| Madhavi | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Mrigacharini_Madhavi.jpg) An illustration of Madhavi in meditation, surrounded by deer | |
| Texts | Mahabharata |
| Gender | Female |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
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| Siblings | Puru and Yadu (brothers) |
| Spouse |
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| Children |
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| Dynasty | Lunar Dynasty |
Madhavi (Sanskrit: माधवी, romanized: Mādhavī, lit. 'sweet or intoxicating'), also known as Drishadvati, is a princess and a female ascetic, whose story appears in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. She was the daughter of King Yayati.
Madhavi's primary appearance is in the legend of Galava, a disciple of the sage Vishvamitra. To fulfill his guru-dakshina of eight hundred horses to his teacher, Galava sought the help of King Yayati, who, unable to provide the horses, offered his daughter Madhavi instead. Madhavi was endowed with a unique boon—she could restore her virginity after childbirth and was destined to bear sons who would become great kings. On her own suggestion, Madhavi was successively married to three kings for a fixed period of time: Haryyashva of Ayodhya, Divodasa of Kasi, and Ushinara of Bhoja, in exchange for the horses they had. Each of these unions resulted in the birth of a son, all of whom became significant rulers. Ultimately, Galava offered her to Vishvamitra. She bore Ashtaka and returned to her father. Yayati suggested she marry in a swayamvara and become a queen, but Madhavi instead chose to retire to forest and become an ascetic. She undertook celibacy and performed severe austerity, thus she came to be known as Mrigacharini ('she who lives like a deer'). Years later, when Yayati fell from heaven, Madhavi shared half of the merit she has accumulated from her penance, thus enabling Yayati to regain heaven.
Madhavi's tale is often examined for its reflections on the status of women in ancient Indian society, particularly within the context of marriage, duty, and agency. Her narrative also highlights the intertwining of personal sacrifice with broader societal obligations, a recurring theme in Hindu literature. Though not as prominently known as other female figures in the Mahabharata, Madhavi's story remains a poignant example of the complex roles women played in the epic traditions of India.