Chapter 176 - Origin of Kaṃsāreśvara (Kaṃsāra-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-2. On seeing the Liṅga installed by the intelligent Yājñavalkya he (Pippalāda) installed a Liṅga named after his mother for the sake of her sanctification. O eminent Brāhmaṇas, he was fully endowed with perfect faith.

Thereafter, he bought an eminent Nāgara Brāhmaṇa of the middle region.

3-8. He hailed from Gartātīrtha. He maintained the sacred fires and regularly performed Yajña. He said to him: “Just as this city is holy, so you also are initiated. You are established in the leadership of sixty-eight Gotras. (Brāhmaṇas of) all Gotras will abide by your decision (speech) in all (religious) rites till the sun, the moon and stars last.

O Govardhana, you must think about the ways and means of the worship of this Liṅga. Nāgaras should be encouraged to worship this. By the adoration of the Liṅga, your family will flourish.

By not adoring, there is no doubt about it that the family will meet with destruction. If your descendants adore this Liṅga with great devotion and then perform their various kinds of activities, O Dīkṣita, those activities will become successful, with the favour of this.”

Govardhana said:

9. O Brāhmaṇa, I will always adore this Liṅga and for its sake I will extend my devout activities. So also all those born in my family (will ḍo so).

Pippalāda said:

10. O Govardhana, bring those Nāgara Brāhmaṇas there quickly. With their permission I shall give merely the name to the deity.

11. He accordingly brought Brāhmaṇas expert in performing Yajña rites, rich in learning and devoted to regular recitation (of the Vedas).

12-14. After bowing down to them, the great sage Pippalāda spoke to them loudly: “My mother named Kaṃsārī is already dead. With her in view, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, this Liṅga has been installed by me. Let it become well-known by your proclamation.

He who bathes this as well as that of Yājñavalkyeśvara on the eighth and fourteenth lunar days shall attain Śreyas (spiritual perfection).”

Sūta said:

15. With due reference to that excellent sage, the name of that Liṅga was declared as Kaṃsārīśvara by all those Brāhmaṇas.

16. Thus everything has been spoken to you, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, in answer to what was asked regarding the origin of the deity named Kaṃsārīśvara and how this sin-destroying deity was installed by the noble-souled Pippalāda himself.

17-18. He who reads or listens to this meritorious narrative in the presence of that deity with great devotion, will find his mental sin of thinking erotically of other men’s wives destroyed. It is in accordance with the words of Pippalāda.

19-21. If a devotee recites in front of him Nīlarudra Mantras and Prāṇarudras along with Bhavarudra Mantras, even the sin arising from Brāhmaṇa-slaughter perishes. When there is danger from hostile kings as well as from severe drought, Atharva Veda shouild be recited from the beginning to the end. The enemy gets destroyed and it rains immediately in showers.

22. If a king happens to be in a difficult situation (or ill health) he should be righteous and should be devoted to the protection of the subjects. He shall then be rid of all his ailments.

23. If there occurs adverse effect of divine calamity, it shall disappear gradually as Pippalāda himself has said.

24-25. Of what avail is much talk? Whatever great mishap occurs shall get quickly dissolved (removed) by reciting the Atharva Veda before this deity.