Ahalya was the wife of sage Gautam.
According to one of the version of Ram Katha (story) She was transformed into a rock by the curse of her husband.
She was later restored to her human form by the very touch of Sri Ram's feet.
In one of the version of her story related in the Indian mythology, she was so beautiful that Indra was once enamoured of her beauty. He assumed the form of her husband and approached her.
The story tells us that She recognized Indra, even then she succumbed to his desires.
However, she soon realized her mistake and feared the wrath of her husband. She asked Indra to depart quickly, and he was just leaving the place, but lo! the hermit returned at the moment and knew what had taken place.
The enraged sage cursed both, Ahalya and Indra. Ahalya was turned into stone and Indra lost manhood.
However, the kind hearted sage, told Ahalya that Ram would liberate her from the curse.
Indra sought the help from Agni. On Agni's command, Pitris replaced Indra's manhood with that of a Ram.
After many years, Ram was on his way to Mithila along with his brother Lakshman and preceptor Vishvamitra. He came across Ahalya in the forest, and out of pity and kindness, he relieved her from her misery by touching the stone with his foot. She then regained her original form and returned to her husband.
There is a slightly different version of the story in the Ramayan of Valmiki. Gautam's curse for his wife Ahalya was - "you stay here for thousands of years without food and only on air. You will have a miserable life and will remain here in the ashes. You will leave here in the hermitage without being seen by anyone".
When Ram would come this way, you could be purified and get rid of the curse simply by serving this guest. You would be then free from greed and attachment and come to me, the sage said.
After that Gautam left the hermitage and went to the Himalay for penance.
Vishvamitra told this story to Ram and asked him to enter into the hermitage and make Ahalya free of the curse. They entered the hermitage and found Ahalya, who was glowing from the effect of penance. Having seen Ram, She became free of the curse. Both Ram and Lakshman touched the feet of Ahalya, and she served them as it was befitting a guest as told in the scriptures.
After that Ahalya and Gautam were united once again.
According to one of the version of Ram Katha (story) She was transformed into a rock by the curse of her husband.
She was later restored to her human form by the very touch of Sri Ram's feet.
In one of the version of her story related in the Indian mythology, she was so beautiful that Indra was once enamoured of her beauty. He assumed the form of her husband and approached her.
The story tells us that She recognized Indra, even then she succumbed to his desires.
However, she soon realized her mistake and feared the wrath of her husband. She asked Indra to depart quickly, and he was just leaving the place, but lo! the hermit returned at the moment and knew what had taken place.
The enraged sage cursed both, Ahalya and Indra. Ahalya was turned into stone and Indra lost manhood.
However, the kind hearted sage, told Ahalya that Ram would liberate her from the curse.
Indra sought the help from Agni. On Agni's command, Pitris replaced Indra's manhood with that of a Ram.
After many years, Ram was on his way to Mithila along with his brother Lakshman and preceptor Vishvamitra. He came across Ahalya in the forest, and out of pity and kindness, he relieved her from her misery by touching the stone with his foot. She then regained her original form and returned to her husband.
There is a slightly different version of the story in the Ramayan of Valmiki. Gautam's curse for his wife Ahalya was - "you stay here for thousands of years without food and only on air. You will have a miserable life and will remain here in the ashes. You will leave here in the hermitage without being seen by anyone".
When Ram would come this way, you could be purified and get rid of the curse simply by serving this guest. You would be then free from greed and attachment and come to me, the sage said.
After that Gautam left the hermitage and went to the Himalay for penance.
Vishvamitra told this story to Ram and asked him to enter into the hermitage and make Ahalya free of the curse. They entered the hermitage and found Ahalya, who was glowing from the effect of penance. Having seen Ram, She became free of the curse. Both Ram and Lakshman touched the feet of Ahalya, and she served them as it was befitting a guest as told in the scriptures.
After that Ahalya and Gautam were united once again.