2. Somakanta's life as a king - Ganesha purana

2. Somakanta’s life as a king

from Sri Ganesha Purana by Dr.Akila Sivaraman

Kamandha who was born as the prince of Sowrashtra was known as Somakanta in this birth. He married Sudanmai and ascended the throne after his father. As he was destined to enjoy all pleasures of life, as a gift for building a temple for Lord Vinayaka in his previous birth, he had absolutely an excellent tenure as a famous king. His kingdom was peaceful and all his subjects were totally pleased with his rule. He was duly blessed with a son whom he called Emakanta. The handsome prince was brought up with all care and love.

As time passed by, Somakanta reached the stage when he had to suffer for the sins of his previous birth. He was affected with leprosy, which could not be cured by the doctors of the land. The intensity of the disease was on the increase, day after day and Somakanta suffered a hell beyond description. He decided to renounce the world, leave his family and kingdom and retire to a far-off forest.

The first step he took to implement his decision was to make his son ascend the throne. The people of the country had a new ruler, but still everyone loved their old king Somakanta. When he announced his decision to go to the forest alone, everyone including his wife and son followed him. As Somakanta did not want to inflict his personal suffering on his kith and kin and the people of the land, he pleaded with them to leave him alone.

After a good deal of persuasion, the new king Emakanta agreed to take charge of the country and the people. Slowly, the ministers excepting two of them and rest of the people permitted him to go to the forest. His wife also decided to accompany him, as they were always supposed to stay together in pleasures and pain of family life.

Somakanta had to yield finally to the desire of his queen and accompanying ministers. Suphala and Jnyangamya decided to be king’s bodyguards in the forest, as he no longer required them as ministers. Sudanmai, the queen took leave of her son, the new king and asked him to pray to Lord Vinayaka for their welfare.

The tough life in the forest was the next stage to atone for Somakanta sins of the previous birth, along with the sufferings of the deadly disease. But he continued to pray to Lord Vinayaka throughout this trial.

1. the story of kamandha- ganesh purana

The story of Kamandha

from Ganesha purana by Dr. Akila Sivaraman

There is a city called Kollam near the Vindhya Hills.Chidroopa, a merchant and his wife,Sulochana lived there happily, following the dictates of the righteous way of life.In due course, they were blessed with a son , Kamandha.

As and when Kamandha grew up to be a handsome young man, Kutumbini married him. The couple lived happily and twelve children [seven sons and five daughters] were born to them.

When Chidroopa and Sulochana passed away after attaining old age, Kamandha was a free bird to take to ignoble ways of his choice. From an honest and hardworking merchant’s life, he drifted to a care-free, pleasure – seeking way of living, in which he lost all his wealth and also family –life.

Kutumbini tried to persuade him to become a responsible father of twelve children, but in vain. So, she moved to her mother’s house to save children.

Kamandha happily continued his evil ways and indulged in gambling, looting, robbery and torturing the villagers and travellers to a great extent. One day, he happened to meet a young Brahmin who had recently been married. Despite his begging for mercy, Kamandha murdered him ruthlessly and looted all his money.

The sin of killing a Brahmin had its toll on Kamandha who became afflicted with the worst disease on earth. His sufferings grew day by day and even his wife would not return to nurse him back to health.

at this stage , a poor Brahmin approached him for money. Kamandha, who had reformed his life to an extent and repented for the misdeeds of his past, happily helped the Brahmin and offered to give more donations to needy. But the villagers who knew his past and the story of his ill-gotten wealth abused him profusely and refused to take any help from him.

Kamandha beseeched them to forgive him, as he whole-heartedly repented for his shameful behaviour in the past, due to his greed for money. The villagers suggested that he could use all his money to renovate Lord Vinayaka’s temple in the forest. He readily agreed to their request to atone for his past sins.

With a huge effort, Lord Vinayaka’s temple was rebuilt in a grand-style. Ever since the renovation work started, Kamandha had become a new man of noble virtues. The consecration of the temple was duly conducted grandly.

In due course, Kamandha passed away and Yamadharmaraja was given an account of his lazy sinful life and the only good deed of building a temple for Lord Vinayaka.

Pronouncing the verdict, Dharmaraja told Kamandha that he had to suffer for his sins and also get the benefits for his single noble task of building a temple.

Kamandha chose to have the benefits first and took rebirth as the son of King of Sowrashtra with name – Somakantha, in the city of Devanagara.