Chapter 123 - Greatness of Rāvaṇeśvara (Rāvaṇa-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the excellent shrine of Rāvaṇeśvara stationed between south and south-west of the former shrine (Citrāṅgadeśvara) within a distance of sixteen Dhanus.

It was installed by the Ten-headed Demon (Rāvaṇa) and is destructive of all sins.

O goddess, the very terrible Rākṣasa, the descendant of Pulastya named Rāvaṇa, was ambitious to conquer all the three worlds. He moved about in his Puṣpaka. Once his aerial chariot Puṣpaka came to a standstill while going through the path of the firmament. On seeing his Puṣpaka rendered motionless, Rāvaṇa got highly surprised.

5-6. He sent Prahasta to the earth saying: “What is this? The movement of this chariot was never obstructed in all the three worlds including mobile and immobile beings. Go to the earth and find out why my aerial chariot Puṣpaka has come to a standstill.” Thereupon, O goddess, he went hurriḍely to the surface of the earth.

7. He saw Śrīsomeśa, the highly refulgent lord of the chiefs of Devas, eulogized by groups of hundreds and thousands of Suras.

8. After seeing him, O my beloved, Prahasta reported everything in detail to the Lord of Rākṣasas. He told him about what was seen in the centre of the holy spot.

Prahasta said:

9-10. O mighty Lord of Rākṣasas, Śiva’s own holy place well-known as Prabhāsa is resorted to by the Gaṇas and Gandharvas. There Śaṅkara, Lord Someśvara, is present himself. He is eulogized all round by sages, Vālakhilyas and others such as Abbhakṣas (those who subsist on water), Vāyubhakṣas (those who take in air as food alone) and Dantolūkhalins (those who make their teeth do the job of the mortar i.e. they bite paddy etc., remove the husk thereof and eat the same).

11. Due to the power of that Lord, this Puṣpaka does not move ahead. The Lord who cannot be transgressed by Suras and Asuras cannot be transgressed and passed over.

Īśvara said:

12. On hearing these words Ṛāvaṇa became surprised as evidenced by his staring eyes. He got down to the earth and visited Someśa.

13. O goddess of Devas, he worshipped him with the greatest devotion by means of various kinds of gems, garments, sweet scents, flowers and unguents.

14. On seeing Rāvaṇa, the Lord of the Rākṣasas, the citizens became afraid, O beautiful woman, and fled in all directions.

15. Everything became void. Only the Lord was present here. At this time, an unembodied speech announced:

16-18. “O mighty ten-headed one, in this Uttarāyaṇa period, on the occasion of the pilgrimage during the religious procession of the Lord, the destruction of all sins takes effect. Crowds of common people and Brāhmaṇas have come here from far-off places. But they are afraid of danger from Rākṣasas. They flee in all directions. O great Rākṣasa, do not be an obstacle in their pilgrimage and religious procession.

On seeing Lord Someśvara a men shall wash off all the sins incurred during the periods of boyhood, youth or old age.”

19. Thereupon, the leading Rākṣasa went to a cave in a very isolated place. With deep devotion, he installed a Liṅga.

20. Then, O goddess of Devas, he dedicated himself unto it. Along with all (his people) the Lord of Rākṣasas observed fast and worshipped the Liṅga.

21. He kept awake at night with vocal and instrumental music going on in front of the deity. Then at mid-night the unemboḍied speech spoke:

22-25. “O sinless mighty ten-headed one, I am pleased with you. With my favour the entire region of the three worlds shall come under your control. Undoubtedly I shall be present here always.

O Lord of Rakṣasas, men who, endowed with devotion, worship this Liṅga, will become invincible to enemies. They will attain the great Siddhi undoubtedly with my favour.”

After saying thus, O beautiful lady, the Bull-emblemed One stopped.

Rāvaṇa too became pleased. After worshipping Maheśvara Liṅga again and again he got into the Puṣpaka and went to the land desired by him in his ambition to conquer all the three worlds.