Chapter 21 - The origin of the Jyotirliṅga Bhīmeśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:—

1. With a desire to accord benefit to him Śiva stayed with his devotee along with his Gaṇas. In order to protect him he remained concealed there.

2. In the meantime a great meditation was started by the lord of Kāmarūpa in front of the earthen idol of Śiva.

3. Then somebody informed the Rākṣasa, “The king is performing a black magic against you.”

Sūta said:—

4. On hearing it the Rākṣasa was infuriated. With a desire to kill him he seized a sword and rushed at the king.

5-6. On seeing the earthen idol of Śiva, the Rākṣasa thought “Contemplating on this idol he is doing something. Hence I shall kill him along with his adjuncts.” Thinking thus the extremely infuriated Rākṣasa spoke thus.

Bhīma said:—

7. O wicked king, what are you doing here? Tell me the truth. I shall not kill you then. Otherwise I will certainly kill you.

Sūta said:—

8. On hearing his words, the lord of Kāmarūpa full of faith in Śiva thought within his mind thus.

9. What is destined to happen will happen. There is nothing to prevent it. Everything is determined by our own previous action and Śiva is the dispenser of the result.

10. The merciful lord is certainly present in this earthen idol. He is carrying out my task. Who is this Rākṣasa? Whence has he come?

11. Lord Śiva is reputed in the Vedas as true to his promise. He carries out his promises in the interest of his devotees.

12. The promise is “If and when any terrible person harasses my devotee I shall kill that wicked person in order to save him. There is no doubt in this.”

13. Thus emboldened and meditating on lord Śiva the king reminded him of the promise, mentally and devotedly.

14. “O lord, I am yours. Do as you wish. I will tell him the truth. Do what is beneficial to me,”

15. Thus meditating in his mind, the king bound by the noose of truth spoke the truth slighting the Rākṣasa.

The king said:—

16. I am worshipping lord Śiva who protects his devotees, who is the lord of all beings—mobile or immobile and who is free from aberrations.

Sūta said:—

17. On hearing these words of the king of Kāmarūpa, Bhīma spoke thunderingly, his body shaking with rage.

Bhīma said:—

18. Your Śiva is known to me? What harm can he do to me? He was kept as a servant by my uncle.

19. You wish to conquer me depending on his strength. Then you have conquered everything, indeed. No need for any hesitation.

20. As long as Śiva your protector is not seen by me you can serve him as your lord and not otherwise.

21. If he is seen by me, O king, everything will be clear in every respect. Hence you remove all these idols of Śiva.

22. Otherwise great terror will befall you. There is no doubt about it. I am of terrible exploit and I shall lay my hands heavily on your lord.

Sūta said:—

23. On hearing his words, the king of Kāmarūpa who had steady faith in Śiva immediately spoke to the Rākṣasa.

The king said:—

24. I am a wicked ignorant brute in your eyes but I shall never forsake Śiva. My lord who is the most excellent of all will never forsake me.

Sūta said:—

25. On hearing the words of the king with his soul dedicated to Śiva, the Rākṣasa laughed and spoke to the king immediately.

Bhīma said:—

26-27. “He is intoxicated. He begs everyday. What does he know about his features? What steadfastness can a Yogi have in affording protection to his devotees?” Think thus and keep aloof in every respect. Your lord and I shall proceed with our fight.

Sūta said:—

28. Thus ridiculed, the excellent king, a devotee of Śiva, steadfast in his rites, spoke fearlessly to Bhīma who caused misery to the people.

The king said:—

29. O wicked Rākṣasa, listen. I shall not comply with your threats. If you go astray wherefore are you powerful?

The Sūta said:—

30. Thus addressed by the king, the demon rebuked him and hurled his terrible sword at the earthen idol.

31. “See now itself your lord’s strength pleasing to the devotees.” Saying this, the powerful demon laughed in the company of the Rākṣasas.

32. O brahmins, no sooner did the sword touch the earthen idol than Śiva manifested himself from the earthen idol.

33. “See, I am Bhīmeśvara. I have revealed myself to protect my devotee. This is my old rite that the devotee should be protected by me always.

34. From this alone see soon my strength that is pleasing to the devotees.” After saying this he split the sword into two with his Pināka.

35. His spear was then hurled by the Rākṣasa. That spear too of the wicked Rākṣasa was split into a hundred pieces by Śiva.

36. O brahmins, then a lance was hurled at Śiva by him. It too was split into a hundred-thousand pieces with his arrows by Śiva.

37. Then a huge iron club was hurled at Śiva by him. Within a trice, it too was reduced to small pieces like gingelly seeds by Śiva with his trident.

38. Then a terrible fight ensued between the attendants of Śiva and the Rākṣasa. It frightened all the onlookers with distress.

39. Within a trice, the entire earth became agitated. The oceans and the mountains became excited.

40. The god and the sages were much distressed. They said to one another. “In vain did we beseech Śiva.”

41. Nārada came there and requested Śiva, the destroyer of miseries with palms joined in reverence and head bent down.

Nārada said:—

42. O lord, forgive, O cause of fierce agitation. Why shall a dagger be thrust to cut a blade of grass, Let the demon be killed soon.

43. Thus requested, lord Śiva reduced the Rākṣasa to ashes with only a Huṃ sound for hīs weapon.

44. Even as all the gods were watching, O sage, the Rākṣasas were burnt down by Śiva in a trice.

45. Just as the conflagration consumes the forest so did the fury of Śiva destroy the army of the Rākṣasas in a trice.

46. None could see even the ashes of Bhīma. He was burnt down along with his followers. There was no trace of him to be seen.

47. The flame of the fury of Śiva spread from forest to forest. The ashes of the Rākṣasas spread everywhere in the forest.

48. The fiery flame of the anger of the great lord Śiva came out and spread from forest to forest. The ashes of the Rākṣasas spread throughout the forest.

49. From the ashes different herbs cropped up effectively in various ways. Men could assume different forms and features through the ashes.

50. Evil spirits, ghosts are removed far by the ashes O brahmins, there is no task which cannot be carried out through it.

51. Then Śiva was implored by the gods and sages “O lord, you should stay here itself for the happiness of the people.

52. This despicable land causing distress to the people of Ayodhyā will yield welfare to the people at your very sight.

53. You will be known as Bhīmaśaṅkara—a phallic image which shall be worshipped always. It will avert mishaps and be conducive to the attainment of all desires.

Sūta said:—

54. Thus requested, Śiva the benefactor of the worlds, the lord favourably disposed towards his devotees remained there itself.