Story of Ahalya, wife of Sage Gautama, is from epic
Ramayana. The story involving Sage Gautama and Ahalya is found in the Bala Kanda chapter of
Ramayan. Bhagavan Sri Ram touches a stone near the Ashram of Sage Gautama and
it suddenly turns into a woman. This was Ahalya who was cursed by her husband
to become a stone.
The unearthly beauty of Ahalya infatuated Indra, the king of
demigods. He attempted to seduce her by taking the form of Sage Gautama. Ahalya
did not stop the advances of Indra, although Ahalya knew it was not her husband
who was approaching her.
Sage Gautama, who had gone for his morning bath, suddenly
returned and Indra took the form of a cat and escaped from the ashram. Sage
Gautama realized through his yogic powers what had happened. He cursed his
wife, turning her to stone, and put a curse on Indra as well.
It is said that Indra was cursed to roam around with 1000
vaginas on his body. Later Indra did penance and turned the vaginas into eyes.
Another Purana states that Indra was cursed that he will lose his testicles.
Devas is said to have replaced it with that of a male sheep.
Ahalya who was cursed by her husband to become a stone
attained Moksha when Bhagwan Sri Ram touched her with his foot.