बालावती

{ bālāvatī }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

BĀLĀVATĪ   The daughter of hermit Kaṇva. She did penance to please the Sun to obtain a husband of a very good nature. The Sun appeared before her and gave her some dates and asked her to prepare food with them and bring them back. Bālāvatī began to cook the dates. Though all the faggots she had gathered were consumed it was not properly boiled. As there was no more firewood she put her leg into the oven. Seeing this the Sun- God was pleased and said “All your wishes will be realized”. From that day onwards that place was called by the name ‘Bālāpa’. [Padma Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 152] .

प्राचीन चरित्रकोश

बालावती n.  कण्व ऋषि की कन्या, जिसने उत्तम पति के प्राप्त्यर्थ कठोर तपस्या की थी । एक बार भगवान् सूर्यनारायण अतिथि रुप में इसके यहॉं आया, एवं कुछ वेर इसे प्रदान कर उन्हें पकाने के लिए कहा । सूर्यनारायण की आज्ञानुसार यह वेर पकाने लगी । किन्तु चुल्हे की सारी लकडियॉं समाप्त होने पर भी वेर न पके; फिर इसने अपने पॉंव चुल्हे में लगा दिये । यह देख कर सूर्य इसपर प्रसन्न हुआ, एवं इसे वर देते हुए कहा, ‘तुम्हारी सारी कामनाएँ पूरी होंगी’ । उसी दिन से उस स्थान को ‘बालाप’ नाम प्राप्त हुआ [पद्म. उ.१५२] । इसकी उपरिनिर्दिष्ट कथा में, एवं अरुंधती की कथा में काफी साम्य है (अरुन्धती ३. देखिये) ।