Chapter 30 - Cyavaneśvara (cyavana-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The chapter is based on the story of Cyavana Bhārgava given in Mbh, Vana, Chs. 122, 123 and 124. The only difference is: In Mbh, Vana 124, it was Cyavana who by his power of penance paralysed Indra’s arm, while here the credit is given to Cyavana’s propitiation of a Liṅga in Mahākālavana which subsequently became famous as Cyavaneśvara after the name of Sage Cyavana.

Śrī Viśvanātha said:

1-8. O goddess, know that Cyavaneśvara Liṅga is the thirtieth deity. Merely by seeing it, one’s fall from Svarga never takes place.

There was a great sage named Cyavana, O Pārvatī, the son of another great sage Bhṛgu. He performed a penance without taking food and remaining steady like a post on the banks of Vitastā for many years.

The Brāhmaṇa was completely covered by an anthill and overgrowth of creepers as much time elapsed. Ants were practically scattered around. Being completely covered, that intelligent sage appeared like a huge lump of clay.

A righteous king named Śaryāti joyously accompanied by his family came to that spot in order to sport about in that excellent forest. His retinue consisted of four thousand women. But he had only one daughter, a girl of lovely eyebrows, named Sukanyā. She was embellished with all ornaments. Surrounded by her female companions, she roamed about and saw the two eyes (alone) of Bhārgava in the anthill. Out of curiosity she uttered, “What is this?” With her intellect deluded, she pricked the eyes with a thorn.

9-18. On being pierced in the eyes by her, he (Cyavana) became extremely distressed. Thereupon the urine and faeces of the soldiers of Śaryāti became blocked. When the urine and faeces got blocked, the king became excessively inflamed (with wrath). The infuriated king spoke in faltering words: “Who has offended the noble-souled Bhārgava? The old sage is perpetually engaged in penance. He is likely to be exceptionally angry. Knowingly or unknowingly this offence has been perpetrated. Speak out. Do not delay.”

All the soldiers said: “We are not at all aware of any misdeed.” Thereupon, the king made use of cajoling words as well as fierce threats and himself asked again and again his people in sadness. On seeing her father distressed Sukanyā told him: “Some animal was seen by me in the anthill. It appeared very sparkling. It seemed to be something like a glowworm. I went near it and pricked it.” On hearing this, Śaryāti went quickly to the anthill. There he saw the aged Bhārgava of a long-standing penance to his credit. On behalf of his army, the king joined his palms in reverence and requested: “O Brāhmaṇa! Out of ignorance the girl has offended you. I shall offer you this girl herself. She has undertaken holy vows and is steadfast in it. Do accept her as wife. Be pleased, O excellent Brāhmaṇa.” Thereupon, Cyavana, son of Bhṛgu, spoke to the king:

19-27. “If it is so, I shall accept her, O king, and excuse them.” The king gave his daughter to Cyavana. Having accepted that girl, the holy sage became pleased whereupon the king went to his land accompanied by his army.

After getting a sage as her husband, Sukanyā, the praiseworthy one (lit. non-censurable one), joyously served him through her austerities and observances.

After some time, O my beloved, Nāsatyas alias the Aśvins saw Sukanyā returning after her bath meagrely clad. On seeing that maiden of beautiful limbs resembling the daughter of the king of Devas, they approached her and asked: “O highly splendid lady, to whom do you belong?” That highly fortunate, extremely chaste, lady said that she was the daughter of Śaryāti and wife of (Sage) Cyavana. Thereupon, both Aśvins laughingly said to her again: “Why do you, though being such (a lovely one), have such an old decrepit (shattered) husband? O good lady, you are now excluded from the enjoyment of love sport. Discard the old Cyavana. Leave him off and woo one of us as your husband. O lady having the splendour of someone born of divine womb, do not waste your youth thus.” On being told thus, Sukanyā spoke to the two Dasras (Aśvins):

