One day during Gautama’s absence Indra assumed his form and approached Ahalya at a time deemed favourable by the sastras for carnal enjoyment. The inmates of the asram mistook him for Gautama. But Ahalya knew it was Indra incognito for nobody would have the guts to approach her in that form. Others would never have tried to seduce her or maybe, Indra himself made it clear to her. Thus thinking that the king of gods wanted her, she made up her mind to give in to him. After making love to Indra she was embarrassed, fearing Gautama. Co-habitation over she was was afraid of consequences. Just then as Indra was getting out of the cottage, she saw Gautama.
On seeing him Indra turned sad and pale, Gautama cursed him saying, “Taking my form, you have done what should not have been done, therefore you shall become impotent (without testicles)”. He also cursed Ahalya saying “you shall live in this very asram for a thousand years. Since you gave in to lust, you will not eat anything except air. Burning and expiating you smeared with ashes swill not be seen by anybody."
Curse of Ahalya 1.48.31-32
Having cursed Indra and Ahalya, Gautama left the asram and went to a peak in the Himalayas where he performed austerities. Some say Gautama cursed Ahalya into a rock to be freed by the touch of Rama’s foot. But where is it? Although the story of Rama releasing Ahalya from the curse has become quite famous, it does not have any solid base or may be, it is baseless. Maheswara Tirtha maintains that the story is cited in some of the Puranas. But which of the two versions is to be believed? Valmiki who was a witness to the life of Rama does not give the story of Ahalya’s deliverance.
Incidents that led to Gautama's curse 1.48.17-28
One day during Gautama’s absence Indra assumed his form and approached Ahalya at a time deemed favourable by the sastras for carnal enjoyment. The inmates of the asram mistook him for Gautama. But Ahalya knew it was Indra incognito for nobody would have the guts to approach her in that form. Others would never have tried to seduce her or maybe, Indra himself made it clear to her. Thus thinking that the king of gods wanted her, she made up her mind to give in to him. After making love to Indra she was embarrassed, fearing Gautama. Co-habitation over she was was afraid of consequences. Just then as Indra was getting out of the cottage, she saw Gautama.
On seeing him Indra turned sad and pale, Gautama cursed him saying, “Taking my form, you have done what should not have been done, therefore you shall become impotent (without testicles)”. He also cursed Ahalya saying “you shall live in this very asram for a thousand years. Since you gave in to lust, you will not eat anything except air. Burning and expiating you smeared with ashes swill not be seen by anybody."
Curse of Ahalya 1.48.31-32
Having cursed Indra and Ahalya, Gautama left the asram and went to a peak in the Himalayas where he performed austerities. Some say Gautama cursed Ahalya into a rock to be freed by the touch of Rama’s foot. But where is it? Although the story of Rama releasing Ahalya from the curse has become quite famous, it does not have any solid base or may be, it is baseless. Maheswara Tirtha maintains that the story is cited in some of the Puranas. But which of the two versions is to be believed? Valmiki who was a witness to the life of Rama does not give the story of Ahalya’s deliverance.