Lomasha

Lomasha
Lomasha
Other names	Romasha
Affiliation	Rishi
Texts	Mahabharata,Puranas

Lomasha(Sanskrit:लोमश,romanized:Lomaśa) is asagefeatured inHindu texts.He is most prominently featured in theMahabharata,where he narrates a number of legends to thePandavasduring their period of exile in the forest.^[2]

Literature

Mahabharata

In theMahabharata,Lomasha is described to have visitedIndralokato pay his respects toIndra.He observed the PandavaArjunaseated upon half of the deity's throne. Indra explained to the sage that Arjuna shared the throne with him due to the virtue of being his son, and described the circumstances of the prince's birth and identity. He instructed the sage to return to earth, to the forest ofKamyaka,and offerYudhishthirareassurance that his brother would return to him after gainingcelestial weapons,and ask him to bathe inpilgrimage sitesalong with the other Pandavas. The deity also bade the sage to protect Yudhishthira from therakshasasthat resided in the forest.^[3]Accordingly, Lomasha visited Yudhishthira and conveyed the aforementioned message of Indra, and offered to accompany him during his pilgrimage.^[4]Hearing Yudhishthira's grievances about the success of his unrighteous foes, Lomasha preached to the prince regarding the nature ofdharma.Citing the example of the superiority of thedevasover theasuras,the sage assured him that those who did not adhere to dharma would be destroyed.^[5]The sage regaled the tales of a number of personages to the Pandavas, such as those ofAgastya,Rama,Parashurama,andRishyashringa.^[6]He accompanied them during their visits to a number of holy sites such as theNaimishaforest,Gaya,and the riverYamuna,and explained their significance to them.^[7]

The legend of Indra slayingVritrais narrated by Lomasha.^[8]^[9]

Padma Purana

In thePadma Purana,the legend of Lomasha coming across five maidens of thegandharvarace who had fallen in love with the son of a sage is described byNarada.The young man rejected their advances, and when they attempted to claim him by force, he turned them intopishachas,and they responded in kind. Feeling sorry for their plights, the sage had them bathe in the holy waters of theNarmadariver, which returned them to their original forms. Lomasha advised the young man to take the five maidens as his wives and live together by the banks of the river.^[10]

Skanda Purana

In theSkanda Purana,Lomasha narrates a number of legends, such as that of theSamudra Manthana^[11]and the conflict between theasuras,led byVirochana,and thedevas,led by Indra.^[12]

Tulasi Ramayana

In theTulasi Ramayana,Lomasha is stated to have once engaged in a discourse on the merits ofnirguna(non-qualified Absolute) worship over that ofsaguna(qualified Absolute) worship ofBrahman.The sage Bhushundi refused to accept these views. In his fury, Lomasha cursed him to become a crow, thus being renamedKakabhushandi.^[13]

References

^Mani, Vettam (2015-01-01). Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 457. ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2.
^Bhatt, G. P.; Shastri, J. L.; Deshpande, N. A. (1992).The Skanda Purana Part 1: Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology Volume 49.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 2.ISBN 978-81-208-0966-6.
^Bibek Debroy.The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy.pp. 1098–1100.
^Narasimhan, Chakravarthi V. (1999).The Mahābhārata: An English Version Based on Selected Verses.Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 63–64.ISBN 978-81-208-1673-2.
^Bibek Debroy.The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy.p. 1400.
^Mani, Vettam (2015-01-01).Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 457–458.ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2.
^Buitenen, Johannes Adrianus Bernardus; Buitenen, Johannes Adrianus Bernardus van; Fitzgerald, James L. (1973).The Mahābhārata.University of Chicago Press. pp. 368–370.ISBN 978-0-226-84664-4.
^Klostermaier, Klaus K. (2006-01-01).Mythologies and Philosophies of Salvation in the Theistic Traditions of India.Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. p. 29.ISBN 978-0-88920-743-1.
^Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19).Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated).Delphi Classics. p. 3189.ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
^Makarand Joshi.Padma Purana Vol 04 Bhumi And Svarga Khanda Pages 1241 1563 ENG Motilal Banarsidass 1990.pp. 1413–1422.
^Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24).Skanda Purana: Maheswara Khanda: Kedara Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas.Kausiki Books. p. 157.
^Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24).Skanda Purana: Maheswara Khanda: Kedara Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas.Kausiki Books. p. 177.
^Jyotir Maya Nanda, Swami (2013).Mysticism of the Ramayana.Internet Archive. Ghaziabad: International Yoga Society. pp. 230–235.ISBN 978-81-85883-79-3.

