Menaka

In Hindu mythology, Menaka, or Menka (Sanskrit: मेनका) is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras.

She was sent by Indra, the king of the Devas, to break the severe penance undertaken by Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra was one of the most respected and revered sages in ancient India. Indra, frightened by his powers, sent a beautiful celestial nymph named Menaka from heaven to earth to lure him and break his meditation. Menaka successfully incited Vishwamitra's lust and passion when he saw her beauty. She succeeded in breaking the meditation of Vishwamitra and the two had sex for many years. However, she fell in genuine love with him. When Vishwamitra realized that he had been tricked by Indra, he was enraged. But he merely cursed Menaka to be separated from him forever, for he loved her as well and knew that she had lost all devious intentions towards him long ago.

Later, Menaka is also said to have been the mother of Shakuntala, who was left at the hermitage of a Sage Kanva when she was a baby. Later Shakuntala became the love of King Dushyanta and gave birth to his son Bharata, after whom India was named "Bharat".

Menaka (actress)

Menaka (born 27 August 1963) is an Indian film actress and producer. She is a native of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu. In her short film career 1980–86, Menaka acted in 116 films, mostly in Malayalam. She did a few films in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu. She has worked with many leading actors of the time, including Prem Nazir, Soman and Sukumaran,and opposite top actors of the 1980s like Shankar and Nedumudi Venu. She has acted opposite current superstars Mammootty, Mohanlal and Rajinikanth. After 19 years, she made a comeback through the teleserial Kaliveedu directed by Purusothaman and produced by A. Radhakrishnan. Again after six years, she made a comeback on the big screen through Fazil's 2011 film Living Together.

Personal life

Menaka was born as Padmavathi on 27 August 1963 and belongs to a conservative Nagercoil Tamil Brahmin Iyengar family. Her father Rajagopal is from Tenkasi and mother Saroja is from Thickurichy. She has three brothers: Govinda, Sundar, and Balaji.

Menaka married film producer Suresh Kumar at the Lord Krishna temple, at Guruvayur, on 27 October 1987. She produces films under the banner Revathy Kalamandhir. She has two daughters: Revathi and Keerthi. Keerthi as a child actress acted in Kuberan starring Dileep, Bijumenon starred Achaneyanenikkishtam and Pilots with Suresh Gopi. She acted in Priyadarshan's movie Geethaanjali as heroine.

Menaka (disambiguation)

Menaka may refer to: