Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Malyavan included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Mālyavān
A Pārṣada of Śiva. The most intimate friend of Mālyavān was Puṣpadanta.
Curse of Mālyavān.
Once Śiva was telling Pārvatī a story of the Gandharvas and Puṣpadanta heard it as he sat hiding in a place nearby. Pārvatī got angry and was about to curse when Mālyavān intervened and recommended for mercy. Pārvatī got angrier and cursed them both to be born on earth as men. They begged for relief and Pārvatī said: "In the deep depths of the forest of Vindhya mountains there lives a Yakṣa named Supratīka who has been turned into a devil called Kāṇabhūti by a curse. Puṣpadanta should narrate the story he has now heard to Kāṇabhūti and he will then be released from the curse. Kāṇabhūti would narrate to Mālyavān what he has heard from Puṣpadanta and Kāṇabhūti would then be released from his curse. Mālyavān should then make public the story he has heard and then he will also be released from the curse". Puṣpadanta was born as Vararuci in the city of Kauśāmbī and Mālyavān as Guṇāḍhya in the city of Supratiṣṭhita. (See under Guṇāḍhya).
Another curse to Mālyavān.
By another curse Mālyavān was born as a spider and Puṣpadanta as an elephant in the south of Bhārata. (See under Puṣpadanta)
Part in Devāsura battle.
Released from curses Mālyavān reached the presence of Śiva. It was the time of the Devāsura battle and Mālyavān fought on the side of the devas. Mālyavān played a prominent part in the battle. Mālyavān had to fight against a fierce archer named Kolāhala. Kolāhala sent three arrows one each on the forehead and the two shoulders. Mālyavān returned the fight with arrows. Then Kolāhala showing his swiftness of hand tormented him with several different weapons. Unmindful of this vehement attack Mālyavān plucked a hillock and threw it at Kolāhala.
Then suddenly a fierce figure blazing with fire having nine pairs of hands and feet and three heads looking yellow in colour jumped out of the demon and made Mālyavān faint by the terrible heat it gave out. Mālyavān accepted defeat and ran away to the mountain. (Chapter 13, Part 4, Agni Purāṇa).