Do You Know Who Is Shatarupa?

Do You Know Who Is Shatarupa?

Shatarupa was the very first woman, just as Swayambhuva Manu was the very first man.

For the time being, let’s not go beyond this—how Shatarupa was born and how Vaivasvata Manu was born. We will not get into that.

Swayambhuva Manu was the first man, and Shatarupa was the first woman. They were the Adi Pita and Adi Mata of all humans. All human beings are their descendants—not just humans, but many other beings as well.

As man and wife, when the time for their first-ever physical union came, Shatarupa became very shy and tried to avoid it. So she assumed a hundred different forms—hundred here means many, not exactly a hundred in number. She assumed these different forms and tried to confuse Swayambhuva Manu. But every time, he identified her and, assuming that particular form as a male, united with her.

Thus, they both became the father and mother of many different species. She is called Shatarupa because she assumed a hundred forms like this.

As humans, the Swayambhuva Manu–Shatarupa couple had five children—two sons and three daughters.

Sons – Uttanapada and Priyavrata.
Daughters – Akuti, Prasuti, and Devahuti.

The famous Dhruva was Uttanapada’s son.

After ruling as king for many years and handing over the kingdom to his son, Manu and Shatarupa entered into Vanaprastha and devoted their entire time to tapasya.

At the end of their tapasya, Bhagawan Srimannarayana appeared before them and asked them what boon they wanted.

They said, ‘We have achieved everything by getting your darshanam. What else can someone wish for? But there is something—a small wish. If possible, we want a son like you.’

Bhagawan said, ‘Why like me? I will myself take birth as your son.’

In Treta Yuga, Swayambhuva Manu took birth as Dasharatha, and Shatarupa took birth as Kausalya Mata.

The Lord himself took birth as their son.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi