The entourage of Vishwamitra consisting of princes of Ayodhya and his disciples were making their way to Mithila. The Brahmarishi had told Shri Ram and Lakshman that they should accompany him, to see the Shiv Dhanush which even gods have failed to pick up, what to say of men.

In their journey, to keep everyone entertained, Vishwamitra recited many stories to them like that of Samudra-manthan, Descent of Ganga along with origins of many rivers and the establishment of different cities on their shore.

In a way the four day journey to Mithila was filled with lessons in history and geography for the princes and other disciples.

While crossing the groves that lead to the city of Mithila, Shri Ram saw an ashram, which seemed as if old and abandoned. He wanted to know about it.

"Gurudev, yeh ashram kiska hai ?" Shri Ram asked.

His curiosity throughout the journey from Ayodhya had always pleased Vishwamitra. The Brahmarishi smiled before answering his question.

"Ek samaye ki baat hai, yeh ashram Rishi Gautam aur unki Mahateja patni Ahalya ka tha...." Vishwamitra began narrating the story of Ahalya and Indra, a story about momentary lapse of judgement.

Ahalya was very attractive lady of immaculate beauty, standing true to her name which meant 'without any deformity'. Even the king of gods Indra desired her youthful charms.

The opportunity came when once Rishi Gautam was away from Ashram one day, Indra came disguised as him and entered Ahalya's room. He directly said that he desired her indulgence.

Ahalya recognised Indra even in his disguise. She became excited that the king of gods, Indra himself desired her. She couldn't refuse him. The excitement caused a lapse of judgement as Ahalya gave in to Indra's desires.

Later, feeling gratified and content and realising that her husband would be back soon, Ahalya asked Indra to leave with the request to protect her from wrath of Rishi Gautam.

But before Indra could get a chance to leave, Gautam entered his ashram. Seeing them both he came to know what had happened. Indra had desired someone else's wife and his own wife had been unfaithful.

Burning with anger Gautam put a curse on Indra. But he didn't curse Ahalya, from his wife he sought atonement. He asked her to live in seclusion, unseen by the world, engaged in intense tapasya for repentance, fasting and surviving only on air.

He told her that the day the son of Dashrath, Shri Ram comes to this ashram and she welcomes him, cleansed with her greed and delusions, she will unite back with him.

"Gautam Rishi ke ashram mei padharo Ram aur Devroopini Ahalya ka uddhar karo." Vishwamitra said.

Shri Ram and Lakshman followed the Brahmarishi into the ashram, where they saw Ahalya shining bright, illumined by the radiance of her tapasya.

It was impossible for any ordinary person to look at her just like one cannot stare at the intense light of the sun reflected from a water body. Her aura was like that of a moon shining behind the clouds.

"Iss Devroopini ke charan sparsh karo kumaro." Vishwamitra said.

Shri Ram and Lakshman went towards Ahalya and bowed down to her, touching her feet reverentially. This made her open her eyes, and seeing Shri Ram herself in front of her Ahalya was delighted. His arrival marked the success of her penance for atonement.

She welcomed them and offered hospitality. And soon Rishi Gautam appeared at the door. He had kept his word and so had Ahalya. They both were united once again in their martial bond.

----

"Ascharya ki baat nahi hai ki Vishwamitra ke man mei Ahalya devi ke liye itna sammaan hai. Kaam ke vash ko unse uttam kaun samajh sakta hai ?" Ganesh said.

"Jab tak vyakti sachet roop se prayas na kare tab tak Indriyo ke jaal mei fasna swabhavik hai." Srinav said.

"Kintu iss jaal ke baare mei jaagruk hona, aur isse upar uthne ka prayas karna hi, ek vyakti ko dev-tulya banata hai." Amarsri said.

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A/N

Unless we consciously make an effort, it is only human to be vulnerable to the lures of the senses. But to become aware of the vulnerability and strive to overcome it is what makes a person inspire reverence.

In Valmiki Ramayan (I also this found out later after writing Ahalya segment in HH8) Gautam Rishi doesn't curse Ahalya in any way. He just asks her to do penance and repent.

Maybe this turning into stone comes maybe from the fact that you know how while doing intense tapasya people become stone-like still.... Or some other reason.

But Ahalya doesn't turn into stone as per Critical edition of Ramayan. And neither does Shri Ram keep his feet on her.

Vishwamitra actually asks the princes to go and touch Ahalya's feet instead, as a mark of respect. And both Shri Ram and Lakshman touch her feet without a second thought.

Now here's a thing. Giving into Indra's desires was Ahalya's choice. Doing penance to repent her sin, was also her choice. She accepted it willingly.

And Ahalya has been shown in Ramayan with a lot of respect. She has been addressed as Devroopini, Mahateja and Yashasvini. Heck even Shri Ram touched her feet !

So the pseudo-feminists can just leave with their victim certificate that they assign to every woman from our epics.