Chapter 347 - Greatness of Hāṭakeśvara (Hāṭaka-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1. Thenafter [Thereafter?], O great goddess, one should go to the Liṅga called Hāṭakeśvara at a distance of two hundred Dhanus to the east of Naleśvara.

2. There, on the north-east, to the east of Cintāmaṇi, at a distance of three hundred Dhanus, there is situated a mango-park called Agastya. There formerly penance was performed by the great noble-souled Agastya.

Devī said:

3. O great god, tell me in detail in what period (he did so).

Īśvara said:

4. O lady of excellent complexion, formerly terrible groups of Daityas known as Kālakeya came into existence. They were the exterminators of the three worlds.

5. All of them were killed by powerful Viṣṇu called Daityasūdana who was a resident of Prabhāsa Kṣetra.

6. He assumed the form of a tiger named Cakramukhin. They were killed by that form. Thereby he became known as Daityasūdana.

7. The remaining (demons) overwhelmed with fear entered the sea. Then they held consultations as to how Devas could be harassed:

8. “Those religious people who exist on the earth and are engaged in penance and Vedic studies and in performing sacrifices and making charitable gifts should be killed.”

9. O dear one, after taking such a decision they used to come out of the sea at night and kill the ascetics who were engaged in performance of sacrifice and charity.

10-11. O great goddess, in the Prabhāsa Kṣetra of twelve Yojanas (in extent) in the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, they ate up seventy-five thousand noble-souled sages. (They devoured) five hundred sages in the hermitage of Raibhya and sixteen hundred in that of Viśvāmitra.

12. By those wicked-souled ones, seven hundred sages in the hermitage of Cyavana, two hundred sages in the hermitage of Jābāli, and six hundred in the holy hermitage of Vālakhilyas (were killed).

13. If any sacrifice perchance was performed at a place, after nightfall, they devoured the sacrificial priests employed for (performance of) the sacrifice and religious gifts.

14. Then all over the world, all were distressed with terror. Nobody knew these deeds of the Daityas.

15. Sages occupied cosy beds and slept at night. At dawn only their heaps of bones were found in the places of sacrifice.

16. Thereafter, on the surface of the earth, all religious acts were abandoned by all men. The whole world became devoid of Svādhyāya and the utterance of Vaṣaṭ.

17-21. Then some other ascetics equipped with weapons stood united at night. Thus when religious acts stopped, the residents of Svarga (Devas) became harassed. They sought refuge in god Brahmā, asking: “What is it (going on)? O Lord, all the ascetics as well as those possessing knowledge are devoured by someone at night and they meet death. O Greatgrandfather, all religious acts have become extinct on the earth. He who abides by religious duties during the day meets death at night. In the entire world there is no Svādhyāya or utterence of Vaṣaṭ. Due to the stoppage of religious acts, all of us have found ourselves in doubtful (precarious) position.” After hearing their speech, the Grandfather (Brahmā) meditated (for a while) and spoke to all the Devas who were enmeshed in deep uncertainty:

22-26. “Dānavas known as Kāleyas are terrible in action. They resort to the sea (by day) and eat up the sages (at night). For you, they cannot be killed by you. Try to destroy them, otherwise there will be annihilation. Quickly go down to the earth where, in the excellent Prabhāsa Kṣetra, Agastya always resides engaged in observance of vows. Born of gods Mitra and Varuṇa, he is capable of drinking up the ocean. He should be persuaded by you: ‘O excellent one, drink up the sea.’ When he has accomplished that, all the Dānavas will thus be killed by you, O Devas.”

27. When addressed thus by god Brahmā, the creator of the world, all the Devas came to the holy place of Prabhāsa and sought refuge in him (Agastya).

Devas said:

28. O, greatest one among Brāhmaṇas, please do protect us. The group of the three worlds is in an embarrasssing position. It has been devastated by Kālakeyas who take refuge in the sea.

29. O great Brāhmaṇa, dry it (the sea) up for the welfare of the Devas. O mighty one, no other man is capable of achieving such a feat.

Īśvara said:

30. When addressed thus by groups of Suras, Agastya, the eminent sage, became elated (with joy) and went to the sea along with Devas.

31. While being sung by Gandharvas, eulogized by Kinnaras and praised by Vibudhas (Devas), he spoke the (following) words:

32. “O Devas, do behold the miraculous act. For the protection of the three world, here I dry up the vast ocean along with its fishes and crocodiles.”

33. After saying this, the venerable sage Agastya, the greatest of Brāhmaṇas, gulped the entire Ocean, the Lord of rivers (holding him up in his hollow palms of hands.).

34. When the great Ocean was drunk up by the noble-souled Agastya, Dānavas became panick-stricken and ran helter-skelter.

35. While they were being killed by Suras with sharp weapons, some others took to flight into a jungle.

36. When most of the Daityas were killed some quickly split up the earth and entered the nether world, smeared with blood.

37. Then the Devas who were delighted spoke to the most excellent sage Agastya: “Our desired objective has been completely achieved. Now fill up the sea again.”

Agastya said:

38-40. O Devas, the water that is consumed by me has been reduced to an impure condition.

In the family of Raghu a most excellent king well-known as Bhagīratha will be born. That eminent one among the bearers of arms will bring Gaṅgā, the greatest river, from the region of Brahmā, for the sake of his clan. It will be then filled up by her.”

After saying thus, the sage went to his abode along with Suras.

41-42. When he reached his hermitage, Devas spoke to him: “O sage, we are completely satisfied, O Brāhmaṇa. Speak out what desired object of yours we should do (grant) even if it be very difficult to obtain.”

Agastya said:

43. Let me be a celestial being (a star) in the southern (region of the) firmament for the duration of twenty-five hundred crores of Brahmās.

44-49. A man who comes here to the auspicious region of my hermitage near Hāṭakeśvara in this excellent holy place of Prabhāsa and takes an ablution properly, will go to the excellent region.

He who elaborately worships Maheśvara in the form of a Liṅga which has emerged from the nether worlds and has been installed by me by the prowess of my penance shall definitely derive everyday the fruit of having gifted a hundred cows. May a man who duly worships me in the company of Lopāmudrā and offers me Arghya as per procedure with Kāśa flowers when the autumnal season arrives, reach the excellent goal (Heaven).

May he who worships me in the company of Lopāmudrā and along with Hāṭakeśvara in the summer solstice, get the benefit of (the gift of) a hundred thousand cows. O excellent one, may the entire fruit of Gayā-Śrāddha accrue to the Brāhmaṇa who performs a Śrāddha here during the northern transit of the Sun.”

Īśvara said:

50. Saying “Definitely so (it will happen),” all Devas along with Vāsava (Indra) with their minds highly delighted went to their own abodes.

51. Therefore, putting in all efforts a man should go to the hermitage of Agastya when the autumnal season arrives and should elaborately adore Hāṭakeśa.

52. He who listens to the action of the sage and to the Kalpa-Liṅga called Agastyeśvara so dear to Devas, is instantly absolved of the sin committed during that day and night.