Chapter 60 - Mataṅgeśvara (mataṅga-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Mataṅga was son of Brāhmaṇa Sugati. As a child he hit a young one of a donkey. The mother-donkey cosoled her child telling that Mataṅga was horn of a rape of his mother by a barber and was a Cāṇḍāla. When Mataṅga heard it, he determined to be a Brāhmaṇa by performing penance. Indra dissuaded him and at last sent him to Mahākālavana where, by the sight of this Liṅga, he became a Brāhmaṇa and went to Brahmaloka. Hence the Liṅga came to be known as Mataṅgeśvara.

Śrī Mahādeva said:

1-8. O goddess, know that the sixtieth deity is the Liṅga named Mataṅgeśvara which is always destructive of sins and conducive to the attainment of what is desired.

There was an eminent Brāhmaṇa named Sugati in Dvāpara Yuga. He had control over his sense-organs. He was truthful always and engaged in the study of the Vedas. Mataṅga was his son who was excessively terrible ever since his childhood. Once, O goddess, with a stout stick he, out of rashness, struck a young donkey standing near its mother. On seeing the young one beaten severely, the female ass, fond of her son, said: “Do not be grief-stricken, son. This is a Cāṇḍāla, not a Brāhmaṇa. There is no ruthlessness in a Brāhmaṇa. A Brāhmaṇa is called Maitra (friendly being). This fellow is a sin incarnate, so he inflicts pain. He does not take pity on a child. A man always resorts to his innate characteristics.”

On hearing these awful words of the ass, Mataṅga cast off the stick and said to her: “Tell me, O Rāsabhī (female ass) of auspicious features. By whom was my mother defiled? I am born of a Yāyāvara family. Why do you regard me as a Cāṇḍāla? How have I become a Cāṇḍāla? Why has my Brāhmaṇa-hood become lost?”

Gardabhī said:

9-16. You are a Cāṇḍāla. Since you are begotten by an intoxicited barber of a low caste, of a Brāhmaṇa woman, therefore your Brāhmaṇical status is lost.

On being told so, Mataṅga spoke these words to his father: “Dear father, a surprising incident has been heard by me today. It seems, I have been begotten by a barber. So says the Gardabhī correctly. I shall assiduously perform a great penance.”

After saying this to his father, he started with grim determination. He went to a forest and performed an austere penance. Thereby being equipped with the power of penance, he became a distress to the Devas. Harivāhana (Indra) spoke to that boy endowed with the power of penance: “O Mataṅga, why do you perform penance after giving up all human pleasures? I shall grant you a boon. Choose whatever you wish.”

Mataṅga said:

I have begun to perform this penance because I ardently wish for a Brāhmaṇical status. You grant me the Brāhmaṇical status permanently, O Śakra. This is the boon chosen by me.

On hearing these words, Purandara (Indra) said to him: “You request for Brāhmaṇical status inaccessible to those who have not mastered themselves! You will come to ruin, O evil-minded one. Desist from this without delay. It cannot be attained by any means by one born of Cāṇḍāla womb.”

17-25. On being told thus, Mataṅga of disciplined soul and firm vow, stood on a single foot for a hundred years. Thereupon the highly renowned Śakra told him once again: “O heroic one, Brāhmaṇical status is very difficult to get. Do not be rash and foolhardy unnecessarily. In this manner it is impossible to get. Ere long you will be ruined; so choose another desired thing. Brāhmaṇical status is very difficult to attain.” On being told thus Mataṅga of disciplined soul and firm vow remained standing on a single foot for a thousand and one years. The Slayer of Baīa and Vṛtra repeated the same words: “It cannot be attained by you born of Cāṇḍāla womb by any means. You choose another boon. Do not undergo this labour in vain.” On being told thus, Mataṅga became very much grief-stricken. He went to Gayā and engaged himself in the difficult task of Yogic exercise and Prāṇāyāma and stood on a single big toe for a hundred years.

Reduced to mere skin and bones, the pious-souled Mataṅga performed the greatest penance. Even as he was performing the penance, Vāsava, the doer of good to all, the Lord and bestower of boons, hurriedly approached him and seized him.

Śakra said:

26-36. O Mataṅga, Brāhmaṇical status appears to be inaccessible to you. O dear one, Brāhmaṇical status is very difficult to be attained by those who are not good and who are habitually sinful. Yogakṣema (‘acquisition and preservation of what is good’) of all living beings lies safe in Brāhmaṇa. Having forsaken it, the Brāhmaṇical status becomes very difficult to be achieved by those who have not mastered their own selves. Choose another boon. This boon is very difficult to be attained.

Mataṅga said:

Why do you inflict pain on me already distressed with grief? Why do you kill me who am already dead? I really bewail him who, after attaining Brāhmaṇical status, does not retain it. O Śatakratu (Indra), if Brāhmaṇa-hood is very difficult to be attained by the other three Varṇas, how was it attained through penance by King Viśvāmitra (a Kṣatriya)? The saintly King Vītahavya attained Brāhmaṇa-hood through penance. Hence I shall perform penance, being free from Dvandva (mutually opposing pairs) and avoiding Parigraha (‘acceptance of gifts’). I am steadfastly adhering to non-violence, control over sense-organs and truthfulness. Why don’t I then deserve Brāhmaṇical status? If I am brought to this plight due to the fault of my mother, O Purandara (Indra), it is surely brought about by fate. Since I persevere, O Lord, and yet I do not attain Brāhmaṇa-hood, it comes to this that fate cannot be averted through manly effort. O Lord of Devas, bearing all this in mind, it behoves you to grant me the boon. If I am worthy of being blessed, if there is any vestige of merit in me, suggest the means to me, whereby I become a Brāhmaṇa, O Puranḍara, and my fame can be everlasting. It behoves you to do accordingly. I propitiate you through my head bowed down.

37-43. On being spoken to thus by Mataṅga, Vāsava, the slayer of Bala and Vṛtra, became pleased and recounted to him the excellent greatness of a Liṅga

Indra said:

Formerly a divine. Liṅga was installed by Brahmā in Mahākālavana. It has a physical form of divine features and is stationed to the east of Śrī Siddheśvara. Merely by visiting it you will attain the status of Brāhmaṇa.

At the instance of Vāsava, Mataṅga then went to the beautiful Mahākālavana, the esteemed holy spot of Siddhas. There he saw that Liṅga that bestows all benefits. After visiting it, he adored it with diverse kinds of flowers. On being adored the excellent deity spoke thus:

“Oh, how greatly fortunate you are that I have been delighted by you! Everything has originated from me, the entire Cosmic Egg beginning with Bhūḥ and Bhuvaḥ. I am the bestower of boons on those who deserve boons and curse the wicked ones. Your Brāhmaṇical status shall be undiminished with my favour.”

44-51. Then, by seeing the Liṅga, Mataṅga attained Brāhmaṇa-hood. Further by the power of the adoration, the Brāhmaṇa went to the world of Brahmā.

By the power of this Liṅga, the rare status of Brāhmaṇa was attained by Mataṅga, O beautiful lady. Hence the deity is particularly known as Mataṅgeśvaraka in this world. He is the bestower of the world of Brahmā.

Men who cross the bounds of decency, who do not follow the conventional duties of one’s Varṇa, who are considered accursed among the people of various Varṇas and stages of life, who abide by the words of heretics, who unhesitatingly display covetousness, who are bereft of compassion and who engage themselves in ruthless activities in the Kali Age, they, despite all this, attain Svarga by visiting that Liṅga.

O goddess, those pure and fortunate ones who meditate and so are destined to attain liberation visit the deity Mataṅgeśvara in the Kali Age. Those who are devoutly engaged in meditation on Brahman, those who are eagerly devoted to Yajña, Dāna and other holy rites, O goddess, get a view of Mataṅgeśvara Deva in Kali Age. O great goddess, those who adore Mataṅgeśvara Deva are men of meritorious deeds in the mortal world. Their residence in heaven is everlasting.

Thus, O goddess, the sin-destroying power of Mataṅgeśvara Deva has been recounted to you. Listen to that of Saubhāgyeśvara.