Chapter 56 - Revanteśvara (revanta-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Revanta was a son of Sun-god and Saṃjñā. He conquered gods and demons. Gods went to Brahmā who in turn led them to Siva. Śiva called Revanta, fondled him and established him near a Liṅga in Mahākālavaṇa. The Liṅga came to be known Revanteśvara after Revanta’s name.—Revanta is not mentioned in Mbh anywhere. Probably this legend is Skanda Purāṇa’s contribution to explain the name ‘Revanteśvara’.

Śrī Mahadeva said:

1-7. Know the Liṅga named Revanteśvara as fifty-sixth deity. Merely by seeing it one attains great Siddhi.

Unable to endure the unbearable brilliance of Ravi (Sun-god) Saṃjñā went away to perform penance, O goddess. Sūrya came to know what the lady of excellent Vratas did. He assumed the form of a horse and went to Northern Kurus. There he saw Saṃjñā in the form of a mare. Eager to protect her hind parts, she came face to face with him. Thereupon a nasal intercourse took place when the two met each other. Nāsatya and Dasra, two horse-faced sons issued forth. At the consummation of orgasm, Revanta came out with a sword and shield and clad in armour. He was seated on a horse. He had a bow and arrows also. Having been born with a horse as his mount, immediately after the birth he sportingly conquered the entire universe including Devas, Asuras and human beings.

8-14. Thereafter, the defeated Devas sought refuge in Brahmā. With the necks trembling due to fear, they bowed down and said: “All our affluence and brilliance and assets have been destroyed by Revanta, a leading Sura and son of Ravi. Listen, O grandfather of the worlds. The fire emanating from his body runs about conquering Kāla (Time, god of Death). Trees get ablaze thereby and peaks topple down. Everywhere there is a hue and cry, bewailing and lamentation. Everything has become confused due to the clusters of flames, and tormented by him. The raging fire has spread in all the ten directions. Everything blazing thus appears like a Kiṃśuka flower (red in colour)

On hearing their words, O lady of excellent countenance, Brahmā said: “O excellent Suras, what I am required to do by you is already known to me. O excellent Suras, what you desire will surely take place. Hurry up; O Suras, seek refuge in Śaṅkara.”

15-18. On hearing the words of Brahmā, the terrified Devas

came to me. After bowing down they spoke thus: “O Maheśvara, the entire area of the three worlds has been burnt by Revanta, the son of Āditya, through the fire issuing forth from his body, the refulgence of his great exploit and vigour. O most excellent one among the Devas, he is unmanageable even if we all fight collectively. O Śaṅkara, you alone are competent (to restrain him), no one else. We resort to you; all of us are distressed due to fear; we seek refuge. O Maheśvara, you are the Lord and refuge of the Devas, the bestower of boons.”

19-27. Instantly, O my beloved, I remembered Revanta, the son of Sūrya. He came with delight brimming up in his soul and spoke these words: “O Lord, what should be done by me. Say everything without omitting anything.” Thereupon I took up the son of Sūrya in my lap, kissed him on the head affectionately and embraced him again and again: “O devotee of excellent Vratas, O blessed one, I shall grant you a boon. Choose one. I am pleased with you. Get whatever you wish for. This is what I command you to do. In this way you will attain welfare. On the earth itself, there is a holy spot highly appreciated by me. O son, it does not perish even in Pralaya (ultimate annihilation). It is the splendid Mahākālavana. There I shall grant you a grand place of rest. There you will earn renown. It is to the east of Kaṇṭeśvara. The spot is very difficult to attain. O Revanta, do reside there. You will see the eternal Liṅga. You will undoubtedly be worthy of the constant adoration of the Devas. In the heavenly world you will become the Lord of Guhyakas. You will be adorable in all the Aśvaśālās (stables of horses). You will reside in royal palaces well-honoured. My refulgence is present in that spot in the form of an eternal Liṅga. It is worshipped by the Devas. It should be assiduously served by you.”

28-37. On being told thus be me, O goddess, the Sun-born Revanta proceeded along the sky in a trice to Mahākālavana. He saw the Liṅga there in the form of a luminous eternal radiance. O Pārvatī, Revanta, the son of Sūrya, was seen by the Liṅga. He was addressed lovingly: “O son of Sūrya, luckily you have been noticed by me. From today I will become well known all over the earth after your name. O Sūrya-Putra, you must stay in my vicinity forever. Your renown will extend to all the three worlds and be everlasting. Undoubtedly I will be called by the name Revanteśvara, O Revanta. If people visit me with great devotion, they will have a big number of horses and their renown shall be powerful. Their prosperity and the capacity for donation shall be infinite. They will have sons and grandsons. The devotee shall reside in the heavenly world after becoming the Lord of Guhyakas.”

On hearing the words of the Liṅga, Revanta, the son of Ravi, said with a contented mind, O lady of wide eyes: “Grant me unflinching devotion. Grant me the excellent place of rest. Grant me the greatest (spiritual) knowledge. Grant me permanent renown also. O holy Lord, O Lord of the past and future, O Lord, O destroyer of worldly bondage and the fear thereof! By perceiving you, the Lord, I have become one with desires well-consecrated. The embodied beings who have become purified through crores of births and who visit you will never return to the terrible ocean of worldly existence.”

38-39. After saying thus, Revanta, the son and favourite darling of Ravi, established himself in the vicinity of Revanteśvara.

Thus, O goddess, the sin-destroying power of Revanteśvara has been recounted to you. Listen to the story of Ghaṇṭeśvara.