Pulastya

Pulastya is one of the seven great sages (Saptarishi) in Hindu tradition, born from the mind of Brahma. He is a prominent figure in Vedic and Puranic literature, revered as a progenitor of the Pulastya lineage and the grandfather of the demon-king Ravana, as well as Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana. In the Rigveda (e.g., Rigveda 1.42, 9.97), Pulastya is associated with the composition of several hymns, highlighting his role as a seer who received divine revelations. The Mahabharata (Shanti Parva) and the Puranas, such as the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, elaborate on his birth and his position among the mind-born sons of Brahma.

According to the Ramayana (Uttara Kanda), Pulastya's son Vishrava fathered Ravana and his siblings through his wives, thus linking the sage to the rakshasa dynasty. Iconographically, Pulastya is depicted as a serene sage with matted hair, holding a staff (danda) and a japa mala (rosary), symbolizing his asceticism and meditative practice. He is often shown seated in a yogic posture, with a calm expression that reflects his wisdom. In Hindu cosmology, Pulastya represents the principle of mental creation and the transmission of Vedic knowledge.

He is also associated with the Pulastya Smriti, a legal text attributed to him, though its authorship is debated. Regional worship traditions include reverence in South India, where he is honored in temples dedicated to the Saptarishis, and in parts of North India during the annual Saptarishi Puja. The Skanda Purana mentions his role in the lineage of sages and his connection to the sacred geography of India. Pulastya's legacy endures as a symbol of dharma, knowledge, and the complex interplay between divine sages and their demonic descendants, illustrating the nuanced moral framework of Hindu mythology.

Depicted as a sage. Associated with the Rakshasa lineage through his descendants.