Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)

by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words

This page relates ‘Aghorastra-murti’ of the study on the Shaiva Upanishads in English, comparing them with other texts dealing with the Shiva cult (besides the Agamas and Puranas). The Upaniṣads are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.

[...] Ag.mū.verse 43

Lord Śiva adorns this form to kill the demon Saptatantu. Once there was demon called Saptatantu who by doing Śiva worship gained immense wealth–the richness made him proud. Soon he forgot that Śiva worship is the cause of his prosperity. He decided to perform a yāga. He invited all the gods and demons except Śiva and requested Brahma to start the yāga. This message reached Śiva and He deputed Vīrabhadra to destroy the Yajña.

He readied a chariot of Maṇḍalas. The worlds were its wheel. Agni was the fire -god was the bow. Moon was the bowstring. Varuna was the arrow. Kumāra was the Charioteer. Vīrabhadra with a terrific form and huge army of Bhūtagaṇas reached the site and defeated all the gods and sages.

He with the arrow–Varuṇa destroyed the Yāga. The angry demon confronted him. Vīrabhadra destructed him with a terrible missile. The gods and sages fled the site. After the war, the wives of the gods appealed to the Lord to pardon them. The compassionate God resurrected and reinstated the gods in their positions. This form of the Lord, wherein He employs a terrible missile to destroy the fearful demon is eulogized as Aghorāstra-mūrti. This form is comparable to the Tripurahara-mūrti.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: