Gunavara

A woman devoted to her husband as per ancient literature. As per Kathasaritasagara, she was the wife of Virabhuja, king of Vardhamana. He had 99 other wives, but they were all childless. As per a physician’s advice, the king cooked a white goat, and the physician sprinkled some powder on it and fed it to the wives. Since Gunavara didn’t want to be separated from her husband even for a moment, she arrived there last. The meat was over by then and as per the king’s instructions, the goat’s horns were powdered and given to Gunavara. Her child was named Shringabhuja; the other queens too had children. The other queens were jealous of her and told the king that she was having an affair with a palace attendant. The king didn’t believe them but decided to test her anyway. He called the attendant and told him that since he had committed a brahmahatya sin, he should go on a pilgrimage. The attendant did so. Next, he went to Gunavara and told her that for the sake of his kingdom, a sage had advised him to have her live in an underground room. She agreed and the other queens were happy. They wanted to get rid of Shringabhuja too. Once, when the princes were playing, a crane sat on the palace roof. The princes tried chasing it, but a sage appeared there and said that the crane was the asura Agnishikha in disguise and he had come there to abduct them. The princes tried to shoot it down but failed. Shringabhuja then used a golden arrow and it hit the crane. But it flew away with the arrow. The other princes including Nirvasabhuja ridiculed him. Shringabhuja followed the blood drops and reached Agnishikha’s capital Dhumpaura. There, he fell in love with the asura’s daughter Rupashikha. Though they married, the asura tormented them. Finally they left the city with the golden arrow. They reached Vardhamana and though the asura chased them, he had to retreat because of Rupashikha’s sorcery. Virabhuja was happy to see his son back. He released Gunavara and at that time, the attendant too came back from his pilgrimage, as per Kathasaritasagara Ratnaprabhalambaka Taranga 5.