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The story is mentioned here in wikipedia:

A Brahmin named Kaushik from Pratishthan used to visit a prostitute, despite being a Brahmin and having a devoted wife.

It's also mentioned on other sites through google search, but none of them cite a purana or shastra.

Does anyone know which shastra this story is from?

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  • Brahmin's wife here is not Anasuya.
    – The Destroyer
    Aug 5, 2022 at 14:53
  • @TheDestroyer According to wikipedia, her name was Anasuya. There were multiple women named Anasuya.
    – Ikshvaku
    Aug 5, 2022 at 14:54
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    Same wikipedia which you quoted says his wife is not Anasuya. Read again properly.
    – The Destroyer
    Aug 5, 2022 at 14:55
  • @TheDestroyer Ok I see, you are right.
    – Ikshvaku
    Aug 5, 2022 at 14:57

1 Answer 1

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The story of Shandili and Kaushik is given in Garuda Purana.

Once on a time there lived in the city of Pratisthana, a leper Brahmana whose name was Kaushika. His wife, who was firmly devoted to him, used to adore and worship her lord as a god without even thinking for a moment that he was afflicted with such a foul and loathsome disease. But Kaushika was a cross and peevish husband, and never missed opportunities to abuse his wife, who, though often chastised, never ceased to pay him god-like veneration and love. One day, Kaushika took a fancy to visit a courtezan in the city, and expressed that desire to his wife. Whereupon she took him on her shoulders and safely carried him to that house of ill fame. Nor did she forget to take with her a considerable amount of money which the courtezan might ask for her nefarious trade.

Now it happened that the Sage Mandavya was then undergoing punishment on the top of a pointed mace, as he was unjustly sentenced by the authorities on a false charge of theft. The faithful wife, on her way to the house of the courtezan, touched with her feet the body of that afflicted sage, who, in his agony, cursed her with the pangs of widowhood on the break of day. The wife, on the other hand, forbade the Sun to rise in order that the curse of the Sage might not take effect. The Sun-God, overpowered by the energy of conjugal chastity, was afraid to show his face, and creation was enshrouded in a pall of darkness. Ages past without the Sun in the sky.

The frightened gods resorted to Brahma for help and advice. Brahma said,

“It is the energy of Chastity that has overpowed the energy of asceticism, and obstructed the advent of the Sun. Go, ye gods, to Anasuya, and she will plead, on your behalf, to the wife of Kaushika.”

The gods did as they were told to do. Anasuya saw and propitiated her with the boon of a long life and perfect health to her lord, and lo and behold, the Sun-God again appeared in the sky.

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