Oorvashi

OORVASHI or URVASHI: Urvashi was a celestial damsel who was cursed by Brahma to take a birth as a human. She married Pururavas on the condition that two lambs which she brought would be cared for. She also insisted that he would never appear nude before her. They lived happily for a long time till Indra missed her and asked the Gandharvas to go in search of her. They found her in the company of Pururavas and stole the lambs. Urvashi heard the cry of the abducted lambs and she reviled the king. The king went after the thieves when they caused a lightening to flash. Urvashi saw Pururavas nude. She therefore left Pururavas and returned to the heavens.

This print from the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicts Urvashi flying back to the heavens with a distraught Puruvaras trying to bring her back.