Chapter 34 - Kanthaḍeśvara (kanthaḍa-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: This Chapter explains why this Liṅga is called Kanthaḍeśvara. By the grace of Śiva, a poor Brāhmaṇa got a son from his patched garment. The son named Kanthaḍa was to be short-lived but by propitiating this Siva Liṅga he became long-lived. At his request God Śiva adopted the name Kanthaḍeśvara.

Śrī Hara said:

1-8. Know that Kanthaḍeśvara Liṅga is the thirty-fourth deity. Merely by seeing it, one is liberated from all sins.

Long ago on the beautiful banks of Vitastā, a Brāhmaṇa was living. His name was Pāṇḍava. He was excessively afflicted by poverty. He was forsaken by his kinsmen and also by his wicked wife. He had only a patched garment as his exclusive favourite. He was desirous of a son and I was propitiated by him in a cave of a mountain. O lady of wide eyes, I readily said, “You will nave a son.”

From the midst of the rags a son was born to him as Ayonija (not born of the womb i.e., without a mother). The rags protected his son from heat and chill. O lady of excellent countenance, it was by my grace that the boy was obtained by him. A boon had also been granted by Rudra that a son would be born of the rags. After six years had elapsed, he thought of Mauñjībandha (thread ceremony or tying of a grass girdle at the time of Yajñopavīta). He invited all the sages and repeatedly honoured them. He bowed down to all the saints and adored them, devoutly offering them fruits in accordance with his capacity. His girdle of Muñja grass was duly tied. After propitiating them repeatedly he spoke to the sages:

9-14. “O excellent sages, may blessings be given to this son of mine. May my son he long-lived, blessed with sons.” On hearing his words all of them remained silent. They did not reply. Thereupon, the excellent sage himself meditated and realized his son to be short-lived and fainted suddenly. Distressed with grief and affection for the son, he began to lament.

The Vāḍava i.e. Brāhmaṇa said:

How can my son granted by Maheśa himself be short-lived? Formerly Rudra who had been pleased with me granted me the boon, “From the midst of the rag, a son with power and vigour on a par with that of mine, will be born to you.” Having granted me a short-lived son Tryakṣa (Three-eyed Lord) has uttered those false words.

The sage then kept quiet.

On seeing his father distressed, the boy suddenly spoke these words enhancing his delight:

15-25. “Eschew your fear for my sake now, O ye dispirited ones. I shall nullify the efforts of the king of the departed ones (i.e. Yama). Listen to my words, O Guardians of Quarters including the Lords. This is my firm vow to have victory over Pitṛpati (Yama). I shall propitiate Śaṅkara with very severe austerities and devotion to my father. Thereby I shall frustrate the hopes for victory entertained by the god of Death. O dear father, why are all these excessively agitated and grief-stricken? I shall immediately bring the Lord of the Manes (Yama) under my control. I shall seek refuge in Rudra, the great Lord Maheśvara who is never separated from Umā. Let all the sages around listen. A person like me is not going to be defeated by the god of Death. I shall propitiate the feet of Śitikaṇṭha (the blue-throated Lord Śiva) and ere long subdue Death.” The eyes of the sages beamed at the nectar-like words of the rag-born child. They experienced horripilation and perspired due to delight. They asked the child: “How do you know that great Rudra? For a long time we have been performing Upāsanā (earnest adoration and meditation) along with severe penance and a series of Vratas. Still we do not know Maheśa. How can it be that you, a mere child, came to know him? With horripilation caused by wonder and excessively delighted, O dear son, we wish to hear the details thereof. How was Maheśa, the great Lord, the sole overlord of the worlds, known by you and where?”

On hearing the words of those sages of sanctified souls, the boy recounted to them the news, O Daughter of the Mountain: “While I was playing about here, there came a great Siddha (a spiritually advanced sage), a bestower of Siddhis. On coming to know that my life span was of a short duration he spoke these words out of affection for me:

24-32. ‘Go, my son, at my behest, to the excellent Mahākālavana. To the south of Ānandeśvara Liṅga there is another Liṅga. Propitiate it quickly; you will live for a long time.’ By the instruction imparted by him to me I have perfectly understood that there is no other Lord greater than Maheśvara in all the worlds. It is the truth, (I repeat) it is the truth, O leading sages. Hence I shall go to the splendid Mahākālavana today itself. I shall propitiate the Liṅga. Let your grief end.”

On hearing his words, the great sages and the surprised father all came to this place. With a desire to destroy Kāla, the boy propitiated the Lord. Thereupon, O daughter of the Mountain, a voice issued forth from the midst of the Liṅga: “Oh! I am contented and glad, dear child. What desire shall be granted to you?”

The boy said:

If you are contented, O Lord Śaṅkara, let those who visit you be freed from the rags of sins and live for a long time.

On hearing the utterance of the boy, O lady of renown, this was said by the Liṅga: “Those who worship me with deep faith will become devoid of old age and death. They will always realize their great desires. They will become excellent Gaṇas, worthy of being worshipped in all the worlds and adorned with all ornaments.”

33-40. After obtaining the boon thus, the Kantha (child) stood with palms joined in reverence. He was told by the delighted Liṅga: “O child of excellent vows, choose once again a boon that is very difficult to obtain in the world by Devas, Dānavas and Guhyakas, since you have been brought down (created) here and, therefore, there is nothing which cannot be given to you now.”

The child said:

O Mahādeva, if a boon has to be given once again, O Lord, let you be known in the earth, nay, in all the worlds, after my name.

This was spoken by the delighted Liṅga, O Pārvatī: “Let it be so.”

Ever since then the Lord of Devas became well-known as Kanthaḍeśvara. Merely by seeing it a man becomes long-lived. He who visits the Lord, Kanthaḍeśvara Liṅga, O Gaurī, will become freed from the rags of sins and attain salvation. The Liṅga is meritorious and destructive of sins. It is worthy of being praised and a giver of fame. It purifies all sins by repeating my name. Those persons by whom this Lord Kanthaḍeśvara has not been seen in Mahākāla (Mahākālavana) are wretched in the world. Their birth in the world is purposeless. Thus, O goddess, the sin-destroying power of Kanthaḍeśvara Deva has been recounted to you.

Listen to (the greatness of) Indreśvara Liṅga.