Chapter 6 - Svarṇajvāleśvara (svarṇajvāla-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mahādeva said:

1-9. O lady of great renown, know that the sixth deity is Svarṇajvāleśvara. Merely by seeing it, one becomes wealthy here in this world.

Formerly, O fair lady, I was sporting with you in my mansion. Eagerly engrossed in lustful dalliance, we spent a hundred divine years. Then Vahni (Fire-god) was persuaded by the Devas to come near me. Accordingly, O lady of renown, Vahni came for the good of all the three worlds. My semen was cast into the mouth of Fire-god by me in the course of my love-sport. Thereat Vahni felt an acute burning sensation and he went to Gaṅgā. He cast off the semen therein as he could not hold it himself. Still, O Pārvatī, Vahni continued to feel the burning sensation on account of the residue of the semen. A divine, exquisitely beautiful lump of gold was evolved out of that residue. It was blazing with heat, O dear One. It could not be borne or endured.

On seeing that first child of Agni, O Pārvatī, all became avaricious—Asuras, Suras, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Sādhyas, Piśācas, Naras, Rākṣasas, Khagas, etc. In their eager desire to seize the gold, they all madly rushed at it. As they impetuously cried out, “This is mine, this is mine, for the sake of the gold there arose a loud roar. Unwittingly it led to a fatal battle.

10-21. Seizing all kinds of weapons mainly intended to overwhelm others, O lady of renown, Devas shouted at other Devas. Asuras fought with Asuras, Naras with other Naras, Gandharvas with the other Gandharvas and Kinnaras with other Kṛnnaras. Goblins and spirits fought with the other goblins and spirits, Rākṣasas with other Rākṣasas and Vetālas fought a terrible battle with other Vetālas.

Son became inimical to father and a vice versa. Wife struck down husband and husband his own beloved. Son hit mother and mother injured son. On account of the gold there arose the persistence of enmity.

In the case of the Suras and Asuras, everything was very great and fierce. Large spears and sharp-edged ones fell in thousands. Sharp-pointed Tomaras and various kinds of weapons were hurled. O great goddess, many vomited much blood for the sake of gold. Swords, javelins, clubs and daggers fell all over the ground. Heads severed with terrible Paṭṭiśas rolled in the battle. With bodies splashed and smeared with blood, the wounded and the slain ones lay upon one another like peaks of mountains covered with minerals. There were thousands of clamorous hues and cries causing mutual fear as they lopped off one another with weapons for the sake of gold. As they mutually hit and struck with iron bolts and adamantine fists and bound one another with nooses and cords, the clamorous sound rose into the sky. “Pierce,” “Chop off,” “Rush,” “Push him down,” “Be gone”—fearful sounds like these were heard all round.

22-32. As the terrible, tumultuous battle persisted thus, O goddess, the earth shook and the Devas, including Indra, became terrified. The seas became agitated and the mountains swayed to and fro. As a result everyone, including the Devas, Asuras and human beings, became afflicted.

The sages beginning with Vālakhilyas, and the Devas, chief of whom was Indra, kept Bṛhaspati in front and went to the world of Brahmā. The women whose heads had been shattered narrated with gasps of breath all the incidents in full detail that had caused destruction in all the three worlds.

Brahmā, the grandfather of all the worlds, heard their words, discussed with them and approached me. All of them were asked by me, “By whom have these been shattered? By whom have they been afflicted with weapons and missiles? Whence has this dreadful thing befallen you? Who is that wicked Dānava by whom you have been harassed much?” O goddess, the entire thing was reported to me by those people who were terribly upset.

Brahmā and other Devas told me the cause of their fear. “All of us are doomed on account of gold. The entire universe including Devas, Asuras and human beings, is afflicted.”

Thus I heard their words, O lady of excellent countenance, and understood everything. It was for his sake that such a terrible quarrel had taken place. They called him Brahmaghātaka (“slayer of Brāhmaṇas”)—a person by whom the destruction in all the three worlds was brought about suddenly and for whose sake they had to abandon their own lives.

