T.W. Gore

She is the wife of the king Saudaasa Kalmaashapaada of the Ikshvaku dynasty.

When Saudasa is cursed and driven from his kingdom by Vashishtha, Madayanti is made to have a child with Vashishtha who is named Ashmaka, who is an ancestor of Rama.

When her body wouldn't go into active labour at the right time, she cut open her own belly with a sharp stone, and thus her son was named Ashmaka or 'born of a stone'. He grew up to establish his capital in the city named Paudanya.

A cannibal of the Puranas

By | Devdutt Pattanaik | Indian Author

The Rigveda refers to the battle of 10 kings that was won by Sudas of the Bharata clan. In Puranas, we are told that he had a son called Kalmashpada. That is why Kalmashpada is also called Saudas, which means ‘son of Sudas’. Saudas Kalmashpada is infamous for being a cannibal.

In the Mahabharata, King Saudas was walking in the forest, on a narrow path, when…

A cannibal of the Puranas

By | Devdutt Pattanaik | Indian Author

The Rigveda refers to the battle of 10 kings that was won by Sudas of the Bharata clan. In Puranas, we are told that he had a son called Kalmashpada. That is why Kalmashpada is also called Saudas, which means ‘son of Sudas’. Saudas Kalmashpada is infamous for being a cannibal.

In the Mahabharata, King Saudas was walking in the forest, on a narrow path, when…