CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTYTHREE

Durdharsesvara

Mahddeva said:

1-6. I shall (now) describe another excellent holy place Durdharsesvara, by merely remembering which even a sinner would become meritorious. When the war between gods and demons had taken place, and when the demon had died, Usanas (i.e. Shukra), the son of Bhargava, had observed here a vow difficult to practise, had propitiated Mahadeva, not easily accessible and the cause of the world, and obtained the formula (called) Mrtasanjlvani (bringing the dead back to life) from Shiva, for the demons. It is well-known in the world. A man who has bathed at Kayatirtha and worshipped Mahesvara called Durdharsesvara, is freed from all sins. O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, in this respect listen to an old account. Formerly when the battle between Vritra and Indra took place, the gods were vanquished by the demons. Indra, the lord of gods, thinking what to do, went to Brahaspati. Indra said:

7-8. You are our preceptor. You are always actually the guardian of gods. You are famous, the best of sages. O treasure of kindness, favour me. I am vanquished by Vritra, O you of a good vow, where shall I go? Brihaspati said:

9-12. O lord of gods, listen. I shall tell you (that) by which you (will) always (be) happy. If you desire your well-being, then do as I tell you. Go to Sabhramati, and having gone there be happy. The god called Durdharsa, causing well-being, always dwells there. O lord of gods, he gives desired objects. This is the truth and the truth only. Having heard Brihaspati's words, he went to that river. Having bathed there, the lord of gods worshipped that Mahesa. Due to the bath and worship

Shri Mahesvara was pleased.

Mahadeva said:

13. I will always give every object that you desire. Hearing (these) words, the lord of gods said (these) great (i.e. important) words: Indra said:

14-15. You are the lord of all the worlds. You are the cause and the (highest) position. You are always perceived by me to be god Visvesvara. O Visvesvara, O master of gods, if you are pleased, then, O Mahadeva, kill Vritra. This is my great desire.

Mahadeva said:

16-17. O lord of gods, at your words, this Vritra is (i.e. will be) killed by me. O lord of gods, take the weapon which will be given by me. Due to its contact with (his) life, you will certainly kill him. Indra said:

18. O lord of the universe, what is that missile with which I shall kill Vritra? What is that which you have fashioned as superior to the thunderbolt? When have you fashioned it? Mahadeva said:

19-23. This is the Pasupata missile which I have formerly fashioned. It was not given to anyone (else). O Indra, I have preserved it for you. O god, you have bathed here and worshipped (me) here. Therefore, take this weapon from me, with which you will kill Vritra. Due to ai Mahesa's favour, Indra obtained it; and with that he killed the very mighty Vritra. All that took place here by the grace of DurdharShesha. That was secured merely by a bath and worship, O goddess. It was secured due to the glory of the holy place. O beautiful lady, this is the truth and the (only) truth. Realising this, O chief goddess, a man should bathe there. Seeing Mahadeva destroys all sins.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTYFOUR

Khadgadharesvara

Mahadeva said:

1-5. On the bank of Sabhramati is a very great purifying secret holy place. Known as Khadgadhara, it will be concealed in the Kali age. A man who happens to bathe here and drinks water here occasionally, is freed from all sins and is honoured in Rudra's heaven. Here that meritorious, auspicious Sabhramatl, following Kasyapa, and going to the nether world, was held in his matted hair by Rudra. Rudra, with the name Khadgadhara, dwells there only. O chief goddess, sinners having bathed here, have gone to heaven. In this case they narrate this old account about the very difficult vow practised by a mountaineer. Parvati said:

6-7. What was the name of the mountaineer? Which vow did he practise? I desire to hear all that. Tell it to me properly. O best among speakers, there is none else but you. Therefore, O god, tell me all that (as) it is beneficial to hear. Mahadeva said:

8-22. Formerly there was a very fearful, wicked (man) named Canda. He, the cruel one, was a rogue, was of a bad conduct, and fearful to beings. The wicked one constantly killed the fish with a net. He would cause to fall down deer, beasts, black antelopes and porcupines, so also many kinds of birds and pierce them with spear. The angry one killed birds and especially peacocks. The fowler was very sinful, wicked, and dear to wicked people. His wife was of that sort(only) — unchaste and suffering from severe diseases. When he was amusing himself like this, much time passed. Once the sinful one remained on a bilva tree at night with a bow in his hand to which an arrow was fixed to kill a boar. Thus he, without winking his eyes, passed the night. Even though he was angry, he cut off (i.e. plucked) many leaves of the bilva tree on the CaturdasI of the bright half of Magha, O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain. Those (leaves) fell on the Phallus that was at the root of that bilva tree through (his good) luck. All that became the worship of Shiva. By throwing mouthfuls (on the Phallus) the ignorant, wicked fowler gave it a grand bath. That wicked fowler became free from sins at the time of moonrise in the bright half of the month of Magha. His impetuous wife devoid of hope and without food, also came near him — i.e. at the place where the fowler remained. He had not secured any hog, or deer or buffalo (as his hunt). So that woman had brought (for him) food to eat. He saw his impetuous, cruel-eyed wife coming (to him). That wife of him fell into water — into a river. Just then she said to Canda: " Come on, eat quickly the flesh of fish that I have now brought for you. O fool, what did you do the previous day? Flesh is not seen by your side. You have ruined your family (as) it (will have to) fast (now)."