33-40. A killer of Brāhmaṇas was the son of Vahni. It was on account of him that the people died. His body shall be variegated and full of defects. Undoubtedly there shall be Dhātus (metals) in his body. Too much of pain, as a result of cutting, burning and rubbing, is to be experienced.

In the meantime, Vahni himself witnessed the activities of his son. Coming to know that I had become angry, he became afraid on account of his son. He came near me, O goddess, along with Suvarṇa. I was pacified, O lady of excellent countenance, on behalf of his son. “O Lord Śaṅkara, this is your son and he should be protected by you. O Parameśvara, let him be kept in your own treasury. He will be accessible, O great Lord, only when you are pleased. O Lord, let him be given to anyone as you desire.”

On hearing the words of Agni who is the mouth of Pitṛs and Devas, O lady of renown, I promised it saying, “Let it be so.” It was due to my covetousness that I promised it. The son of Vahni was placed by me on my lap out of affection; he was embraced again and again and kissed on the head.

41-53. “O blessed one, I shall grant you a boon. Choose something splendid. I am delighted. Attain everything as you desire. This is my command unto you. Thus you will attain welfare. On the earth there is a spot that brings about (satisfaction to) my wish. The splendid Mahākālavana, O dear son, is indestructible even at the time of Pralaya (final annihilation). There to the south of Karkoṭaka is the Liṅga that destroys great sins. It accords lustre on being seen. Merely by its sight you shall have your desires fulfilled. You shall become meritorious and inaccessible to one who is not pure. With your favour a man of ignoble birth shall become noble. The impure shall become pure and the ugly handsome. O one strictly devoted to the observance of vows, by making a gift of you, all the sacred rites shall become perfect and complete, such as Dānas, Vratas, Niyamas (observances), Yajñas, holy fasts, Tīrthas, offering balls of rice to Pitṛs, etc. You shall have supremacy over all gems and jewels. You shall become a favourite of Devas and lay people as well.”

On being told thus, O great goddess of excellent countenance, he assumed a divine form, meritorious and free from impurities. He was enveloped in clusters of flames.

The Liṅga said: “Fortunately, as good luck would have it, this Suvarṇa will become famous on the earth by the name of Kañcana. O son of Vahni, you will have to remain always by my side. Your fame in all the three worlds shall become imperishable.” On being told thus by the Liṅga, the son of Vahni became as refulgent as crores of suns (merged together). With his body enveloped by flames, he was rid of all impurities. Brightness was achieved by Suvarṇa with extremely dazzling flames all round. Hence, O goddess, the deity became well-known as Svarṇajvāleśvara Śiva.

54-61. To a devotee who adores Svarṇajvāleśvara Śiva, O goddess, success, mighty kingdom, royal glory, etc., are assured. He will have the capacity to make gifts. He will have unending succcession of sons and grandsons.

By seeing it, a man shall undouteḍly wash off all the dirts from his body and eradicate whatever sin he may commit knowingly or unknowingly.

There is no doubt about this that by its adoration a man will obtain twice the benefit usually obtained by offering balls of rice in Gayā.

By the eulogy of Svarṇajvāleśvara a devotee obtains the same benefit as is obtained by the muttering (Japa) of Gāyatrī hundred thousands of times.

By glorifying the deity, he shall certainly obtain that benefit and merit obtained by duly making the offerings of everything (of one’s possessions) as Dāna.

Those who worship Svarṇajvāleśvara on the fourteenth lunar day are adored by the goddess of fortune fulfilling all their wishes.

This Liṅga is being guarded by Devas and different Gaṇas. No one deluded by my Māyā knows it. That excellent Liṅga, O goddess, is seen by my grace. This has been perfectly narrated to you, O lady of excellent countenance. Listen to another one.