Editing Ahalya (section)

== Children ==
The ''Ramayana'' mentions Ahalya's son, [[Shatananda]] (Satananda), the family priest and preceptor of King [[Janaka]] of [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]. In this version, Shatananda asks [[Vishvamitra]] anxiously about the well-being of his "renowned" mother.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=285}}{{sfn|Goldman|1990|pp=220–221}} By contrast, the ''Mahabharata'' mentions two sons: Sharadvan, born with arrows in his hand, and Chirakari, whose extensive brooding over his actions leads to procrastination. Besides these, an unnamed daughter is also alluded to in the narrative. The ''Vamana Purana'' mentions three daughters: Jaya, Jayanti and Aparaji.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=285}}

Another legend, generally told in Indian folk tales, states that [[Aruṇa|Aruna]], the charioteer of the sun-god Surya, once became a woman named Aruni and entered an assembly of celestial nymphs, where no man except Indra was allowed. Indra fell in love with Aruni and fathered a son named [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vali]]. The next day, at Surya's request, Aruna again assumed female form, and Surya fathered a son, [[Sugriva]]. Both children were given to Ahalya for rearing, but Gautama cursed them, causing them to turn into [[vanara|monkeys]], as he did not like them.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=17}}{{sfn|Pattanaik|2001|p=49}}{{sfn|Freeman|2001|pp=201–204}} In the [[Thai language|Thai]] version of the Ramayana, the ''[[Ramakien]]'', Vali and Sugriva are described as Ahalya's children from her liaisons with Indra and Surya. Although Ahalya initially passes them off as sons of Gautama, her daughter by Gautama&nbsp;– [[Añjanā|Anjani]]&nbsp;– reveals her mother's secret to her father. He consequently drives the brothers away and curses them to become monkeys. Enraged, Ahalya curses Anjani to give birth to a monkey too. Anjani bears [[Hanuman]], the monkey-god and friend of Rama.{{sfn|Pattanaik|2001|p=50}}{{sfn|Pattanaik|2000|p=109}} Similar tales are also found in the [[Malay language|Malay]] adaptation, ''[[Hikayat Seri Rama]]'', and Punjabi and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] folk tales. However, Anjani is cursed by Gautama in these versions, generally for aiding Indra and Ahalya in concealing the secret.{{sfn|Bulcke|2010|pp=129–131}}

Some [[Tamil people|Tamil]] castes trace their ancestry to Ahalya and Indra's liaison; the castes are named after Ahalya's children. Gautama finds the three boys and names them according to their behaviour: [[Agamudayar]] (derived from "brave"), who confronts Gautama, [[Maravar]] (derived from "tree"), who climbs a tree and [[Kallar (caste)|Kallar]] (derived from "thief" or "rock"), who hides like a thief behind a large rock. A fourth child, [[Vellalar|Vellala]], is added in some versions. In another variant, the liaison is replaced by penance and worship offered by Ahalya to Indra, who gifts her the children as a reward.{{sfn|Headley|2011|pp=104–105}}