Vamana

 

Essence Of
Vamana Purana

 

15    Andhakasura’s extermination by Maha Deva and appearance of Ashta Bhairavas

( Andhaka’s eulolgies to Shiva and Gauri included)


As Maha Ganesha informed Parama Shiva about the arrival of several Akhouhinis of Daithya Sena led by Andhakasura on Mandaragiri, Mahadeva took leave of Gauri Devi asking Aprasas in charge of Gauri’s security to be vigilant even as Tundasura came running towards Ganesha and his army. The Gana Sena halted Tundasura and one of the Ganeswaras snipped the Asura’s head with ease. Kundodara and Ghatodara attacked from two sides Shailoda a strong Ganeswara  ended one and Nandi another. Krujumbha and Duryodhana met with similar fates by Nandi. As several Danava Chiefs appeared simultaneously the Ganas and Ganeswaras made deadly counter attacks and annihilated the overflowing Asura Senas in hundreds and thousands. As Andhaka was highly disturbed and disheartened at the merciless killings of Asura Sena, he approached Danava Guru Shukracharya for guidance and the latter assured that he possessed Sanjivini Vidya and revived all the dead Asuras. Following this, Danavas made massive and multi-sided attacks by quite a few most cruel Generals of Asuras like Jambha, Bala, Vitra, and Shira mobilising sea-like Daitya Sena of thousands of Akshouhini; Lord Brahma then instructed Indra to join the Deva Sena at once in counter attacks. As Nandi saw Shukracharya among the Danavas, he picked him up and brought him to Maha Deva who in turn threw the Guru onto his own face and the latter entered Maha Deva’s stomach and visioned the entire Brahmanda comprising the Charaachara Srishti including Adityas, Rudras, Vishva Devas, Yaksha- Kimpurusha- Gandharva- Apsaras. The Danava Guru spent a Divya Varsha in the ‘Udara’ of Shiva and got utterly confused and lost moving around all over inside. Finally, Shukra prayed to Mahadeva with great helplessness, humility and reverence and said that he was tired and would like to return. Then Shiva released him through his ‘Shukra’ and when he went back to the Asuras, they were very happy. Then there was an all out battle: Jambha versus Indra, Shambha against Brahma, Krujambha against Vishnu, Shalava-Surya, Trishira-Varuna, Dwimurtha-Varuna Deva, Rahu-Soma, Ashtaavasus versus Sarabha, Shalabha, Paaka, Pura, Viprutthu, Pruthu, Vataapi, and Ilval, besides Kalanemi against all Vishwadeva ganas like Vishvaksena; Vidyunmaali against Ekadasha Rudraas; Shambara against Dwadasha Adityas; Naraka against Ashvini Kumaras; Maha Deva created Jrumbhaayika who slowly but steadily demolished the fighting spirit of the opponents who ever released the Astras. Mahadeva then performed his Snaana in the River Sarasvati and having prayed to Surya Deva got ready for his attack when Andhaka deputed Sunda the Senapati to engage Shiva; he took the form of Maha Deva and entered the Abode of Gauri. She understood the falsity of Andhaka and disappeared along with her personal aids into a garden and he chased her for a while and returned to the battle field. Meanwhile, Shiva killed Sunda, Vishnu destroyed Kujumbha and Jambha. Andhaka covered the opponents like Indra, Vishnu, Maheswara and the rest of the Devas with his arrows as Vishnu asked the Devas to continue their fights and asked them to kill the Sarathi or the Charioteer of Andhaka, destroy the charoit so that Shankara could turn the entire personal belongings of Andhaka. Then Vishnu destroyed the horses with his mace. Devoid of his chariot, Andhaka shouted at Mahadeva and said that he was alone and without his chariot would still defeat Shiva; Maha Deva then decided Devas and Ganas to withdraw excepting his Nandi Vahana. He assumed a mammoth Bhairava Swarupa with the extraordinary radiance and heat of crores of Suryas, wearing Tiger Skin, Sarpa-haraas, Ten Hands and Three Burning Eyes and pierced his Trishula right into the Asura’s heart and hit his head with his mace and tossed his body up high in the air that got dropped on Earth with a thud. From all the sides of his huge body, there were streams of blood as Ashta Bhairavas were surfaced: from the Eastern direction emerged a Bhairava akin to Agni called ‘Vidya Raaj’ with his neck adorned with lotus flowers; from the Southern direction appeared ‘Kala Raaj’ Bhairava looking like a ‘Preta’ with dense black colour; from the Western direction was materialised a Bhirava named ‘Kamaraj’; from the Northern direction was caused a fourth Bhairava named ‘Soma Raaj’; a fifth Bhairava emerged from the wound near the demon’s heart where Maha Deva pierced his Trishula and his name was ‘Swacchanda Raja’with the resemblance of Indra Dhanush (Rainbow); the Sixth Bhairava was ‘Lalit Raaj’ who appeared from the gush of the Asura’s blood on Earth; the Seventh Bhairava was ‘Vighna Raaj’ and including Maha Bhairava there were thus Ashta Bhairavas. As there was sweat from Maha Deva’s forehead after the extermination of the Asura, especially since his body was covered with armoury, a Kanya got formed from his sweat and spills of the Rakshasa’s blood and Maha Deva named her ‘Charchika’and gave her the boon of a Symbol of Propitiousness to be worshipped by Devatas, Rishis, Pitaras, Yaksha, Vidyaadhas etc as also Sarpas, and Manavaas. There was also a boy who appeared from the sweat drops which were like sparks of fire dropped on Bhumi and  Maha Deva named him ‘Kuja’ or ‘Mangala’ and made him a Senior of ‘Grahas’ (Planets) with the responsibility of providing ‘Shubha’ or Auspiciousness and ‘Ashubha’ or Inauspiciousness.


