Chameleon

A being which has the ability to change the color of its skin. It is believed to have got this as a blessing from Kuber.

The king Marutta was once conducting a Maheshwarasatra in the forest. Indra and the other devas came to the hermitage to receive the offerings. This was the time that Ravana had begun his campaign. On hearing that the devas were present at the hermitage, Ravana reached there with his forces. Indra and the other devas immediately took the form of animals and birds in order to escape. Indra became a peacock, Yama became a crow, Kuber became a chameleon and Varuna became a swan. Ravana and his forces left when they couldn’t find the devas. The devas blessed all the animals whose forms they had taken. Indra gave the peacock’s feathers multiple colours, and made its eyes beautiful. He also blessed that they would be free of illnesses and when it rained, they’d be able to do a beautiful dance. Yama blessed that the crows would now receive the offerings that humans made for their forefathers. Varuna blessed that the swans, who had a black and white plumage, would now be purely white. Kuber blessed that chameleons would be able to change their colours whenever they desired and that their cheeks would appear golden. The devas then left the hermitage as per Uttararamayana.

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Odra

A region in ancient India. The ruler of this region had visited Yudhishtira with presents as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 51 verse 23.

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Oghavan (1)

The ancestor of the king named Nriga. As per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 2, he had 2 children – Oghavati and Ogharatha.

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Oghavati (1)

There are seven versions of the Saraswati river in this world – Suprabha, Kanchanakshi, Vishala, Manorama, Saraswati, Oghavati, Surenu. Of these, the Oghavati is said to have been invoked at Kurukshetra as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 38. Bhishma lay on the bed of arrows beside this as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 50 verse 7.

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Om

Made from Aa, Oo and Am. They represent Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma respectively as per Vayupurana. Om means Brahmam. All mantras begin with Om. Because of its special powers, it was not supposed to be spoken or heard by the lower castes. The word contains everything that has happened and will happen as per Mandukopanishad. When the creator realised that the world was immersed in impure water, he split it open and from it emerged Omkara. The first sound that emerged was Bhu, the second Bhuva and last Swaha, and together they became BhurBhuvaSwaha. As per the Chhandogyopanishad, the earth is the summary of all living beings, and water is the summary of earth, water-plants – man, and man’s summary is his speech. The summary of speech is the Rigveda, its summary is the Samaveda and its summary is the Udgidha or Samavedadhwani and that is Om.

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