Introduction Trishanku, a king from the Ikshvaku dynasty, longed to ascend to heaven in his mortal body. When his guru, Sage Vasishtha, refused to grant such an unnatural request, the king turned to Vasishtha’s rival, Sage Vishwamitra. What followed was a remarkable tale of determination, divine resistance, and the creation of a new heaven. King Trishanku nurtured an extraordinary wish—to reach heaven without giving up his human form. First, he sought the guidance of his preceptor, Sage Vasishtha. However, the sage rejected the idea, explaining that it went against the cosmic order. Undeterred, Trishanku approached Vasishtha’s sons, hoping they would help. Instead, they were angered by his persistence and considered it an insult to their father. Enraged, they cursed the king to become a Chandala (an outcaste), stripping him of his royal appearance. Shunned and transformed, Trishanku went to Sage Vishwamitra, known for his rivalry with Vasishtha. Moved by the king’s plight, Vishwamitra...
Introduction Trishanku, a king from the Ikshvaku dynasty, longed to ascend to heaven in his mortal body. When his guru, Sage Vasishtha, refused to grant such an unnatural request, the king turned to Vasishtha’s rival, Sage Vishwamitra. What followed was a remarkable tale of determination, divine resistance, and the creation of a new heaven. King Trishanku nurtured an extraordinary wish—to reach heaven without giving up his human form. First, he sought the guidance of his preceptor, Sage Vasishtha. However, the sage rejected the idea, explaining that it went against the cosmic order. Undeterred, Trishanku approached Vasishtha’s sons, hoping they would help. Instead, they were angered by his persistence and considered it an insult to their father. Enraged, they cursed the king to become a Chandala (an outcaste), stripping him of his royal appearance. Shunned and transformed, Trishanku went to Sage Vishwamitra, known for his rivalry with Vasishtha. Moved by the king’s plight, Vishwamitra...