The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes Trivishtapeshvara (trivishtapa-ishvara-linga) which is chapter 7 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the seventh chapter of the Caturashiti-linga-mahatmya of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 7 - Triviṣṭapeśvara (triviṣṭapa-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: ‘Triviṣṭapa’ means the dwelling place of Devas. Once Nārada described the glory of Mahākālavana to Devas; so Devas deserted Triviṣṭapa and migrated to Mahākālavana. Finding itself vacant, Triviṣṭapa assumed a form and came to Mahākālavana. He was asked by an ethereal voice to establish a Liṅga there. He complied and the Liṅga was named Triviṣṭapeśvara.

Śrī Mahādeva said:

1-6. O goddess, O daughter of the Mountain, the seventh deity is Triviṣṭapeśvara. The heavenly world is obtained merely by the sight of that deity.

Formerly, O goddess, the celestial sage Nārada, free from impurities, went to Triviṣṭapa (heaven) with the desire of seeing Indra.

There in the beautiful area of the celestial park, he saw Indra, the Lord of Devas, seated. The park was (as if) illuminated with the Kalpa (wish-yielding) trees. Everywhere gentle wind pleasing to the touch and fragrant with flowers blew. The sweet sounds of flutes and lutes echoed. Devas and Gandharvas moved about the place brightly illuminated with lunar stones, diamonds, sapphires, lapis lazuli and other jewels. The whole place appeared auspicious with remarkable features to which those of Brahmaloka and other worlds cannot be compared at all. Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Kinnaras and other Devas were joyously eulogizing him.

On being requested by Vāsava (Indra), the great sage Nārada recounted the greatness of Mahākālavana:

7-8. “It is beautiful, splendid and always pleasant. It is sacred and conducive to merits. It is the most excellent of all excellent Tīrthas worthy of being resorted to. Sins due to Brāhmaṇa-slaughter and the like, of those people who see the splendid, meritorious Mahākālavana, do perish indeed.

9-17a. The Lord himself is stationed here surrounded by all the groups of Bhūtas (goblins). Hence it is called by learned men as the most excellent one among important Tīrthas (holy spots).

Naimiṣa is highly meritorious on this earth and it is destructive of all sins. Puṣkara, the excellent Tīrtha, is declared as ten times more efficacious than it in merit. Ten times more than this too is Prayāga, conducive to the attainment of all desires. The well-known Amareśvara is said to be ten times more efficacious. Prācī (Eastern) Sarasvatī is remembered as ten times more meritorious. Gayākūpa is still better. It is said to be ten times more meritorious than this and is remarkable. The sacred Vārāṇasī is ten times more meritorious. Mahākāla is still better and is ten times more excellent (than Vārāṇasī). O Śākra, indeed Mahākālavana is an ornament unto all the three worlds. There are sixty thousand crores and six hundred crores of Liṅgas there, which accord worldly pleasures and salvation.

Nine crores of Śaktis stay in that holy spot. O Śatakratu, even worms, insects and locusts dying there go to the eternal Rudraloka by means of divine aerial chariots.”

17b-24. On hearing this wonderful greatness from Nārada, Vāsava, the most excellent one among Suras, came hurriedly to Śrī Mahākālavana with great joy along with all the groups of Devas. They saw such a beautiful and splendid Mahākālavana. Mahākālavana is proclaimed as one that does not perish even at the time of Pralaya. The mansions are of various types and made of gold. They are inlaid. Hundreds of palaces are embellished with jewels and corals gathered from every part of the earth. They are inlaid with diamonds and sapphires. Some are of pure crystals. The ornamental gates are of various forms and beautified with rubies. On seeing such a beautiful and excellent Mahākālavana, all Devas became delighted and they praised Nārada. They said: “O highly intelligent ones, since this story has been narrated by the celestial sage (we shall believe it). We will not go to Kailāsa nor to Meru which may also be of the same type. We will not go to Mandara. We will not go to Triviṣṭapa. This alone is the excellent Amarāvatī. This is the auspicious Bhogavatī. This is the world of Brahmā, the grandfather. Similarly this is the world of Viṣṇu.”

25-31. In the meantime, O fair lady, Triviṣṭapa became deserted and vacant. On realizing itself to be empty and pondering over it again and again, it assumed a physical form of its own and intended to go. “Abandoning me, all the Devas have gone to Mahākālavana. I too shall go there where these Devas have gone.” Saying this, it instantly reached the excellent Mahākālavana. Then it enthusiastically visited the most excellent Tīrtha all over the world. It saw the beautiful holy spot surrounded by the Devas.

At the same time an unembodied voice spoke: “O Triviṣṭapa, install me here itself after your own name, to the east of Karkoṭaka and to the south of Mahāmāyā.” On being told thus by the Lord of Devas it rejoiced. With the mind dwelling on the deity, Triviṣṭapa installed the deity named Triviṣṭapeśvara after its own name. After adoring it with splendid flowers, O lady of excellent countenance, it spoke thus: “From today onwards, Bhūrloka will become renowned by your name. Even those who perpetrate misdeeds but assiduously see you, will go to the greatest region adorned with divine ornaments.

32-39. A man of devotion, who worships you on the eighth or fourteenth lunar day or particularly on the day of the transit of the sun, will proceed to my vicinity after riding in an excellent aerial chariot. The chariot embellished with jewels can go wherever it wants to. It resembles the rising sun.

He will stay there near me. Of what avail are the diverse kinds of Dānas offered? Of what avail are the diverse kinds of Yajñas performed? Those who see you devoutly will attain all those benefits. There is no doubt about this that they will attain the various desired objectives for the sake of which they worship you.”

After seeing my excellent Liṅga Tridaśas (Devas) said: “Those blessed ones who worship Lord Īśvara installed by the blessed Triviṣṭapa, those who worship Lord Triviṣṭapeśvara will have permanent stay in Triviṣṭapa.”

After saying this, they worshipped the Triviṣṭapa Liṅga again. Along with Triviṣṭapa they went to their original region. Thus, the sin-destroying power has been recounted to you, O goddess. By listening to or reciting this, one shall gain a permanent stay in heaven.

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