Chapter 35 - Installation of Citreśvara Pītha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-8. When those Daityas had been shattered and slaughtered by Lord Maheśvara, rendered free from danger by him alone, the excellent Suras with Śakra and Viṣṇu as their leaders became delighted in their minds. All of them eulogized Lord Maheśvara and bowed down to him repeatedly. Then they went to their respective abodes.

With their hopes thus shattered by the excellent Suras, the tiger-like Dānavas consulted one another for ways and means of bringing about the destruction of heaven-dwellers.

4-5. As they consulted one another and discussed thus, it was decided by them that except putting obstacles in the performance of religious rites, there was no other means for destroying Devas; hence ascetics, people interested in Yajñas and the virtuous ones should be killed at nightfall.

6. After deciding thus, they used to come out of the abode of Varuṇa (i.e. the ocean) always at nightfall and began killing people engaged in religious acts.

7. Wherever there was any Yajña, Sattra or religious festivities, they went there at nightfall and carried on annihilation of those people.

8. Many Yajñas were spoiled by them, Dīkṣitas (persons who were initiated for Yajñas) were struck down and Ṛtviks (priests) and ordinary good Brāhmaṇas were killed.

9. A thousand leading Brāhmaṇas were eaten up by those evil-hearted ones, in the hermitage of the noble-souled Śāṇḍilyā, a leader of sages.

10. Hundreds and thousands of Brāhmaṇas were killed. Five thousand followers of Viśvāmitra and seven thousand of intelligent Atri were destroyed.

11. At the same time, the entire surface of the earth was afflicted by the fear of Kāleya and all Yajñas and religious festivals became defunct.

12. No one on the earth dared to sleep during nights. People well-equipped with weapons stood by the ascetics.

13. A few virtuous people who confìdentally took repose during nights (were killed) and only their bones were seen in the morning.

14. All the groups of Devas with Brahmā and Viṣṇu as their leaders, who were deprived of their shares in the Yajñas suffered the greatest distress.

15. In order to slay the enemies of Suras, they entered the ocean too but could not assail them even mentally because they were placed in a very difficult position.

16-18. Deeply grieved thereupon they consulted (each other) for drying up the ocean. (They thought that) ‘the leading Dānavas could be killed when the ocean no longer existed. Without (the help of) Agastya, the ocean will not become dry. Hence we shall go to that leading sage and make a request to him in this matter. That excellent sage resides in the holy place of Camatkārapura.^[1] So we shall go there itself and he will come quickly (to our help).’

19. After deciding thus, all of those Devas went to the hermitage of the son of Mitra and Varuṇa, the important sage.

20. On seeing all the excellent Suras gathered together before him, the good sage became delighted.

21. Seeing Brahmā and other Suras, the eyes of the sage gleamed with delightful surprise. With palms joined together in veneration, he spoke these words in a voice choked with excess of delight:

22-23. “Though already sacred and pure, this holy place Camatkārapura has become more sacred by your presence. Hence speak out ye all, what task should be carried out by me now. I shall carry it out even if it be very difficult.”

The Devas said:

24-26. The Daityas named Kāleyas who have survived a general slaughter by the Suras, are now taking shelter in the ocean and killing the performers of auspicious rites. If auspicious rites are defunct, the destruction of heaven-dwellers is certain. So, in order to facilitate their annihilation, do make the great ocean dried up. Thereby the leading Dānavas will be visible to our eyes. They then could be killed by Devas and Makhas (sacrifices) could be resumed here.

Agastya said:

27. O excellent Suras, by the end of a year I shall gain the Vidyā (magical lore) of Yoginīs and on the strength thereof I shall dry up the ocean.

28. Hence do ye all go to your abodes. A year will pass presently. At the end of the year, do certainly come back.

29. You can come along with me. After the ocean has been dried up, the wicked Dānavas by whom the world is being afflicted should be killed.