[1] Mani, Vettam (2015-01-01). Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 457. ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2.

[2] Bhatt, G. P.; Shastri, J. L.; Deshpande, N. A. (1992).The Skanda Purana Part 1: Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology Volume 49.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 2.ISBN 978-81-208-0966-6.

[3] Bibek Debroy.The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy.pp. 1098–1100.

[4] Narasimhan, Chakravarthi V. (1999).The Mahābhārata: An English Version Based on Selected Verses.Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 63–64.ISBN 978-81-208-1673-2.

[5] Bibek Debroy.The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy.p. 1400.

[6] Mani, Vettam (2015-01-01).Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 457–458.ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2.

[7] Buitenen, Johannes Adrianus Bernardus; Buitenen, Johannes Adrianus Bernardus van; Fitzgerald, James L. (1973).The Mahābhārata.University of Chicago Press. pp. 368–370.ISBN 978-0-226-84664-4.

[8] Klostermaier, Klaus K. (2006-01-01).Mythologies and Philosophies of Salvation in the Theistic Traditions of India.Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. p. 29.ISBN 978-0-88920-743-1.

[9] Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19).Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated).Delphi Classics. p. 3189.ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.

[10] Makarand Joshi.Padma Purana Vol 04 Bhumi And Svarga Khanda Pages 1241 1563 ENG Motilal Banarsidass 1990.pp. 1413–1422.

[11] Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24).Skanda Purana: Maheswara Khanda: Kedara Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas.Kausiki Books. p. 157.

[12] Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24).Skanda Purana: Maheswara Khanda: Kedara Khanda: English Translation only without Slokas.Kausiki Books. p. 177.

[13] Jyotir Maya Nanda, Swami (2013).Mysticism of the Ramayana.Internet Archive. Ghaziabad: International Yoga Society. pp. 230–235.ISBN 978-81-85883-79-3.

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v t e Mahabharata
Traditional author and narrators	Vyasa Vaisampayana Ugrashrava Sauti
Books (parvas)	Adi Sabha Vana Virata Udyoga Bhishma Bhagavad Gita Drona Karna Shalya Sauptika Stri Shanti Anushasana Ashvamedhika Ashramavasika Mausala Mahaprasthanika Svargarohana Harivamsha
Tribes	Main tribes Bharata Kauravas Pandavas Yadu Kunti Gandhara Matsya List of tribes Janapadas Mahajanapadas
Places	Capitals Hastinapur Indraprastha 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra Kurukshetra Jyotisar Panchagrama Indraprastha Pranaprastha Swarnaprastha Tilaprastha Vyagaprastha
Events	Svayamvara Kurukshetra War Vishvarupa Chakravyūha
Characters	Abhimanyu Amba Ambika Ambalika Arjuna Ashwatthama Babruvahana Bahlika Balarama Bhagadatta Bharata Bhima Bhishma Bhurishravas Chitrāngada Chitrāngadā Damayanti Dhrishtadyumna Dhritarashtra Draupadi Drona Drupada Duhsala Durvasa Duryodhana Dushasana Dushyanta Ekalavya Gandhari Ganga Ghatotkacha Hidimba Hidimbi Iravan Janamejaya Jarasandha Jayadratha Karna Kichaka Kindama Kripa Krishna Role in theMahabharata Kritavarma Kunti Lomasha Madri Nahusha Nakula Nala Pandu Parashurama Parikshit Purochana Pururavas Rukmi Rukmini Sahadeva Sanjaya Satyaki Satyavati Savitri Shantanu Shakuni Shakuntala Shalya Shikhandi Shishupala Subhadra Sudeshna Ulupi Upapandavas Uttara Uttarā Vichitravirya Vidura Vikarna Virata Vrishaketu Vrishasena Vyasa Yayati Yudhishthira Yuyutsu
Related	Avatars Kingdoms Vedic era Epic-Puranic chronology Sarasvati River
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