The story of Ahalya, wife of Gautama Rishi, is an important
episode in the epic Ramayana. Ahalya story happens during the exile period of
Sri Ram and is found in the Bala Kanda. Bhagavan Sri Ram touches a stone near
the Ashram of Gautama Rishi and it suddenly turns into a woman. This was Ahalya
who was cursed by her husband to become a stone.
Indra, the king of demigods, was infatuated by the beauty of
Ahalya. He attempted to seduce her by taking the form of Gautama Rishi. Ahalya did
not stop the advances of Indra, although Ahalya knew that it was not her
husband who was approaching her.
When Gautama Rishi, who had gone for his morning bath,
suddenly returned and Indra took the form of a cat and escaped from the ashram.
The rishi, however, knew through his yogic powers what had occurred. 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 Indira 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.