30. Thereafter all the groups of the Devas went to their respective abodes. Agastya carried on his endeavour for the acquisition of the Vidyā.

31. Then all the Pīṭhas (shrines of Mother Śakti) on the earth were brought together by the great sage through the power of his Mantras.

32-34. On the eighth and fourteenth lunar days, he devoutly worshipped the groups of Yoginīs and Kānyakās (Virgins) in particular therein.

Thus the Brāhmaṇa propitiated the Vidyā named Viśoṣiṇī (that which dries up). Further the Brāhmaṇa worshipped devoutly and with faith the Guardians of Quarters, the Kṣetrapālas (guardians of holy shrines) and the deity roaming through the skies with great faith. At the close of the year the deity became pleased and said: “Do tell me what should be done, O good sage. I have been won over by you.”

Agastya said:

35. O goddess, if you are pleased, do enter my mouth quickly. I shall restrain speech and dry up the ocean by means of that power.

36. That great Vidyā named Saṃśoṣaṇī said, “It shall be so” and entered his mouth presently as the sage had perfectly purified his soul.

37. In the meantime all the Devas including Vāsava came there joyously holding the weapons and ready for the battle.

38. Then the Brāhmaṇa who had kept his mouth dry set off with mental concentration and purity, towards the ocean in the company of all the Devas.

39. Being eulogized by the heaven-dwellers he approached the shore of the sea. Agitated by thirst very much, he spoke to the Devas:

40. “I am now going to dry up the ocean immediately. Be prepared for the act of annihilating the enemies of the Suras.”

Sūta said:

41. After saying thus, the sage sportingly drank the entire vast expanse of water agitated by fishes and turtles and abounding in alligators.

42. The ocean came to be on a par with the bare ground and the Daityas were killed by the excellent Suras desirous of the ultimate victory everywhere by means of their sharp arrows.

43. After fighting to the best of their ability in the terrific battle, those who survived after most of them had been killed, pierced the ground and went beneath to the nether worlds.

44-45. After eulogizing the excellent sage, all the Suras said to him: “Give out the water again for filling up the great ocean. O Brāhmaṇa, bereft of the sea, the earth does not shine like a lady worthy of being adorned but bereft of property and possessions.”

Agastya said:

46. The water has been drunk by the Vidyā named Praśoṣaṇī which had been propitiated by me. It has been digested too.

47. This ocean will get again filled up unfathomably with the waters of Gaṅgā free from impurities after being dug up.

48. There will be a king on the Earth named Sagara. His

49. There will be born in the same race a king named Bhagīratha. For the sake of his kinsmen, he will fetch Gaṅgā from the Cosmic Egg.

50. With her flooding waters gushing all round, the ocean will become perfectly filled up. The truth has been uttered by me.

The Devas said:

51. O excellent sage, the task of the Devas has been completed by you. Hence, O lordly sage, request for any boon you have cherished in your heart.

Agastya said:

52. O excellent Suras, all the Pīṭhas have been completely gathered together in the holy spot of Camatkārapura by the power of Mantras.

53. By the power of all the Yoginís and the Mātṛs in particular, let the Pīṭhas stay there itself.

54. May a person endowed with ardent faith, who worships them on eighth and fourteenth lunar days, attain everything mentally desired.

The Devas said:

55-57. Since the wonderfully variegated Pīṭhas have been gathered together, they will constitute one Pīṭha named Citreśvara. A man who worships Yoginīs, Vidyās and Mothers in particular there, with any desire meditated upon, O great sage, will soon obtain that desire, due to this offer of the boon by us, even if he be a great sinner.

58-59. After saying thus, all the Suras took leave of the leading sage and joyously went to heaven. Agastya went to his hermitage.

Sūta said:

Thus everything about how the ocean was drunk up formerly by Agastya for the sake of Devas has been narrated to you.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The legend of Agastya’s drinking up the sea is given in Mbh, Vana 105.3-6 but no Camatkārapura is mentioned there.