The Birth of Bhauma and His Worship

Vaishampayana said:

1. I desire to hear correctly about the birth of Lohitanga (i.e. Mars), joy (due to it) among the people, his power, grandeur and lustre. I

2-4. Kujata (lit. born of the Earth i.e. Mars) is a deity born from the portion of Hara and is the Earth's son. He is good and is endowed with vitality, is brave and powerful on the earth. The divine planet is sharp, cruel, of a reddish body and powerful. He is young, handsome, and he, the lord, is of the nature of a stroke of lightning. He has baked (i.e. tormented) the demons, the eaters of corpses and the enemies of gods and men, plants, beasts and birds according to his position (at their birth). Vaisampayana said:

5-6. How was he born from Shiva? How was he born as the son of the Earth? How is this divine planet (so) cruel? I desire to know this. How can he always be propitiated in all the worlds? O preceptor, tell me, who have faith in you; (I want to hear it) from (your) mouth. There is no doubt about it. Vyasa said:

7. In the family of Hiranyaksa, was born an intelligent demon, the destroyer of the gods, Andhaka by name and the king of the demons.

8. Due to Vishnu's boon only he became as valorous as Vishnu (himself). He himself vanquished one by one, all gods, enjoyers of sacrifices, like Indra and others.

9-10a. Then gods, having gone to Brahma, said these words: " He has snatched away our kingdom, happiness and sacrifices. So please tell us the means of killing him; (please) do it."

10b-14a. Then Brahma said (these words to the gods): " There is no means of his death, due to (his having obtained) a boon from Vishnu and due to his having drunk nectar. But I shall fashion Sraddha (i.e. faith) accompanied by Kama (i.e. desire) so that nis status as a demon would be disgraced. Also Vicikitsa (i.e. Error) will surpass all women. His mind is not fixed except on ParvatI (Goddess) Durga. Then the lord of the world (i.e. Shiva), being angry, would deform him. Then giving up his demon-hood, he will be his attendant."

14b-15a. Saying so, the lord of the beings sent to him Sraddha with Kama, Vicikitsa (i.e. Error), Maya (his magical power).

15b-16. Then, moving foolishly due to passion and intent upon finding a woman, he, due to (being influenced by) Error, did not notice (the difference between) his wife and other women. Then instigated by Maya, he wandered in the three worlds

17-18a. On the surface of the Himalaya, he saw an extremely beautiful gem of a woman (viz. Parvati). Seeing Parvati, the demon went under the influence of passion. Due to the loss of his understanding, he then desired to seize Durga (i.e. Parvati).

18b-20a. Uma (i.e. Parvati) had taken the form of Kotavi1 (i.e. her naked form), and remained near the lord. He, the best demon, interested in seizing her bping stupid due to passion and with his mind disturbed, didnotgiveup (pursuing) Parvati, the mother.

20b-21. Then as a result of (her) meditation, her husband came there and met Parvati. Seeing him the lord of the demons went to his own abode. He made his soldiers ready and was eager to conquer Shiva.

22-23. He, the insensible one, (was), due to infatuation brought about by passion (eager) to take Parvati. Hearing this the gods, urged by Nandin, went to him, fought a fierce fight, fearful to the world. The preceptor of the demons brought back to life, the demons that died in the war.

24-26. All communicated this news (to Shiva) on Kailasa. Then angrily Shiva said (these) words to Nandin: " O hero, at my behest, quickly go the abode of the demons, and in the assembly of the demon-king, and seizing forcibly that wicked Shukra2 (the preceptor of the demons) with his hair, even when all the demons are watching, bring him, overcome with fear, to ine in a moment".

1. Ko(avi — An epithet of the goddess Durga represented as naked

2. Bhargava — Name of Shukra, regent of planet Venus and preceptor of the Asuras.

27. Then that glorious lordly Nandin, urged by the lord of Parvati, seized that Shukra with his hair (and brought him) with force from the presence of the demons.

28. The demons struck him (i.e. Nandin) who was bringing Shukra, with weapons and arrows. They were not able to hurt the mighty Nandin.

29. Nandin, seizing him with his hair, and being glad, came with him in front of Shiva in the presence of gods.

30. Shiva, the lord, of a formidable form, and resembling death, angrily seized the preceptor of the demons, and swallowed him.

31. Then the angry and mighty lord of demons, surrounded by his entire army, ran there to Shiva with fierce weapons etc.

32. The angry gods and the Vidyadharas went (there) with great rage to fight with the demons.

33. In the meanwhile a terrible and fierce battle took place between the gods and demons which caused fear to all the worlds.

34. In the great war, the gods struck the demons with trusted weapons. The demons (also) struck the gods.

35. Desiring to conquer one another, they pierced (one another) with golden arrows resembling the thunderbolt and having jewels attached to their feathered parts.

36a. Their bodies and the sky shone very much with (those) lovely (arrows).

36b-37a. The best gods, the brave sons of Kasyapa, struck with their stocks of unfailing missiles the demons and knocked them down.

37b-38a. In a moment all the gods destroyed with trusted weapons the great army of the demons that had pervaded the world and that was well covered over with power and weapons.

38b-39. The demon though raised for a long time, on (i.e. by) his trident, with great effort by Shiva himself did not perish. Then that Andhaka, of an humble mind, was made (by Shiva) his attendant named Bhrngiriti, O brahmana.

40. Then speaking to the gods, Shiva vomitted Shukra. The foetus fell down on the ground, so he was known as Bhauma.

41. Shukra, having spoken to Shiva, gladly went to the demons. Thus Bhauma (i.e. Mars) isboin as a portion of Shiva and from the Earth (also).

42. His worship should be done by those of pious vows on the fourth day (falling) on Tuesday, when his position at birth is not favourable, when he passes from one to another zodiacal sign, or has entered an undesirable zodiacial sign.

43-44a. Bhauma, with his figure drawn in a triangle or a circle, and being worshipped with red flowers and anointments, gives knowledge and wealth, sons, happiness and glory. What again do you want to hear? Vyasa said:

44b-46a. O disciples, I have told this religious account (of the vow) bringing about auspicious (fruits), hearing which a man is neither reborn nor does he die. It gives merit to the brahmanas and should be practised by those who desire auspicious things. After being blessed go happily by my command. Brahma said:

46b-48. O son, having thus narrated, revered Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, giving his verdict about piety, left. O child, knowing the truth devoutly enjoy as you like by gladly singing (the glory of) Hari and advising people about right conduct and pleasing the lord of the worlds. Pulastya said:

49. O king, Narada, who was thus told, went to see the best sage Narayana (i.e. Vishnu) in the hermitage of Badarika.

 

CHAPTER EIGHTYTWO

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