The Skanda Purana

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

This page describes Greatness of Rudrashirsha which is chapter 78 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.

Chapter 78 - Greatness of Rudraśīrṣa

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1-3. At what place there, O Sūta, was the penance performed by Brahmā along with the sages (named) Vālakhilyas of esteemed holy vows?

Sūta said:

O excellent Brāhmaṇas, penance was performed by Brahmā with proper devotion and endeavour on the north-western side of the Vedī of Hara. Vālakhilyas engaged themselves in Japa and holy ablution and performed the penance on the western side. Now I shall narrate to you, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the wonderful thing that happened in the hermitage of the Four-faced Lord.

4. A certain woman of loose conduct, though hailing from a Brāhmaṇa family, always used to dally with her paramour named Devadatta, at the place.

5. She used to come to this place with a happy mind during the nights of the dark half without the knowledge of her husband, mother and other relatives.

6. Once, O Brāhmaṇas, someone saw her in the company of the paramour and intimated it to her husband.

7. The husband became furious. He rebuked her with very harsh words and also thrashed her with blows.

8. She shamelessly shed tears profusely in accordance with her womanly nature and said in piteous tones with palms joined together

9-10. “O my Lord, I am blameless. I am one bowing down at your feet. Still why do you beat me harshly and ruthlessly solely relying in the words of some wicked man? I can convince you of my innocence by taking solemn oaths, by drinking poison or by entering blazing fire.”

11. Thereupon the Brāhmaṇa said to her, “If you are sinless then take up Divyagraha (ordeal through fire etc.) in front of the deities and Brāhmaṇas.”

12. Bold and venturesome that she was, she consented saying “So be it” and took up Divyagraha (the ordeal) in accordance with the convention.

13. Though really a sinner, she came out unscathed after the ordeal in front of all the kinsmen, elders, Brāhmaṇas and the deities.

14. In the meantime (as a resuṭt of this) she was admiringly congratulated and the husband was roundly condemned and despised with words like “Fie upon you!”

15. “Alas, this wicked and base Brāhmaṇa is the real sinner! He has falsely accused his virtuous wife free from sins.”

16-17. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, thus, he was rebuked by all the people. He became very miserable and was furious with the Fire-god. In his great misery he felt inclined to curse the Fire-god. Censuring him (Fire-god) repeatedly, he spoke these harsh words:

18-19. “She has been seen by myself in a very compromising situation in the company of her paramour. O Vahni, she is a great sinner; why is she not reduced to ash by you? Hence you are an abettor of her crime. You are partial to an indecent one. Now I shall curse you undoubtedly with a terrible imprecation.”

Sūta said:

20. On hearing those words of the furious Brāhmaṇa, the Fire-god became terrified. He said to him with palms joined in reverence.

Agni said:

21. O Brāhmaṇa, it is not my fault that your beloved wife was not burnt in spite of her sinful offence. In this connection listen to my dear statement.

22. Sexual intercourse is being conducted by this woman with her paramour. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, it has been so for a long time, though you knew it only this day.

23. But, O Brāhmaṇa, I shall tell you the reason why she has not been burnt and why she is declared pure. Listen attentively.

24. Brahmā with Rudra on his head is stationed in that shrine, O Brāhmaṇa, where this woman’s contact with the paramour has been going on.

25. After the various kinds of dalliance with her paramour, she used to see the deity Rudra stationed on the head of Brahmā.

26. Thereafter she used to wash her limbs in the holy pit present in front. Thereby this woman of sparkling smiles attains purity despite her sinful crime.

27. It was here that formerly Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, became liberated form his sin. His sinful offence was that he looked at the countenance of Goddess Satī after being overwhelmed by lust.

28. Hence, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, I cannot be blamed in the least. It is the power of Rudrasīrṣa and the holy water of the sacred pit.

29. Hence, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, take this woman home. She has become sanctified and so she is free from sins. What has been said by me is the truth.