28-36. “I am attached to Cyavana, my Lord. Do not entertain any doubt about me like this.” Thereupon they said to her again: “We are divine physicians. We shall make your husband young and handsome. Under this agreement, O lady of splendid waistline, you do invite us.” (Probably the text hints as follows: “All of us, the three shall stand before you and he whom you invoke as your husband will be your husband.”) On hearing their words she conveyed the suggestion to the son of Bhṛgu. On hearing it, Cyavana spoke to his wife: “Let it be done.” They spoke to the princess: “Let your husband get into the water.” Thereupon Cyavana who sought handsome features, entered the waters immediately. Aśvins also entered the lake simultaneously, O my beloved. After a short while all of them emerged from the lake. All had divine forms and features. They were equally youthful. They had divine earrings. Having the same guise and dress all were pleasing to the mind. All of them collectively said: “O lady of excellent complexion,

O fair lady, choose one among us, splendid and desirable as your husband.” She observed all of them standing there in similar forms and features. Making use of her mental and intellectual powers, she unerringly spotted her husband and wooed him.

After regaining his wife in addition to the desired youth and youthful charms, Cyavana became delighted. The excessively brilliant sage spoke these words to Nāsatyas:

37-42. “Since I have been turned into a youth of handsome features by you and since I regained this wife of mine, I shall lovingly make you both Somapāyins (worthy of having share in the Soma juice) even as the king of Devas watches on. This is the truth. There is no doubt about it.”

On hearing it the two gods went to heaven delighted in their minds. Cyavana performed a Yajña invoking Nāsatyas as deserving Soma. (Indra told him:) “They are only the physicians of the Devas. By that very profession, they are despicable. If you yourself offer Soma to them, I will have to strike you with the terrible thunderbolt.” On being told thus, Bhārgava smilingly looked at Indra. He realized that Indra was more powerful and so thought soon, ‘I shall propitiate Lord Maheśvara, the great deity. Śakra is only his servant and all the Devas are under his control. He is the efficient protector of the universe. He is the creator and annihilator.’^[1]

43-51. After saying this, O goddess, Cyavana went to Mahākālavana. The Liṅga that was situated to the north-east of Rāmeśvara Deva was devoutly propitiated by the noble-hearted Cyavana. Rudra was pleased with him. He granted him freedom from fear of the thunderbolt. By the power of this Liṅga that was pleased by the propitiation, Bhārgava could paralyze the arm of Indra even as he was about to strike. In the meantime, flames of fire issued forth from the middle of the Liṅga. All the groups of Devas were scorched by those flames. Dispirited and rendered blind by the smoke, they spoke with a faltering voice: “O Slayer of Vala, may the Aśvins be made the partakers of Soma juice.” On hearing the words of Devas, the terrified Śakra bowed down with stooping shoulders and said: “O Bhārgava, from today these Aśvins shall drink Soma juice. I am speaking the truth. O ascetic, you will not be guilty of assailing a guest (i.e., himself). It is by the power of the Liṅga that I had become lustreless. Therefore, its renown by your name will spread over the earth.”

O goddess, since it was propitiated by the noble-hearted Cyavana, this Liṅga became well-known in all the three worlds as Cyavaneśvara Liṅga.

If people worship Cyavaneśvara, the lord of gods, devoutly, all their sins originating from their very birth will perish instantly.

52-58. A man who visits the Lord named Cyavaneśvara everyday, shall be rid of future births, old age and ailments and be liberated. By seeing Cyavaneśvara a man shall obtain all the desires mentally conceived even if they be very difficult to obtain. Those who regularly visit Cyavaneśvara Deva, O beloved one, go to my world after leaving the body. He who listens to this meritorious narrative, splendid and destructive of all sins, is a meritorious soul and he goes to the highest divine abode undoubtedly. O lady of great renown, even if one devoid of devotion and negligent of holy rites sees the Liṅga occasionally, he attains meritorious goal accessible only to Yogins. Those who adore Cyavaneśvara Deva with flowers of different colours, cross the ocean of worldly existence and attain the greatest region.

O goddess, the sin-destroying power of Cyavaneśvara Deva has been recounted to you. O Śivā, listen to (the greatness of) Khaṇḍeśvara.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This is a modification of the Mahābhārata story.