Chapter 14 - Creation of Siddheśvara (Siddha-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Devī said:

1-5. What has been narrated by you as the greatness of the deity Sun, may be further expounded in detail, O Lord of Devas, O Lord of the worlds.

How did Arkasthala, the ornament of Prabhāsa Kṣetra, take shape? The great Lord has to be worshipped by those desirous of the benefits of a perfect pilgrimage.

What are the Mantras? What is the procedure of worship? What are the Parvas (festive occasions) during which one should offer worship? How did the deity become Siddheśvara after having been Jaigīṣavyeśvara originally. O Lord of Devas, narrate this to me in full detail.

How was the crevice leading to the nether world created formerly? How did the Yoginīs and the groups of Mothers come there? O Lord Virūpākṣa, O Hara, O Lord of the worlds, have mercy on me and describe everything to me, if I am your beloved.

Īśvara said:

6. You have put a pertinent question, O goddess. I shall narrate briefly how Jaigīṣavyeśvara Hara became Siddheśvara.

7-8. Listen even as I expatiate upon the procedure of worship.

O goddess, in this Kṛta Yuga there was a son of Śatakalāka well-known by the name Jaigīṣavya. He was an expert in all the lores (branches of knowledge). He came to Prabhāsakṣetra and performed a very difficult penance.

9. He stood for a hundred years with air alone as the sole intake, a thousand years with water constituting his diet and ten thousand years with green vegetables for his food.

10. A thousand Cāndrāyaṇas were performed and Sāntapana thereafter. With meagre intake of food, he dried up his body and became Digvāsas (nude).

11. There is a Liṅga well-known as Mahodaya which was self-born in the previous Kalpa. He installed this Liṅga of the Lord of Devas and worshipped it.

12. He used to lie in holy ash. He smeared his body with the holy ash. He propitiated the deity with dances and songs. He performed Japa and made sounds like the bellow of a bull^[1]. By means of penance he sanctified himself and remained pure.

13. Even as he was endowed with great devotion and propitiated the Lord thus, the Lord came to him and spoke these words:

14. “O Jaigīṣavya of great intellect, look at me with your divine vision. I am pleased with you. I shall grant you boons. Tell me whatever you cherish in your mind”.

15. On being told thus by the Lord, he looked at the Threeeyed Lord, bowed down to his feet and spoke these words:

Jaigīṣavya said:

16. O Holy Lord, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas, if you are pleased with me, impart to me Jñānayoga that cuts off (the bonds of) worldly existence.

17. O Holy Lord, there is nothing more beneficial than Yoga and I do not wish for anything else. Let me have permanent devotion unto you, Skanda, Gaṇeśvara and the goddess.

18. Let there be no fear of ailments nor insult to (my) brilliance. Grant me absence of haughtiness, forbearance, restraint and quiescence.

19. O Lord, O great Lord, O Three-eyed One, I wish for these boons from you.

Īśvara said:

20. You shall be immortal, free from old age and free from all griefs. You shall be a great Yogin of great power. You will become endowed with Yogic supernatural powers.

21. By the power of this well-protected holy spot of mine, you will attain the eight Yogic powers such as Aṇimā, Laghimā etc.

22. O most excellent sage, you will become a well-known Yogācārya (Master of Yoga).

23. He who regularly worships this Liṅga consecrated by you, shall be liberated from all sins. He will attain the divine Yoga.

24. He who comes to this cave of Jaigīṣavya and practices Yoga shall become a liberated soul in seven days. He shall cross the ocean of worldly existence.

25. Within a month he will begin to recollect the previous birth and everything that has happened before. Within a single night he will get a pure body. Within two days he will be able to redeem the Pitṛs and when three nights elapse, he will redeem seven succeeding generations.

26. Further, O Brāhmaṇa sage, you will become invincible to other yogins. You will have my vision whenever you wish.

27. After granting the boons thus, the Lord vanished there itself. This is what happened in Kṛta Yuga. It is thus explained to you, O goddess.

28-30. O great goddess, the same happened in Tretāyuga as well as Dvāpara. After the advent of Kaliyuga, the great sages, Vālakhilyas numbering eighty-eight thousand, came to this Prābhāsika Kṣetra. Near Sūryasthala they propitiated the Lord of Devas who resided in the middle of the cave. Practising strict celibacy these sages performed penance for ten thousand years and attained the Siddhi in the form of identity with the Supreme Soul.

31. Therefore, O lady of excellent countenance, it became well-known in Kali Age as Siddheśvara Liṅga. O goddess, rare indeed is the vision of that Lord on Śivacaturdaśī—the fourteenth lunar day in the dark half which has conjunction with the Moon.

32. By worshipping the Siddhaliṅga, O goddess, one gets that merit which accrues from donating the entire Cosmic Egg.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This is the Pāśupata procedure of worship.