Chapter 35 - Indreśvara (indra-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The Liṅga is called Indreśvara as by propitiating this Liṅga Indra could kill the demon Vṛtra.

Śrī Mahadeva said:

1-8. O goddess, the excellent Indreśvara Liṅga is the thirty-fifth deity. It yields great Siddhis and destroys the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter.

There was a patriarch Tvaṣṭṛ and his son was Kuśadhvaja. He had control over his senses and was always engaged in his religious duties. He was struck down by Vāsava.

On seeing the son killed, Tvaṣṭṛ, the Prajāpati (Patriarch), became furious and plucking a single hair from his matted hairs, he spoke these words: “Let the three worlds, including the Devas, see my power today. Let that evil-minded Brāhmaṇa-slayer Indra also see it. He has struck down my son engaged in his (religious) duties.”

After saying thus and with eyes reddened due to anger, he consigned that matted hair to the sacrificial fire. Therefrom Vṛtra issued forth with flames of fire spreading around. He had a huge body with big curved fangs. His lustre was akin to that of freshly cut heap of collyrium. This Indra-Śatru (Enemy of Indra) grew in strength by the fiery refulgence of Tvaṣṭṛ. His inner strength could not be measured or comprehended. Everyday he increased in size and strength to the extent of the range of an arrow.

On seeing Vṛtra, the great Asura capable of killing him, Indra pondered over this immediately: ‘What rite can be meritorious?’

9-18. In the meantime, Vṛtra, the most excellent one of all strong persons, came there, O lady of excellent countenance, and saw Vāsava along with the Devas.

Vṛtra, the Daitya of a huge body, fought a furious battle. Many weapons and missiles were used therein to increase the confusion. The battle was perilous due to clash of soldiers. In their rage they cut and pierced armours and the battlefield was rendered red with the blood splashed on the ground. Many a face resembling a lotus-flower had been cut and scattered all over. Sprout-like (severed) hands made the place impassable. Heaps of headless trunks got entangled with one another. The army of the Devas arrayed themselves everywhere. Many ornaments that had adorned the limbs of the warriors were profusely scattered about and they glittered remarkably. Waves were set in motion in the blood that gushed about and rendered the faces of the quarters pink in colour.

In the course of that excessively terrible battle Vṛtra struck and severed the Devas along with the Guhyakas, bound Indra and took him to Svarga. O lady of excellent countenance, he then unhesitatingly ruled the kingdom without rivals. When Devendra was thus bound, the liberal-minded Bṛhaspati came to that place where Śakra was bound. On seeing Śakra in such a plight, he blessed him and caused him to be released (from bondage). Thereafter he spoke thus: “The time is not favourable to you now, O Sureśa. The Asuras are seen extremely enterprising and they have gathered together in great masses. All the leading great Asuras were seen by me there. In my opinion, each of these is capable of conquering you. Such a collection of the Asuras, O Śakra, as is seen now has never before been seen or heard.”

19-24. On hearing the words of Bṛhaspati, Śakra became bewildered. After cogitating for a short while he said; “O highly intelligent Bṛhaspati, what counter-measure should be adopted here? Kindly tell me. In a few days many of these strong Dānavas will be coming here and so also Vṛtra of great power.” On hearing these words of Śakra, Bṛhaspati told him: “Hasten to do something, O Śakra. At my bidding you go to the beautiful Mahākālavana. There to the south of Khaṇḍeśvara, O Vāsava, is a Liṅga that brings about all prosperities. Propitiate it assiduously. It will grant you your desire.”

On hearing the words of Bṛhaspati, Śakra went hurriedly to Mahākālavana, O goddess. After seeing the excellent Liṅga he bent down his neck in devotion and eulogized.

25-33. “Obeisance to the overlord of Devas, to Śaṅkara, to Vṛṣa (Bestower of piety). Obeisance to the multi-formed one wor-thy of being sought, the Lord with a snake for the sacred thread. Obeisance to the most excellent one. O bestower of all desires, perpetual obeisance to you. You are the first creator of the subjects. You alone, as Kāla,. annihilate the subjects. You alone are the Lord of waters, Lord of the elements. You are Dhaneśvara (Kubera); you alone are Dahana (Fire-god). You alone are the Moon, the Sun and the Wind, the creator, the dispenser of destinies; you are the most ancient one. You are the reservoir of water; you alone are Varuṇa; you are the most excellent mountain and the Lord of serpents. You alone are Ḍiṇḍi, O Mahākāla. You alone are Vṛṣa; you alone are Vināyaka, the most excellent one of Guhyakas.”

On hearing this eulogy, the Liṅga said to Śatakratu: “At my bidding, O Śakra, go to the battlefield. You have grown in strength by my radiance. There is no doubt, O slayer of enemies; you will kill Vṛtra.”

By the greatness of that Liṅga, O Pārvatī, he killed Vṛtra in battle through the foam in the water, even as the enemies of the Devas were watching. Afterwards he sportingly killed the Dānavas. Hardened by the war, Indra said to the Devas: “Vṛtra is killed in the great battle. By my power you have regained the suzerainty of the three worlds.”

On being told thus by Śakra, the Devas began to wonder. Due to the greatness of this deity, Vṛtra the great Asura, was killed. The sins clinging to the bodies were annihilated by the sight (of the Lord). Since Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas, was propitiated by Indra, the deity will become well-known over the earth by the name Indreśvara.

34-39. By visiting this Liṅga sinners, freed from sins, will go to the splendid city of Indra. A man who visits the deity named Indreśvara always will become rid of all sins and will rejoice in heaven for a long time. He who adores the Liṅga propitiated by Indra devoutly, attains the highest place (and lives there) for a period of four divine Kalpas. “If anyone devoutly worships Indreśvara Deva perfectly, it is as good as the perfect worship of all we Devas beginning with Viṣṇu and including Vāsava, the sages, the Guardians of Quarters etc. There is no doubt about this.”

On being told thus by the Suras including Vaikuṇṭha, Śakra, the Lord, went back to Svarga accompanied by them all.

O Pārvatī, the power of Indreśvara Deva has been told. Now listen to (that of) Mārkaṇḍeyeśvara.