The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes The Greatness of Kusumeshvara (kusuma-ishvara-tirtha) which is chapter 150 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the one hundred fiftieth chapter of the Reva-khanda of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 150 - The Greatness of Kusumeśvara (kusuma-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-6. Thereafter, O great king, one should go to the excellent Kusumeśvara. It is destructive of Upapātakas (minor sins).

The deity named Kusumeśvara was installed by Kāma. The eternal Lord of Devas is well known all over the world.

Kāma is mind-born one. He is a universal being having flowers for his weapons and bow. On being worshipped the Fish-emblemed Lord bestows all desires.

After his body was burnt, Anaṅga (Body-less) regained Aṅgitva (the state of being an embodied one) on the banks of Narmadā.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

Do tell me the (story of) destruction of Anaṅga when he was one possessing all the limbs. It has neither been heard nor seen by me as having ever taken place. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, do recount everything in the manner it happened. O eminent Brāhmaṇa, I along with Bhīma, Arjuna and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) wish to hear it.

Śrī Mārkandeya said:

7-17. At the outset, in Kṛtayuga, O dear one, Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas, performed an elaborate penance when he was staying at Gaṅgā Sāgara.

The worlds along with Suras and Asuras became scorched by that penance. All of them sought refuge in the Lord of Devas, the Consort of Śacī.

“O Gopati (Lord of heaven), Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas, who pervades all living beings scorches the three worlds. Do stop him.”

On hearing the words of those Devas, the Slayer of Bala and Vṛtra thought mentally and commanded (his subordinates) to bring about an obstacle in his penance. They were: the Apsarās, Menakā, Raṃbhā, Ghṛtācī and Tilottamā and also Vasanta (Spring Season), Cuckoo, Kāma and the excellent Southern Wind.

On being told thus by the king of Devas, O descendant of Bharata, the Devas accompanied by the Apsarās went near Hara.

The time was Vasanta (Spring) with abundance of flowers. Peacocks, Cātaka birds and cuckoos became excessively excited. The Devas danced and the Apsarās sang making all love-stricken and agitated. The (Southern) Wind blew on making even Yama and Nairṛta confounded. Thereat everyone went into a swoon. Excellent birds engaged in mutual contacts, along with Kinnaras and the great serpents were agitated by the fragrance of the Spring Season.

Even as he glanced round, the whole forest was in a great upheaval. The people were seen experiencing the state of (intoxication following) a poisonous sting (of an insect or reptile).

Even the Lord of Devas passed through the three states of Devas viz. Sāttvika, Rājasa and Tāmasa. O king, listen to it.

18-27. (Out of the three eyes of Śaṅkara) one eye became closed like a bud due to Yogic mental absorption. As for the second eye, it had a lethargic repose (due to the intensity of the sentiment of love) on the loins, hips and breasts of Pārvatī and another eye of Śaṃbhu became kindled with the fire of anger at Madana who far away from him, had (held) his bow to shoot off (an arrow). May the triad of Śaṃbhu’s eyes depicting different sentiments at the time of his meditation, protect you all.

Thus was Kāma seen by the Lord. He was reduced to ash along with his bow and arrows. It amounted to the destruction of all embodied beings.

On seeing Kāma annihilated there, the Devas and the groups of celestial damsels became frightened. All of them fled away in the ten different directions.

All the worlds including Suras, Asuras and human beings, bereft of Kāma, sought refuge in Brahmā. The Devas with Indra as their leader sought refuge in Brahmā.

On seeing the universe dejected and despondent, they spoke to Parameṣṭhin: “O Lord, you know that the world remains (alive and active) when copulation becomes possible. But, O Lord, now without Kāma, all the subjects have become dried up.”

On hearing the words of those Devas, Prapitāmaha accompanied them and went to the place where Lord Maheśvara was present.

He propitiated the Lord of all living beings, the Lord of the universe, by means of the eulogy of his Tāṇḍava dance and passages of prayer taken from the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.

Then the delighted great Lord Parameśvara became pleased with the Devas. He spoke these sweet words to the Devas with Brahmā at their head:

“What is to be done? What is the distress? What is the cause of this arrival of the Devas and sages? May this be told me without delay.”

The Devas said:

28-39. O Śambhu, the destruction of the universe will occur as a result of the destruction of Kāma in mobile and immobile beings. It behoves you to create all the three worlds once again.

On hearing these words, Parameśvara pondered over them and thought of the physical form of Kāma, rare on the earth.

Thereupon Anaṅga came there quickly as an embodied one even as all the living beings were watching. O excellent king, he bestowed the vital breath on them.

Thereupon the Suras, Asuras and the great Serpents honoured and greeted the Lord with the sounds of conchs blown and Bherī-drums played on: “Obeisance to you, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas; we are blessed and contented.” O destroyer of enemies, on being sent off, the excellent Suras went back the way they had come there.

When all the Devas dispersed, O descendant of Bharata, Kāmadeva resorted to the banks of Narmadā and performed an elaborate penance lasting for a hundred divine years. He became lean and emaciated through penance and Japa. Then he was pestered by great horrible beings causing obstacles from all around.

In order to annihilate all the obstacles he remembered Kuṇḍaleśvara. Showering arrows everywhere he accorded him protection.

Mahādeva became pleased with his steadfast devotion. The Destroyer of Kāma was inclined to bestow boons. He accorded Kāma the freedom of choice of a boon he wanted.

On coming to know that Mahādeva was pleased the Fish-emblemed One bowed down to the Three-eyed Lord of Devas and spoke with palms joined in reverence: “O Lord of Devas, if you are pleased, if a boon has to be granted to me, O Lord of the universe, be present here in this Tīrtha always.”

Saying “So be it”, Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas, went away piercing through the sky. He was then eulogized by the groups of celestial damsels.

40-51. When the Lord had vanished, Kāmadeva, O great king, installed the preceptor of the universe named Kusumeśvara.

On the fourteenth day of the month of Caitra or on the day of Madana, a person should take his holy bath there in the Tīrtha and observe fast.

Early in the morning itself, he should bathe and adore Divākara. Then he should offer libations to the Pitṛs and Devas with water mixed with gingelly seeds.

After taking the holy bath in accordance with the injunctions and after adoring him, one should offer balls of rice. Listen to the benefit thereof.

Undoubtedly, by offering the balls of rice the devotee derives that benefit which one gets by performing a Sattra for a period of twelve years.

If, with the Pitṛs in view, the devotee offers a ball of rice at the root of Aṅkula(?) his grandfathers become contented for twelve years.

O Yudhiṣṭhira, even worms, insects and locusts that die there in that Tīrtha attain heaven. All the more so in the case of men who die there!

He who conquers his anger and the sense-organs and devoutly takes to Sannyāsa (renunciation) shall go to Śiva’s Palace.

There he sports about with the divine Apsarās and musicians of Devas and Gandharvas serving him for a hundred crores of Kalpas, O king.

When that period is complete, he will be born as a man here. He becomes a great king adored by great emperors.

He will be handsome, lucky in features, eloquent, valorous, intelligent and pure (sinless). He will live for more than a hundred years. He will be free from all ailments.

This Tīrtha well-known as Kusumeśvara is meritorious and destructive of sins. It is superior to hundreds of other Tīrthas, It is venerated by all the Devas.

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