girls or women, and was not told of their existence, but he had magical and miraculous powers.
King Romapada wanted to save his kingdom by inviting Rishyashringa to his kingdom.He sends some beautiful women but as they do not succeed, then Shanta takes the responsibility of bringing him to their kingdom and she succeeds in that, thus brings rain and also marries him.
After giving Shanta for adoption Dashratha have not got any children. Later he gets married to two more women named Sumitra and Kaikeyi. But all three queens have not got any children. Then with the advice of maharshi Vashista, Dasaratha performs Aswamedhayaga followed by Puthrakameshti Yaga. Both were supervised by Rishyasringa. Because of the yagas all the three queens become pregnant and give birth to four children. Sri Rama to Kousalya, Laxman and Shatragnu to Sumitra, Bharat to Kaikeyi. And they rest of the story we know well. So Shanta is treated as the elder sister of Lord SriRama.
Shanta and Rishyashrunga had one son by name Yadarshi. He was devotee of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha swami and on his name there is famous pilgrim in Andrapradesh Yadagirigutta.
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