Ekaparṇā (Ekaparna)is one of the daughters born of the womb of Menā (Mena), and sired by Himālaya (Himalaya), king of the mountains. It is known that she practised tapasyā (tapasya; ascetic penance) for two thousand years, sitting under a banyan tree. During this long period, she lived by partaking of one banyan leaf daily.For this reason, she was named Ekaparṇā (Ekapatna). Later she got married to Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Asita. Devala was the child of the mental conception of both Ekaparṇā and Asita. [See Asita-Devala].