Maharishi Sthulakesa
Other names: Sthulakesha; Sthūlakeśa. A compassionate forest sage who found the abandoned infant Pramadvara, daughter of Menaka and the Gandharva Vishvavasu, and raised her in his hermitage. His guardianship makes him central to the Ruru-Pramadvara love and revival story.
“”Formerly there was a great Rishi called Sthulakesa possessed of ascetic power and learning and kindly disposed towards all creatures. At that time, O Brahmana sage, Viswavasu, the King of the Gandharvas, it is said, had intimacy with Menaka, the celestial dancing-girl. And the Apsara, Menaka, O thou of the Bhrigu race, when her time was come, brought forth an infant near the hermitage of Sthulakesa. And dropping the newborn infant on the banks of the river, O Brahmana, Menaka, the Apsara, being destitute of pity and shame, went away. And the Rishi, Sthulakesa, of great ascetic power, discovered the infant lying forsaken in a lonely part of the river-side. And he perceived that it was a female child, bright as the offspring of an Immortal and blazing, as it were, with beauty: And the great Brahmana, Sthulakesa, the first of Munis, seeing that female child, and filled with compassion, took it up and reared it. And the lovely child grew up in his holy habitation, the noble-minded and blessed Rishi Sthulakesa performing in due succession all the ceremonies beginning with that at birth as ordained by the divine law. And because she surpassed all p. 50 of her sex in goodness, beauty, and every quality, the great Rishi called her by the name of Pramadvara.” – The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Pauloma Parva: Section VIII
