Mudgala (), sometimes also rendered Maudgalya (), is a rishi (sage) in Hinduism. Leading a life of poverty and piety, he is regarded to have mastered the attainment of the state of nirvana. The Maudgalya Brahmanas claim their descent from this sage.
Legend
The Mahabharata offers an account of Mudgala, a virtuous sage who lived in Kurukshestra with his wife, Nalayani, also called Indrasena, and his son. He is said to have subsisted merely on grains of rice, and performed a rite known as ishtikrita. He is described to have been so devoted that Indra and the devas themselves appeared in his abode in person to partake in his sacrifices on the full moon and the new moon. Whenever he offered grains of rice to his learned guests, they increased hundredfold, so that all the Brahmins who visited were able to be satisfied.
Origin of Draupadi
According to legend, pleased by the devotion of his young wife towards him, despite of his old age, he offered her a boon of her choice. Nalayani wished to lead an amorous life with him. Mudgala granted his boon, and the two started to enjoy a sexual lifestyle. When the sage assumed the form of a mountain, she became a river that flowed from him; when he became a flowering tree, she became a creeper upon him. After millennia of enjoying such an erotic life, the sage grew tired of it, and returned to his austere lifestyle. Nalayani begged him to continue his sexual relationship with her for a while longer. Angry with the lustful nature of his wife, Mudgala cursed her to be born as the daughter of the King of Panchala in her next life, when she would have five husbands to satisfy her needs. Thus, Nalayani was born as Draupadi in her next life on earth.
Cursing Ravana
The Ramayana states that Mudgala was once engaged in a yogic position called the Svastikāsana, where he rested his shoulders upon his staff. Ravana came across the sage in the Kadamba forest, and observing him meditating in this odd position, playfully tapped the sage's staff with his sword, the chandrahasa. Mudgala's staff broke, and the sage fell upon the earth, breaking his spine. Furious, he cursed Ravana, making his sword ineffective thenceforth.
Durvasa's test
In the Mahabharata, having heard about Mudgala's austere lifestyle, Sage Duravasa visited his ashrama in order to test him. Appearing before the sage's presence in the nude, he demanded food from him. Unprovoked, Mudgala offered Durvasa all the food that he had. After eating his meal, Durvasa smeared the leftovers all over his body. This continued for a few days, and Mudgala never rose to anger, ignoring all of Durvasa's eccentric behaviours. Pleased, Durvasa decided that Mudgala would go to Svargam, with his present body intact. A heavenly charioteer brought his vimana before the sage, announcing to the latter that he had achieved nirvana, and would now travel to the abode of the devas. After enquiring regarding the pros and cons of being in Svargam, Mudgala chose to stay on earth. In Vaishnava additions of the legend, Mudgala enquired regarding the existence of a realm that was free of the defects of Svargam. The charioteer told him about Vishnu's supreme abode of light, called the Parama Padam, which was free of all attachments.