My aunt just named her newborn granddaughter—a Gen Alpha, 2025-born baby—Shatrupa.
I couldn’t help it. A sarcastic smirk took over my face. "Auntie," I said, "only you could pull a name straight out of the Mandhata era (Mandhata amala) and drop it into the age of AI and flying taxis."
For context, Shatrupa was the wife of Manu—the literal first woman in Hindu scripture. We’re talking the Vedic version of Eve. My aunt, unfazed, immediately started roasting me for naming my son Saket. Apparently, she’s obsessed with the letter 'S' because her name is Shashi. It’s a branding thing, I guess?
But it got us thinking: Why do we Odias always say things are from "Mandhata’s Time" when something is ancient? Who was this guy, and why is he the gold standard for being "old school"?
The OG Multitasker: The Rajrishi 🧘♂️⚔️
Before we get to the "how," let's talk about the "who." Mandhata was a heavy hitter in the Ikshvaku dynasty (the same lineage that eventually gave us Lord Sri Rama).
He was what we call a Rajrishi. Think of it as the ultimate Gen Z "slash" career. Much like King Janak (Sita’s father), Mandhata wasn't just a King; he was a King/Sage. He was out here running an empire while simultaneously reaching spiritual enlightenment. Peak productivity, honestly.
The "Bun in the Oven" (Male Version) 🤰👑
Like King Dashrath, who famously performed a Yajna to be blessed with sons (Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna), Mandhata also went the ritual route when he couldn't have an heir.
The sages prepared a bowl of highly potent, blessed water. The instructions were simple: "Give this to your wife, and she’ll get pregnant."
The Plot Twist: Mandhata woke up in the middle of the night with a thirst that could drink a river dry. Half-asleep and totally oblivious, he grabbed the nearest bowl—the holy one—and gulped down the "Pregnancy Potion."
The Result: The magic worked. Mandhata became the first male in recorded history to have a "baby bump." Talk about breaking gender roles in the ancient world!
The Left-Thigh Delivery 🏥⚡
Ten months later, the King was ready to pop. The divine doctors, the Ashwini Kumars, were called in for an emergency delivery. For reasons known only to ancient biology—and perhaps to keep his royal abs intact—they performed the procedure on his left thigh.
Out came a healthy baby boy. But then came the million-dollar question: How do you nurse a baby born from a king’s thigh?
"Mam Dhata": The Origin of the Thumb-Sucker 👍🍼
Indra, the King of Gods, stepped in with a divine solution. He offered the baby his index finger to suckle, which miraculously provided milk. Indra proclaimed, "Mam Dhata" (Sanskrit for "He shall suckle me").
Over centuries, Mam Dhata morphed into Mandhata.
Legend has it that this is exactly why babies today instinctively suck their thumbs or fingers when they’re hungry and Mom isn't around. They’re just channeling their inner Mandhata!
Why "Mandhata Amala"?
So, the next time you see someone using a flip phone or a wired mouse and you say, "Eita Mandhata amala ra naa" (This is from Mandhata’s time), remember: you’re not just calling it old. You’re referencing a time when kings were sages, pregnancies were accidental, and the first "formula" came from a divine thumb.
What do you think? Is Shatrupa a classic vintage name or should we leave it in the Mandhata era? Let me know in the comments!
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