The identification of Jayanta
(sometimes in the form of a crow) as a (or the) son of Indra occurs
in a number of textual and oral sources. He is associated in some
traditions with the origins of the Kumbha Mela and is said, in some
puranic sources, to fight on the side of the devas in their battles
with the asuras.
For some of these references see our ( Goldman and Sutherland
Goldman) note to Valmiki Ramayana 5. 36.24 in: The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient
India, Vol. V: Sundarakanda.. Princeton.
Princeton University Press, 1996 p. 456.
Haussig (Götter und Mythen des
indischen Subkontinents, Stuttgart:
Klett-Cotta 1984, p.114) gives under the
entry indrANI: "wife of Indra, also
ZacI. *Mother of Rudra Jayanta*." Haussig then refers to
MahAbhArata I 114
and BhAgavatapurANa VI 18.
The question, if the son of the wife is also her husbands son, is
not
considered.
Himal Trikha
--
Dr. R. P. Goldman
Professor of Sanskrit
Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies
7303 Dwinelle Hall MC #2540
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2540
email: sseas@socrates.berkeley.edu
Phone: (510) 642-4089
Fax: (510) 643-2959