The Panchakanya Generous Holy Woman of Myth

Abstract: One such group of unique femininity is the Panchakanya of myth. They are a group of iconic women from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is considered that nature embodies itself in five forms — Earth, water, fir, wind, and sky. Each Kanya is born of one of these components, and these five elements of nature create the qualities of their characters. It is accepted that only the thought of these ladies Ahalya, Tara, Mandodari, kunti and Draupadi can disassemble sins. Surprisingly, all of them are married and even have relations with other males. They not-of-born of the five kanyas, none quite measure up to the standard of monogamous chastity, commended so overwhelmingly in our culture. Each has had either an extra- marital relationship or more than one husband. Why should invoking these Panchakanyas be extolled as redemptive and why, indeed, is the intriguing term Kanya applied to them.