Chapter 33 - Origin and glory of the Jyolirliṅga Ghuśmeśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:—

1. On seeing the son of the younger sister, the elder sister was much distressed. Unable to see her pleasure she became inimical.

2. Her people celebrated the birth of a son continually. But she could not bear the sight of the beautiful child.

3. On seeing the son, a great favourite of the parents and endowed with all good qualities, her heart began to blaze like fire.

4. In the meantime many brahmins came there offering their daughters in marriage. Sudharmā celebrated the marriage of his son duly.

5. Sudharmā was extremely delighted in the company of Ghuśmā. All the relatives honoured Ghuśmā much.

6. On seeing that, Sudehā blazed furiously in her mind. Extremely distressed she began to lament, “O I am doomed.”

7. When the daughter-in-law came to the house and the son was duly married, Sudharmā evinced his enthusiasm to both the wives with an intention of delighting them equally.

8. But Ghuśmā was delighted and Sudehā was distressed. Unable to bear her happiness, she fell on the ground.

Ghuśmā said:—

9. “These are your own son and daughter-in-law not mine.” But the daughter-in-law considered Sudehā her mother-in-law and the son considered her his mother.

10. The husband too loved the elder more than he loved the younger. Still the elder wife retained dirt in her mind.

11. One day the senior wife Sudehā, extremely distressed in her heart, thought how she could subdue her misery.

Sudehā said:—

12. Certainly the fire in my heart can be tranquilised only through the tears of Ghuśmā caused by her misery and not otherwise.

13. So I shall kill her son today, the son that speaks pleasing words to her. What is destined to happen shall happen. This is my final decision.

Sūta said:—

14. O brahmins, the inimical nature among co-wives is extremely ruthless and suicidal. The wicked and the mean do not ponder what shall be done or not done.

15. One day during the night as the son was sleeping with his wife she took a big knife and cut off his limbs.

16-17. The senior wife cut off the limbs of Ghuśmā’s son at night. Strong that she was she took them to the lake where the earthen images of Śiva were usually hurled by Ghuśmā. After casting off the limbs into the lake she returned and slept.

18. In the morning Ghuśmā got up and performed her daily household duties. Sudharmā too performed his daily sacred rites.

19. In the meantime the senior wife too got up and performed her duties with great pleasure, now that the fire in her heart had been tranquilised.

20. Getting up in the morning, the daughter-in-law saw to her horror the bed wet with blood and a few scattered pieces of the body.

21. She told her mother-in-law, “where has your son gone? The bed is wet with blood. Pieces of the body are also seen.”

22. The daughter-in-law fond of her husband began to lament—“O I am doomed. O my mother of holy rites, who has perpetrated this wicked deed?”

23. The senior wife, though delighted inwardly, showed great distress outwardly saying “O I am doomed!”

24. Ghuśmā heard the pitiable lamentation of her daughter-in-law but did not leave off her sacred rite, the daily worship of Śiva’s earthen image.

25. Her mind did not exhibit any agitation. The husband too remained calm till the completion of the sacred rite.

26. At noon when the worship was concluded she looked at the terrible bed. Still Ghuśmā did not show signs of grief.

27-29. “He who has given this boy will protect him too. The annihilator of Kāla, the goal of the good, is famous as a favourite of his devotee. Our protector, the sole lord, Śiva is like a gardener. He separates those whom he has united. What can I gain by worrying over it?” Realising this truth, being emboldened in dedicating herself to Śiva she did not grieve much.

30. Taking the day’s earthly phallic images she went towards the bank of the lake repeating the names of Śiva, maintaining the normalcy of her mind as afore.

31. When she cast off the earthen phallic images and returned she saw her son standing on the bank of the lake.

The son said:—

32. I shall meet my mother. After dying I have been resuscitated, thanks to the power of her virtue and the mercy of Śiva.

Sūta said:—

33. O brahmins, on seeing her son restored to life the mother was not delighted as she was not distressed before.

34. At that time, lord Śiva, appeared before her immediately in the form of a mass of splendour. He said delightedly.

Śiva said:—

35. O exccllent-faced lady, I am delighted. Mention the boon you wish to have This boy had been killed by that wicked lady. I shall kill her with my trident.

Sūta said:—

36. Bowing down to Śiva she requested for the boon “O lord, Sudehā, my sister, must be protected by you.”

Śiva said:—

37. Harm has been done by her. Why should you render help to her? Sudchā the perpetrator of wicked deeds must be killed.

Ghuśmā said:—

38. No sin stays, the moment you are seen. Now, on seeing you her sin will be reduced to ashes.

39. ‘Sin is far removed at the mere sight of the person who renders help to those who harm him.

40. These wonderful words of the lord have been heard by me O lord. Hence, O Sadāśiva let it not be done otherwise.

Sūta said:—

41. Thus requested by her, lord Śiva the ocean of mercy, favourably disposed towards his devotees was delighted and spoke thus.

Śiva said:—

42. O Ghuśmā, request for another boon. I shall grant you what is beneficial to you. I am delighted at your devotion and your nature of being free from aberrations.

Sūta said:—

43. She said after hearing his words “If a boon is to be given by you, you shall stay here in my name for protecting the worlds.”

44. Then the delighted lord Śiva said—“I shall stay here in your name. I shall be named Ghuśmeśa and I shall confer happiness.

45. May my phallic image named Ghuśmeśa be auspicious and famous. Let this lake be the storehouse of phallic images always.

46. Hence it will be famous in the three worlds in the name of “Śivālaya.”^[1] This lake shall always yield desires by its mere sight.

47. O lady of good rites, upto a hundred and one generations in your family sons of great excellence like this will be born undoubtedly.

48. They will have good wives, plenty of wealth, longevity and skill in everything. They will be learned and liberal. They will attain worldly pleasures and salvation.

49. They will be hundred and one endowed with many qualities. Your family will expand like this splendidly.

Sūta said:—

50. After saying this Śiva assumed the form of a phallic image named Ghuśmeśa. He became famous. The lake was called Śivālaya.^[1]

51. Sudharmā, Ghuśmā and Sudehā came there and circumambulated Śiva hundred and one times.

52. After performing the worship of lord Śiva, fondly meeting one another and eschewing the dirt of the mind they attained great happiness.

53. On seeing the son regained to life, Sudehā was ashamed. O brahmins, she performed the expiatory rite for her sins and requested for forgiveness.

54. O great sages, the phallic image named Ghuśmeśa originated thus. Its very sight and worship renders happiness always.

55. Thus I have narrated to you the twelve Jyotirliṅgas which yield all desires, worldly pleasures and salvation.

56. He who reads or listens to this narrative of Jyotirliṅgas gets rid of sins and attains worldly pleasures and salvation.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Śivālaya lake, the abode of Ghuśmeśvara phallic image is placed near Devagiri in the Aurangabad district of the erstwhile Hyderabad State.