Vishvamitra
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Vishvamitra is a legendary figure in Hindu mythology, and one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. Vishvamitra is one of the seven Brahmarshi. According to Hindu tradition, he is st
Vishvamitra by Raja Ravi Varma
Vishvamitra is addressed as maharsis by Brahma and other gods alarmed by his austerities
Menaka, the beautiful apsara, comes to seduce Vishvamitra from his austerities. Artist, Miskin.
Vishvamitra is seduced by Menaka.
Shakuntala
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Shakuntala is a heroine in ancient Indian literature, best known for her portrayal in the ancient Sanskrit play Abhijnanashakuntalam, written by the classical poet Kalidasa in the 4th or 5th century A
Vishvamitra
…of Vishvamitra. However, she fell in genuine love with him and a girl was born to them who later grew in Sage Kanva's ashram and came to be called Shakuntala. Later, Shakuntala falls in love with King Dushyanta and gives birth to a child called Bharata. Kanva describes this tale in the Mahabharata…
Shakuntala writing a love letter to Dushyanta, a scene from the play painted by Raja Ravi Varma
The Birth of Shakuntala, one of the most famous lithographs by Raja Ravi Varma, depicting Vishvamitra rejecting Menaka and his daughter.
Dushyanta meet Shakuntala, from a folio of Razmnama, the 16th century Persian translation of the Mahabharata
Kalidasa's version features much dramatized variant of the tale. One of Kalidasa's additions include the sage Durvasa cursing Shakuntala (pictured)