Andhakaasura’s eulogy to Maha Deva: As Parama Shiva revealed his real Swarupa to the Daitya, the latter greeted him reverentially and paid homage as follows:


Namostu tey Bhairava Bhima Murtey Trilokagoptrey Shitashuladhaariney,Vimshaardha baaho Bhujageshahaara Trinetra maam paahi vipanna budhim/ Jayaswa Sarveswara Vishwa Murtey Suraasuravandita paada peetha, Trailokya Maathurguravey Vrishaangka Bheetah Sharanyam Sharanaagatosmi/ Twaam Naatha Devaah Shivameerayanti Siddhhaaharam Sthaanum Maharshyascha, Bheemam cha Yakshaa Manujaa Maheshwaram Bhutaascha Bhutaadhipamaamayanti/ Naishaacharaa Ugramupaarrchayanti Bhaveti Punyaaha pitaro namanti, Daasosmi tubhyam Hara paahi Mahyaam Paapakshayam mey kuru Lokanaatha/ Bhavaamstridevastriyugastridharma Tripushkaraschaasi Vibho Trinetra, Traiyyaarunistri Shrutiravyayaatman Puneehi Maam twaam sharanam gatosmi/ Trinaachiketastripada pratishthah Shadangavit twam vishayeshwa lubdhah, Trilokanaathosi puneeha Shambho Daasosmi bheetah Sharanaagatastey/ Krutam macchankara teyparaatham Mayaa Mahaabhuta patey Gireesha,Kaamaarinaa nirjita maanasena Prasaadayo twaam Shirasaa natosmi/ Paapoham Paapa karmaaham Paapaatmaa Paapa sambhavah Teaahimaam Deva Ishaana Sarva paapa haro bhava/ Maa mey krudhyaswa Devesha twayaa chaitaadrushosmyaham, Srashtah paapa samaachaaro mey prasanno Bhaveswara/ Twam Kartaachaiva Dhaataacha twam jayastwam Mahaajayah, Twam Mangalastwa momkaarastwa meeshaano dhruvovyayah/ Twam Brahmaa Srushtikrunnaathastwam Vishnustwam Maheswarah, Twamindrastwam Vashat- kaaro Dharmastwam cha Surottamah/ Sookshmastwam Vyakta rupastwam twamavyayas –twameeshwarah, Twayaa Sarvamidam Vyaaptam Jagat Sthaavara jangamam/ Twamaadiranto Madhyasca TwamanaadihvSahasrapaat, Vijayastwam Sahasraaksho Virupaaksho Mahaa Bhujah/ Anantah Sarvago Vyaapi Hamsah Praanaadhipatochyutah, Geervaana patiravyagro Rudrah Pashupatih Shivah/ Traividyastwam Jitakrotho Jitaarirvijitendriah, Japasha Shula  paanistwam traahi maam sharanaagtam/