The Brāhmaṇa said:

30. O Hutāśana (Fire-god), I will not take her home though she might have become pure. I did see myself, her in the company of her paramour, in her rash action!

31. After saying this, the excellent Brāhmaṇa of pure holy vows, abandoned her also and went home later. The people too went to their respective abodes.

32-33. Abandoned thus by her husband, she became highly delighted in her mind. After knowing the greatness of that Tīrtha directly uttered by Vaiśvānara, she continued her dalliance with the paramour with added zest in the same shrine and later took her plunge in the holy Kuṇḍa.

34-36. Thereafter, even men with their faces averted from other men's wives, and women with strict adherence to the vow of fidelity used to come to that holy shrine from places very far off. They were scrupulous in everything because of their fear of what was in store for them in the other world. They indulged in sexual intercourse in that shrine called Rudrasīrṣa. Thereafter, they used to take their holy bath in that Kuṇḍa destructive of sins, They were liberated from their sins by seeing Rudraśīrṣa.

37. In the meantime all virtuousness of men in regard to their fidelity towards their wives and that of women in regard to their faithfulness to their husbands got lost.

38. (There was shameless promiscuousness in sexual relations, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.) Whoever sets his eyes on a comely woman, be she of a noble family, he used to take her to that holy spot for joyous indulgence.

39. Similarly if any woman finds any handsome man anywhere, she used to take him over there for joyous sexual enjoyment.

40. Neither the man nor the woman was contaminated by the sin thereof even in the least, thanks to the power of that Tīrtha.

41-42. Once there was a king named Vidūratha in the land of Ānarta, who became old in due course. Though he was old, he had a young maiden of excellent beauty as his wife whom he loved more than his own life, even though he had reached old age.

43. The king affected by senile atrophy never found a place in the heart of that woman. She used to come to this holy shrine and divert herself with any man of her choice.

44-45. After coming to know of her misconduct, the king became very furious. He went to that splendid shrine and quickly filled the holy Kuṇḍa with dust particles and broke the palace to pieces. Thereafter he spoke these terrible words:

46-47. “If anyone digs again this Kuṇḍa now filled with dust particles and renovates this temple, he will fully incur the sin of coming into intimate contact with other men’s wives as in the case of men deluded by lust who will indulge in sinful conduct.”

Sūta said:

48. After declaring thus the king took his beloved back to his abode. He was evidently pleased much in his heart.

49. The king knew that his beloved wife thought of other men previously but had ceased to be so. Yet he guarded her with effort and alertness and did not fully believe in her.

50. One day the lady of excellent complexion concealed a very small weapon in her plaited hairs and went to bed with the intention of killing him.

51. She indulged in sexual dalliance and jocular remarks with him as befitting the emotions of a Kṣattriya along with conquettish manner and sensuous movement of limbs.

52. When the king fell into a sound sleep the ruthless beloved of the king took off the weapon from her braid of hairs and killed him.

53. Thus the Lord of Ānarta immediately reaped the fruit of his act of destroying the Tīrtha. The act was indeed violent and despised by all people.

54. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the king was afraid of shattering the Liṅga. Hence Lord Rudraśīrśa was not broken by him. The deity stands even now.

55-59. One who remains pure, stands in front of the deity and recites Rudraśiras Mantras[1] on the fourteenth lunar day in the bright half of Māgha after the adoration with garlands etc. obtains immediately all desired benefits by the power of the Lord.

One who stands in front of the deity and chants Rudraśīrṣa one hundred eight times attains the greatest goal undoubtedly.

One who recites it once in front of the deity everyday, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, gets rid of the sins of that day.

Thus everything connected with the greatness of Rudraśīrṣa has been narrated to you. It destroys all sins immediately. It is highly auspicious and increases fame. Hence the greatness of Rudraśīrṣa should be listened to respectfully.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Mantras of Ātharvaṇa Rudra-śīrṣa

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: