Chapter 118 - Installation of Raivatakeśvara (Raivataka-īśvara) and Kṣemaṃkarī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1-4. O Sūtaja, it was mentioned by you that Takṣaka would be born in the land of Saurāṣṭra as a highly powerful king named Raivata and further that his beloved wife would be born as a beautiful lady in the palace of the overlord of Ānarta by the name Kṣemaṃkarī. O Sūtanandana, give a fully detailed information about those two. In this matter, we are rather curious since what you tell is wonderful.

Moreover, O Sūtaputra, we have heard that Kedāra is in Himācala. How did it happen to be there? Describe everything in full.

Sūta said:

5. In this connection, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, I shall speak unto you in the manner heard earlier by me from by own father.

6. Due to his earlier default and the curse thereof, Takṣaka was born in the mansion of the Lord of Saurāṣṭra by the name Raivata.

7-8. A daughter was born in the house of the Lord of Ānarta. Her name became well-known all over the earth as Kṣemaṃkarī. O leading Brāhmaṇas, (the significance of the name) became manifest through her activity.

Formerly the Lord of Ānarta was Prabhañjana.

9. His enmity with many kings cropped up. Thereupon, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the land began to be rid of its citizens (due to exodus). Cattle were carried off forcibly. There was a battle with the enemies (which continued) during day and night.

10. After a few days his wife Priyaṃvadā who had her menstrual cycle, duly conceived a meritorious foetus in her womb.

11. Ever since the conception of the foetus in her womb, there was an overall state of welfare in the city as well as in the country.

12. A few invincible enemies were conquered by him in a battle. Others were killed and a few were taken over as allies.

13. A splendid girl with wide eyes resembling lotus-petals was born to her, when the lying-in-chamber shone even in darkness.

14. The king was highly delighted at her birth. He celebrated the birth with great festivities as though at the birth of a son, with the singing of songs and playing of musical instruments.

15. On the thirteenth day, O Brāhmaṇas, a befitting name was given to her by the king in the presence of Brāhmaṇas.

16. “O Brāhmaṇas, since there was Kṣema (welfare) even while she was in the womb, she shall be called Kṣemaṃkarī.”

17. Thus duly consecrated and well reputed she grew up day by day like the digit of the moon in the firmament.

18. Then when she became one endowed with the prime of youth, the king, gave her to Raivata, the Lord of Saurāṣṭra, at a time very auspicious for marriage.

19-20. The celebrated wife of Śeṣa who had been wedded to the intelligent king of Nāgas in the form of Rāma and who had (was to have) sons and grandsons, became haughty on account of conjugal felicity. She was born as their daughter and was well-known as Revatī.

21. Even when the two had grown old, O leading Brāhmaṇas, no son was born of them to perpetuate their line. Therefore they suffered great misery.

22. Then they entrusted the group of ministers with the whole kingdom and came here for practising a penance to get a son.

23. They went to their hermitage and stayed there with great mental concentration. They installed goddess Kātyāyanī and engaged themselves in propitiating her.

24. (You may remember) that it was this goddess engaged in Kaumāravrata (vow of celibacy) on the Vindhya mountain who had killed the terrible Asura named Mahiṣa.

25. The goddess who was pleased granted them a son destined to perpetuate the line. He became well-known by the name Kṣemajit. He was a powerful warrior capable of destroying hosts of enemies.

26. The king went back to his kingdom with great delight and brought up his son with great pleasure.

27. When this son Kṣemajit became a young man, the elderly king crowned him (as king of) the kingdom and went back to his original holy spot.

28. That holy spot is this Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. He left all his attendants and came to this holy spot along with his wife.

29. There he installed the Liṅga of the Trident-bearing Lord. Then he constructed with great concentration a beautiful palace.

30. The deity is called Raivateśvara. It was simply through paying a visit to the Lord that it destroyed all the sins of all embodied beings, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.

31. With great faith Kṣemaṃkarī constructed the palace of the deity Durgā that had been earlier installed by the king in that holy spot.

32. Ever since then she is glorifed by the name Kṣemaṃkarī, the deity who was earlier called Kātyāyanī and Mahiṣāsuramardinī (suppressor of the demon Mahiṣa).

33. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, if a person visits her on the eighth day in the bright half on the month of Caitra, all his desires will allways be realized.

34. Thus everything regarding Raivateśvara and the sin-destroying power of Kṣemaṃkarī has been narrated to you.