Chapter 26 - Someśvara (soma-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: For the glorification of this Liṅga [i.e., Someśvara], two legends about the Moon-god are modified and amalgamated. Soma got his original glory due to propitiation of this Liṅga.

Īśvara said:

1-6. Know, O goddess, that the great Someśvara Liṅga is the twenty-sixth deity. Merely by seeing it a man becomes free from dispute.

The glorious one named Atri, a mental son of Brahmā, became Prajāpati (Creator and Patriarch), O goddess, in the Kalpa named Vārāha. His son was Soma. Dakṣa had twenty-seven daughters who were well-known as Dākṣāyaṇīs. They are to be known as the wives of Soma (Moon). The most excellent one among them was Rohiṇī. We heard that he preferred to resort only to her and not to others. The others approached Dakṣa and told him the fact as it was. Dakṣa arrived and advised him. He (Soma) did not do so. When though prevented he did not remain steady, Dakṣa became angry, O beloved. Being infuriated he cursed Soma: “Vanish quickly.”

7-17. On being cursed thus, Soma vanished. Soma cursed Dakṣa: “You too will, without attaining multiplicity in this very body and will acquire an aquatic body.” Hence Brahmaputra (Brahmā’s son) Dakṣa is sung about as Prācetasa (‘son of Varuṇa or Pracetas’) also. Thus due to the curse of Dakṣa Soma disappeared.

Devas, Nāgas, Yakṣas and Gandharvas along with Pitṛs went to the abode of Brahmā and approached Brahmā, the son of Virāṭ. Bowing down repeatedly they submitted to him: “O holy Sir, you are self-born, the primordial creator of all living beings. You are the creator of Havyas and Kavyas. Save us who have sought refuge in you.”

On hearing the words of the Devas and understanding (their grievances), the Lord Creator consoled the Suras by means of well-composed words: “O Devas, he has to reap the fruit of his action certainly. The end of the curse will be brought about only by Lord Viṣṇu.”

On hearing these words of the Lotus-born One, the Devas sought refuge in Viṣṇu worthy of being an asylum. O goddess, accompanied by Brahmā, they prayed with mental concentration: “Obeisance to you, the Lord of the chiefs of Devas; obeisance to you, O conceiver of the universe. Obeisance to you, O Hṛṣīkeśa, O ancestor of great men (or primordial great man). O Nārāyaṇa, O Lord of the universe, the Devas have sought refuge in you. Verily you are our great object of meditation. Indeed, you are our great preceptor. Indeed, you are our great Lord, of Brahmā and others, O most excellent one among the Suras. Soma has disappeared, O Janārdana, because of the curse of Dakṣa. O Lord, in the absence of Soma all the medicinal herbs have been destroyed on the earth.” On hearing their words Viṣṇu spoke thus:

18-30. “Give up your fear, O immortal ones; I grant you freedom from fear. Undoubtedly I shall bring back the Moon-god that has disappeared.” After saying thus and sending away the leading Devas, the Wielder of the Conch, Discus and Club immediately remembered Soma. When he did not come even after being remembered, Janārdana became angry. The Lord, the Primordial Being, spoke to Brahmā: “Let the Milk Ocean be churned by the Devas and the groups of Asuras. As the great ocean is churned, Candra will reappear. Thereby you will obtain Amṛta (Nectar) and different kinds of jewels also.”

O Pārvatī, on hearing those words of Vāsudeva, the Devas as well as Asuras and Dānavas began to churn the ocean, the storehouse of waters, making the Mandara mountain the churning rod and Vāsuki the rope for the rod (for regaining Soma), O goddess. On account of their great eagerness to preserve their dignity the Asuras and Dānavas caught hold of the head (mouth) portion of the king of serpents. All the Devas collectively remained at the tail end. That was because, it was there that Lord Nārāyaṇa remained.

He raised the hoods frequently and let them down. When the ocean was churned, there was a loud report. Many of the aquatic animals were crushed by the great mountain. Hundreds and thousands of them got lost. When the ocean was churned with the effort of Keśava, O goddess, the gracious-minded, brilliant and cool-rayed Soma emerged from within. It is this Vidhu, O lady of renown, upon whom all these, viz, Devas, human beings, Pitṛs, trees and medicinal herbs, depend. On seeing him born again Lord Keśava said: “O Candra, protect these subjects. Be the senior-most one of the universe.”

31-39. Thus Śaśin was asked by Vāsudeva to protect the subjects. Formerly Soma who had disappeared, entered a dense forest. To him Nāraḍa quickly narrated everything. On hearing the words of the noble-souled, celestial sage, Nārada, Soma who had been afflicted by the curse of Dakṣa and had vanished, O goddess, sought refuge in Brahmā Parameṣṭhin.

After going there, he mentioned with choked and faltering voice the details of the curse. Brahmā spoke on hearing the words of the earlier Candra: “This first son of mine was troubled much by Śaśin. What is to be done by me with the fresh one born of the ocean? Much strength has been granted to this Candramas by Viṣṇu. Hence I shall go there where Lord Janārdana is present.”

On seeing him Brahmā spoke to Viṣṇu, the slayer of Madhu: “It was at your bidding that this Candra was created by me. But he has been afflicted by the fresh one.” On being told thus by Brahmā, O goddess, Vāsudeva, the Lord of the universe, mentioned the same event again and again to Brahmā. As for Brahmā, it was for the earlier Candra that he bowed down, stood with palms joined in reverence and eulogized Viṣṇu, to whom obeisance is made by all the worlds.

40-44. “Obeisance, O Kṛṣṇa; obeisance, O Viṣṇu; obeisance, O Jiṣṇu; obeisance; obeisance. Obeisance, O Vāmana, O Govinda, obeisance, O Ananta (Infinite one); obeisance, O Acyuta. Be victorious, O Govinda; of magnanimous virtues. Be victorious, O Viṣṇu. Be victorious, O Padmanābha. Be victorious, O Sarvādya (one who is primordial), O Lord wielding the mace. Be victorious, O Lord of the universe, O Viśvamūrti (the omniformed one).”

On being eulogized thus by Brahmā, the creator of the worlds, O goddess, he looked at Soma who was nearby and spoke thus: “Go to the excellent Mahākālavana at my behest, O Soma. There is a highly refulgent Liṅga to the north of Mukti Liṅga. Propitiate it assiduously. It will grant you a physical body.”

On being told thus repeatedly by Vāsudeva and Brahmā, O great goddess, he came to the excellent Mahākālavana. O lady of excellent holy vows, after seeing the Liṅga he eulogized by means of this prayer:

Candra said:

45-53. Obeisance to the supreme Lord of Devas, to the three-eyed great Ātman, to the Lord with red and tawny eyes and a coronet of matted hairs; obeisance to the Lord served by Bhūtas (goblins) and Vetālas (ghosts), to the trident-bearing great Lord. Obeisance to the Lord indulging in terrible boisterous laughter. Obeisance to Sthāṇu having matted hairs. Obeisance to one who smashed the teeth of Pūṣan; to the slayer of Andhaka. Obeisance to the Lord with the excellent abode at Kailāsa. Obeisances to you, the Lord of all gods. Obeisance to the Lord with tresses of hairs raised up hideously; obeisance, obeisance to Bhairava (the terrible). Obeisance to the Lord as terrible as the flames of fire; obeisance to the Lord who dispel the unholy activities of Kali. Obeisance to the destroyer of Dāruvana; to the wielder of sharp-edged trident; obeisance to the Lord who have made lordly serpents your bracelets and necklace; obeisance to the trident-bearing one. Obeisance to the Lord with a terrible staff in your hand; to the Lord with the sub-marine fire as mouth. Obeisance, obeisance to you who can be understood only through Vedānta. Obeisance, obeisance to you, O Yajñamūrti (‘the embodiment of Yajña’). Obeisance to the Lord who destroyed Dakṣa’s Yajña; to the Lord causing fear to the universe. Obeisance to Viśveśvara, to the Lord Śaṃbhu who are gross and subtle. Obeisance to you with matted hairs, to the awful one, to the Lord of all.”

Thus eulogized by Candra who had vanished, Mahādeva, in the form of the Liṅga, became pleased and spoke these words: “I am pleased with this prayer. Tell me, O Soma, what you wish. There is no doubt about this that I will accomplish everything that you desire.”

Soma said:

54-64. If I am to be blessed, O Lord, if you are pleased with me, O Maheśvara, with your favour I wish to carry out my official duty with a physical form, with due splendour, with refulgence and with beauty.

Instantly it was said by the Liṅga: “O Rajanīkara, let it be so.” That was attained by Dvijarāja (Moon) with the favour of this Liṅga. O great goddess, since the Lord of Devas was propitiated by Soma, the deity is well-known by the name Someśvara all over the three worlds. O great goddess, those who worship the great Lord Someśvara are men of meritorious deeds. Those men do attain the greatest region. O beloved one, a man who devoutly visits the Someśvara Liṅga becomes rid of the misery of births and the likes and gets merged within me.

Those men by whom Lord Someśvara is not visited nor adored are brutes. What is the use of their life in the world? In this excessively terrible world confused and chaotic due to the fear of births and ailments, Someśvara is the sole Lord worthy of being adored. He is the destroyer of Kuṣṭha Roga (leprosy).

In this world he alone by whom Someśvara is adored, is meritorious; the entire family is embellished by him; he is the basic support of all the worlds.

By worshipping Someśa but once with Bilva leaves, a man shall stay in my world for a long time after fearlessly and without ailments enjoying pleasures and ultimately be liberated.

A man who worships Someśvara Liṅga devoutly with golden flowers, O my beloved goddess, attains the greatest goal.

Thus, O goddess, the sin-destroying power of Someśvara deity has been recounted to you. Listen to (the glory of) Anarakeśvara.