23-31. Having heard these words of Canda, he of a fierce form, had become one of a pure heart due to the Shivaratri-fast and keeping awake at night. He of a pure vow (went) to the river to bathe. When the wicked one was bathing, a dog came there. O chief goddess, the dog ate all that flesh there. Canda was very angry, and approached the dog to strike him. Then that angry Canda was warded off by Canda: " Do not hit him. What evil has he done? " She said: " This wicked one has eaten the food. O fool, what will you who are hungry, eat today? " The mountaineer said: I am pleased with (the fact) that the dog has eaten the food. What is the use of this transient and infirm body? O passionate woman, those who with full sincerity nourish their bodies, should be known as sinners, outcast from both the worlds. Therefore, giving up pride, passion and wickedness be composed by considering the truth; and be steady with the knowledge of the truth. O you beautiful lady, with the vow of Khadgadhara I shall today abandon this my body. What is the use of my living long?

32-36. Saying so, when he drew his sword and (was about to) cut off his head, many attendants prompted by Shiva came (there). Many aeroplanes also came near him. The mountaineer having seen those aeroplanes and the attendants also, spoke with great devotion to them: " Why have all of you, wearing (rosaries of) rudraksa, come (here)? All of you resemble crystal; all of you have the crescent moon on your crests; all of you have braided and matted hair; you have your garments covered with hide; you have adorned yourselves with the necklaces of serpents' hoods. You are endowed with majesty. Your valour is like that of Rudra. O tell me the proper truth." The attendants of Rudra, asked at that time by the mountaineer, spoke:

The attendants said:

37-41. O Canda, we are sent by Shiva, the highest lord. Accompanied by your wife, come quickly, and get into the carriage. Due to the effect of the act, viz. your having worshipped the Phallus on Shivaratri, you have obtained the highest position. Thus addressed by Virabhadra, he, laughing a little said: " What meritorious act have I, a sinful, foolish, wicked mountaineer, interested in hunting, done? I am always acting sinfully. How shall I live in heaven? Tell (me) how I have today worshipped the Phallus. I, having a great curiosity, am asking (you). Please tell (it to me)." Virabhadra said:

42-47. O Canda, Mahadeva, god of gods, called Gangadhara, lord of Uma, is today pleased with you and with your wife. Today you did what was proper for the occasion and worship also. While looking for a boar, O Canda, you plucked the bilva leaves; they fell on the top of the Phallus at that time. Therefore, O lord, you are meritorious. On the great (bilva-) tree you certainly kept awake. Due to that keeping awake the lord of the universe was pleased. Under the pretext of watching the boar, O glorious hunter, you observed a fast on the Shivaratri day, though by chance. Due to that fast and keeping awake the magnanimous best god was pleased. The very dignified giver of boons gives all boons to favour you.

48-53. Thus addressed by the intelligent Virabhadra, the mountaineer also got into an excellent aeroplane, while the attendants, deities and all beings were watching. At that time large drums, kettle drums and musical instruments sounded. There were the sounds of lutes, flutes, tabors, with dancing and acting. Chief gandharvas sang, and bands of celestial nymphs danced. He, being fanned with chowries, and with various umbrellas (held over his head), was taken with great ceremony near Shiva. Even the mountaineer reached (Shiva) due to a bath at a holy place and worshipping Shiva. Then what to say of those men who in this world offer flowers etc., fruits, sandal, tambula and sacred grains with faith and devotion to! > iva, the highest soul? They are Rudras. There is no doubt about this. Mahadeva said:

54-57. Since then that holy place is well-known as Khadgadhara. O chief goddess, in the Kali age, it will be hidden. O you daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, those who bathe (here) in the month of Magha or Vaishakha, and especially on the full-moon day of Kartika, are released. Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Bharadvaja and Gautama come here to bathe and to see god (Slvaj the Trident-holder. The Phallus remained there in the (first) three ages. O Parvati, it does not remain (there) in the Kali age. At that time the sage Visvamitra had cursed me. Parvati said:

58. I certainly desire to hear from you, O lord of gods, how that curse was pronounced upon you by the sage. Mahadeva said:

59-72. O goddess, on one occasion the great ascetic Visvamitra came to this very wonderful sacred place, Khadgadhara. Having bathed in the Sabhramati, he paid me visit. Worshipping (me) in various ways he always remained there. O beautiful lady, there was at that time a very wicked hunter of a sinful form. He put flesh on (the Phallus of) Shiva. Seeing that flesh (there) again, Visvamitra then said: " Oh! the sinner has done a wicked deed. The highest soul, Shiva, has not punished him: Therefore, I shall, having determined, certainly curse him." Having thought like this, he then cursed me, O goddess. " In this terrible Kali age you will remain completely hidden." Having thus cursed me, that best sage left. Since then, O goddess, due to the sage's curse, I am hidden. If they especially offer a worship at my place, their sin perishes at that moment only. Those who having fashioned a clay image of me worship it, especially live at this place of (i.e. sacred to) me. In this Kali age it is called Khadgadharesvara. In Krta (age) it was (known as) Mandira; in Treta (age) it was known as Gaurava. In Dvapara (age) it was known as Visva, and Khadgesvara in Kali (age). O chief goddess, my place lies on the southern side. Knowing this, a wise man, fashioning (my) image there, worships (it) everyday. He would obtain the desired fruit. The man obtains, on the earth, religious merit, worldly prosperity, sensual pleasures and (ultimately) salvation. O chief goddess, there would come no misery to those who offer incense, light, articles of food, so also sandal etc., to Mahesvara, the lord of the worlds; this is the truth, the (only) truth, O beautiful lady.

 

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