INTRODUCTION :
Archi was a pious queen and she contains the features of Mata Lakshmi Devi. Archi was mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana and her consort was King Prithu, an AMSHA of Lord Vishnu. Her husband, King Prithu was an able king, and through his spiritual powers, rain was showered in all the seasons and the crops were grown properly. Prithu had performed many yagnas and pleased the divine devas and also used to regularly donate food and other necessary things to the people.
Archi and Prithu considered their people as their own children, and provided them with all sorts of facilities in their life. Prithu also helped Lord Indra during his fights with the demons. He was a friend of Bhakta Prahalada, a mighty demon king, and as per his advice, Prahalada stopped fighting with Lord Indra and the Devas. Archi and Prithu used to visit various lokas, and received the blessings from Lord Kubera, Indra, Chandra and Varuna.
According to an ancient saying, “the place where Prithu and Archi stays, would be of no fear, threats and enemy invasions, and all the people in that region would live happily, and in a peaceful manner”. The divine couple had got such a good name and fame.
After prosperously ruling his country for many years, Prithu has become a sage and took his consort Mata Archi along with him to the forest, and after performing meditation on Lord Vishnu, both of them went to the abode of Lord Vishnu, and merged with Vishnu and Lakshmi.
As per Srimad Bhagavatam, those who read the story of Archi and Prithu with sincere bhakti would be blessed by Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi, and after their death, they would get a good birth.
The great Sage Sukha narrated this story to King Parikshit, and after hearing about this wonderful story, Parikshit was very much delighted and joyful tears fell from his eyes, and praised the holiness of Bhagavan Narayana.
“OM NAMO NARAYANAYA NAMAHA”
SENT BY
R.HARISHANKAR
