King Bhangaswana performed a powerful yajna and attained
several sons. In the yajna, Indra, the king of celestial beings, was not made
the main dignitary. Indra thus nursed a grudge against King. The story of
Bhangaswana, who remained a mother and woman, begins from here.
Legend has it that one day during a hunting expedition King
Bhangashvana came across a beautiful lake. He divided into the lake and played
in the waters. When he came out of the lake he found himself transformed into a
woman, this was due to the action of Indra who was secretly following the king.
The king was unable to face his subjects in the form of a
woman. So he handed over his kingdom to his sons and stayed back in the forest.
The king here befriended a tribal man and they were blessed
with several children. After several years the king sent the children to live
their brothers in the kingdom.
The might of the kingdom increased due to the unity among
the powerful children.
Indra was angrier as his plans were not succeeding. The
kingdom was becoming more and more powerful. Indra then took the form a Brahmin
and causes enmity between the brothers. The brothers killed each other.
King Bhangashvana then approached the Brahmin and wanted to
know the reason for his enmity. Indra then revealed this true form and during
the conversation, Indra realized his folly and asked the king to make a wish.
The king begged him to bring his sons to life.
Indra agreed to revive either the sons the king had as a
father or the sons he had as a mother.
The king immediately asked to resurrect the sons that he had
as a mother.
Indra wanted to know the reason as the older sons of the
king were more powerful and better kings.
To this the King replied that the sons born to him as a
mother were dearer to him.
Indra was pleased with the king and restored all his sons.
Indra then decided to restore the masculinity of the king.
But the king asked him to let her remain as a mother and woman forever. The
king was convinced that nothing can surpass the state of motherhood in the
world.
Thus King Bhangaswana remained a mother and woman for the
remaining part of his life.