Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Dandakaranya included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Daṇḍakāraṇya
A forest in the Indo-Gangetic Valley. For the story of how this place became a great forest see under Arā.
Other information.
(1) This is a holy place. He who takes bath in this place would get the fruits of giving a thousand cows as gift. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 85, Stanza 41).
(2) During the time of the forest life of Śrī Rāma he made his cottage in this forest and stayed there for a while. It was in this forest that a part of the body of Śūrpaṇakhā was cut off and the infantry of fourteen thousand giants who came under the leadership of Khara, Dūṣaṇa and Triśira was completely destroyed. Sītā was stolen, Mārīca was killed by Śrī Rāma, and Jaṭāyu died by the sword of Rāvaṇa in this forest of Daṇḍakāraṇya. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapters 277 to 279.)