(Namastey Maha Bhairava, Bheema Murti, Trailoka Rakshaakarey, Shula dhaariney! Ten handed, Naagesha Haara dhaariney! Kindly bestow Raksha or safety to me as I had been a lost person without perspective; Sarveswara who was worshipped by Devas and Asuraas alike at your lotus feet, may Victory be with you always, Vrishanga! In the present situation I feel miserable, full of fear and shame and am at your feet seeking your mercy and shelter! You are an embodiment of auspiciousness as Siddhaas hail you as Hara or Paapahari; Maharshis address you as Sthaanu or Ever Steady; Yakshas call you as Bhima; Manushyas pray to you as Maheswara; Bhutas consider you as Bhutapati; Nishaacharaas or Rakshasaas worship you as Ugra; Pitruganaas realise you as Bhava and supplicate you; Hara! I am your servant and devotee; Kindly demolish my sins and provide me succour. Sarvasamartha Trinetra! You are Trideva, Tridharma, Triyuga, Tripushkara, Traiyyaruni, Trishruti, Trinaachiketa and Tripada Pratishtha or of Trilokaas; You are the Embodiment of Shadvedangaas or Six Vedangaas of Siksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukti, Chhanda and Jyotisha. Hey Shambho! I am your Daasaani-Daasa having reached my final destination with extreme repentance and remorse for having committed irredeemable and shameful sins for forgiveness. Kindly exonerate and save me., as I was a victim of Kama of the meanest kind: I am Paaapi, Paapakarma, Paapaatma, and Paapa Sambhava. Maha Deva! You are the Creator, Administrator and Preserver; You are the Emblem of Victory, the Eternal Fund of Virtue, Sacrifice and Mercy! You are Mangalamaya, Ishaana, Avyaya and Dhruva; Yor are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, Indra, V ashatkaara, Dharma, Sarva Sreshtha, Sukshma Swarupa, Vyakta Rupa, Aprakatahasya, Avyakta, Ishvara, Jaraachara Jagat Vyapta; yet Unravealed; Adi-Mandhyaata Rahita; Adyanta Rahita, Sahasrapaada, Adytanta Rahita , Sarvagata, Sarva Sthita, Sarva Vyapi, Hamsa, Prana Swami, Achyuta, Devadhi Deva, Shanta, Rudra, Pashupati, Shiva, Trivedi, Krodhajita, Shatru vijita, Indria jayi, Jaya and Shulapaani; do very kindly save me Maha Deva!)

Andhakaasura’s Stuti to Ambikla Devi is as follows: Namasye Bavaanim Bhuta Bhavyapriyaam Lokadhaatri Janitrim, Skanda maaturam Mahaadeva priyaam Dhaarinim Sasyandinim Chetanaam, Trailokya Maataram Dharitrim Devamaatara mathejjyaam Shrutim Smritim, Dayaam Lajjaam Kraantimagnayaamasuyam Matim Sadaa Paavanim, Daitya Sainya kshaya -karim Mahaa Maayaam Vaijayantim Sushubhaam, Kaalaraatrim Govinga bhagineem Shaola Raaja putreem Sarvadevaarchitaam, Sarva bhutaarchitaam Vidyaam Sarasvatim Trinayana Mahaharshim, Namasyaami Mridaaneem Sharanyaam Sharanamupaagateham Namo Namastey/



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