The Pilgrimage of the Naimisha Sages

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.75.1)

सूत उवाच । इति स विजितमन्योर्यादवेनोपमन्यो\- रधिगतमभिधाय ज्ञानयोगं मुनिभ्यः । प्रणतिमुपगतेभ्यस्तेभ्य उद्भावितात्मा सपदि वियति वायुः सायमन्तर्हितोऽभूत्

sūta uvāca | iti sa vijitamanyoryādavenopamanyo\- radhigatamabhidhāya jñānayogaṃ munibhyaḥ | praṇatimupagatebhyastebhya udbhāvitātmā sapadi viyati vāyuḥ sāyamantarhito'bhūt

Suta said: Thus, having declared to the sages the Yoga of knowledge that had been obtained from Upamanyu by the Yadava Krishna, whose anger had earlier been overcome — Vayu, his true self now revealed to those sages who had bowed before him, at once vanished into the sky at evening.

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.75.2)

ततः प्रभातसमये नैमिषीयास्तपोधनाः । सत्रान्तेऽवभृथं कर्तुं सर्व एव समुद्ययुः

tataḥ prabhātasamaye naimiṣīyāstapodhanāḥ | satrānte'vabhṛthaṃ kartuṃ sarva eva samudyayuḥ

Then, at the time of dawn, the ascetics of Naimisha, all of them, prepared together to perform the concluding bath at the end of their sacrificial session.

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.75.3)

तदा ब्रह्मसमादेशाद्देवी साक्षात्सरस्वती । प्रसन्ना स्वादुसलिला प्रावर्तत नदी शुभा

tadā brahmasamādeśāddevī sākṣātsarasvatī | prasannā svādusalilā prāvartata nadī śubhā

Then, by Brahma's own command, the goddess Sarasvati herself, gracious, her waters sweet, flowed forth there as an auspicious river.

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.75.4)

सरस्वतीं नदीं दृष्ट्वा मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः । समाप्य सत्रं प्रारब्धं चक्रुस्तत्रावगाहनम्

sarasvatīṃ nadīṃ dṛṣṭvā munayo hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | samāpya satraṃ prārabdhaṃ cakrustatrāvagāhanam

Seeing the river Sarasvati, the sages, their minds delighted, brought their long-undertaken sacrifice to completion and bathed in her waters.

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.75.5)

अथ सन्तर्प्य देवादींस्तदीयैः सलिलैः शिवैः । स्मरन्तः पूर्ववृत्तान्तं ययुर्वाराणसीं प्रति

atha santarpya devādīṃstadīyaiḥ salilaiḥ śivaiḥ | smarantaḥ pūrvavṛttāntaṃ yayurvārāṇasīṃ prati

Then, having satisfied the gods and the rest with her auspicious waters, and remembering all that had happened before, they set out toward Varanasi.

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.75.6)

तदा ते हिमवत्पादात्पन्ततीं दक्षिणामुखीम् । दृष्ट्वा भागीरथीं तत्र स्नात्वा तत्तीरतो ययुः

tadā te himavatpādātpantatīṃ dakṣiṇāmukhīm | dṛṣṭvā bhāgīrathīṃ tatra snātvā tattīrato yayuḥ

There they saw the Bhagirathi, flowing southward from the foot of the Himalaya; having bathed in her, they set out along her bank.

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.75.7)

ततो वाराणसीं प्राप्य मुदिताः सर्व एव ते । तदोत्तरप्रवाहायां गङ्गायामवगाह्य च

tato vārāṇasīṃ prāpya muditāḥ sarva eva te | tadottarapravāhāyāṃ gaṅgāyāmavagāhya ca

Then, having reached Varanasi, all of them, rejoicing, bathed in the Ganga where she flows there toward the north,

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.75.8)

अविमुक्तेश्वरं लिङ्गं दृष्ट्वाभ्यर्च्य विधानतः । प्रयातुमुद्यतास्तत्र ददृशुर्दिवि भास्वरम्

avimukteśvaraṃ liṅgaṃ dṛṣṭvābhyarcya vidhānataḥ | prayātumudyatāstatra dadṛśurdivi bhāsvaram

and, having seen the Linga of Avimukteshvara and duly worshipped it, as they were about to depart from there, they beheld in the sky a shining radiance,

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.75.9)

सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशं तेजोदिव्यं महाद्भुतम् । आत्मप्रभावितानेन व्याप्तसर्वदिगन्तरम्

sūryakoṭipratīkāśaṃ tejodivyaṃ mahādbhutam | ātmaprabhāvitānena vyāptasarvadigantaram

resembling ten million suns, a divine and most wondrous splendor, by whose own radiance every quarter of the horizon was pervaded.

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.75.10)

अथ पाशुपताः सिद्धाः भस्मसञ्छन्नविग्रहाः । मुनयोऽभ्येत्य शतशो लीनाः स्युस्तत्र तेजसि

atha pāśupatāḥ siddhāḥ bhasmasañchannavigrahāḥ | munayo'bhyetya śataśo līnāḥ syustatra tejasi

Then Pashupata adepts, their bodies covered with sacred ash, came forward by the hundreds, and became dissolved there into that radiance.

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.75.11)

तथा विलीयमानेषु तपस्विषु महात्मसु । सद्यस्तिरोदधे तेजस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्

tathā vilīyamāneṣu tapasviṣu mahātmasu | sadyastirodadhe tejastadadbhutamivābhavat

And as those great-souled ascetics thus dissolved away, that radiance at once vanished from sight — and this seemed a wondrous thing indeed.

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.75.12)

तद् दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं नैमिषीया महर्षयः । किमेतदित्यजानन्तो ययुर्ब्रह्मवनं प्रति

tad dṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ naimiṣīyā maharṣayaḥ | kimetadityajānanto yayurbrahmavanaṃ prati

Having witnessed this great wonder, the great sages of Naimisha, not knowing what this could be, set out toward the grove of Brahma.

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.75.13)

प्रागेवैषां तु गमनात्पवनो लोकपावनः । दर्शनं नैमिषीयाणां संवादस्तैर्महात्मनः

prāgevaiṣāṃ tu gamanātpavano lokapāvanaḥ | darśanaṃ naimiṣīyāṇāṃ saṃvādastairmahātmanaḥ

Even before their arrival, Pavana, the purifier of the worlds, reported his meeting and conversation with the great-souled sages of Naimisha,

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.75.14)

शुद्धां बुद्धिं ततस्तेषां साम्बे सानुचरे शिवे । समाप्तिं चापि सत्रस्य दीर्घपूर्वस्य सत्रिणाम्

śuddhāṃ buddhiṃ tatasteṣāṃ sāmbe sānucare śive | samāptiṃ cāpi satrasya dīrghapūrvasya satriṇām

and their understanding, now purified, of Shiva together with Amba and his attendants, and also the completion of the long-undertaken sacrifice of those sacrificers —

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.75.15)

विज्ञाप्य जगतां धात्रे ब्रह्मणे ब्रह्मयोनये । स्वकार्ये तदनुज्ञातो जगाम स्वपुरं प्रति

vijñāpya jagatāṃ dhātre brahmaṇe brahmayonaye | svakārye tadanujñāto jagāma svapuraṃ prati

having made all this known to Brahma, the ordainer of the worlds, the very source of the Veda, and having been given leave by him for his own task, he departed toward his own abode.

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.75.16)

अथ स्थानगतो ब्रह्मा तुम्बुरोर्नारदस्य च । परस्परं स्पर्द्धितयोर्गाने विवदमानयोः

atha sthānagato brahmā tumburornāradasya ca | parasparaṃ sparddhitayorgāne vivadamānayoḥ

Then Brahma, present in his own abode, found Tumburu and Narada disputing with one another, each rivaling the other in song,

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.75.17)

तदुद्भावितगानोत्थरसैर्माध्यस्थमाचरन् । गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च सुखमास्ते निषेवितः

tadudbhāvitagānottharasairmādhyasthamācaran | gandharvairapsarobhiśca sukhamāste niṣevitaḥ

and, acting as an impartial judge amid the rasas arising from their song, he sat there happily, attended by gandharvas and apsarases.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.75.18)

तदानवसरादेव द्वाःस्थैर्द्वारि निवारिताः । मुनयो ब्रह्मभवनाद्बहिः पार्श्वमुपाविशन्

tadānavasarādeva dvāḥsthairdvāri nivāritāḥ | munayo brahmabhavanādbahiḥ pārśvamupāviśan

Because it was, just then, not the proper occasion, the sages were stopped at the door by the door-keepers, and sat down to one side, outside Brahma's dwelling.

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.75.19)

अथ तुम्बुरुणा गाने समतां प्राप्य नारदः । साहचर्येष्वनुज्ञातो ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना

atha tumburuṇā gāne samatāṃ prāpya nāradaḥ | sāhacaryeṣvanujñāto brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā

Then Narada, having achieved parity with Tumburu in song, and having been granted leave by Brahma, the Supreme Being, for further companionship,

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.75.20)

त्यक्त्वा परस्परस्पर्द्धां मैत्रीं च परमां गतः । सह तेनाप्सरोभिश्च गन्धर्वैश्च समावृतः

tyaktvā parasparasparddhāṃ maitrīṃ ca paramāṃ gataḥ | saha tenāpsarobhiśca gandharvaiśca samāvṛtaḥ

abandoned his rivalry with him and entered into the deepest friendship with him; and, surrounded by him together with the apsarases and gandharvas,

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.75.21)

उपवीणयितुं देवं नकुलीश्वरमीश्वरम् । भवनान्निर्ययौ धातुर्जलदादंशुमानिव

upavīṇayituṃ devaṃ nakulīśvaramīśvaram | bhavanānniryayau dhāturjaladādaṃśumāniva

he went forth from the abode of the Creator, in order to play the vina in worship of the Lord Nakulishvara, like the sun emerging from a cloud.

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.75.22)

तं दृष्ट्वा षट्कुलीयास्ते नारदं मुनिगोवृषम् । प्रणम्यावसरं शम्भोः पप्रच्छुः परमादरात्

taṃ dṛṣṭvā ṣaṭkulīyāste nāradaṃ munigovṛṣam | praṇamyāvasaraṃ śambhoḥ papracchuḥ paramādarāt

Seeing him — that Narada, foremost bull among sages of the six lineages — those Naimisha sages bowed to him and, with the greatest reverence, asked him about the proper occasion for approaching Shambhu.

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.75.23)

स चावसर एवायमितोऽन्तर्गम्यतामिति । वदन्ययावन्यपरस्त्वरया परया युतः

sa cāvasara evāyamito'ntargamyatāmiti | vadanyayāvanyaparastvarayā parayā yutaḥ

And he, joined with the utmost haste, busy going elsewhere, said to them only, 'This indeed is the proper occasion — go on in from here,' and went on his own way.

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.75.24)

ततो द्वारि स्थिता ये वै ब्रह्मणे तान्न्यवेदयन् । तेन ते विविशुर्वेश्म पिण्डीभूयाण्डजन्मनः

tato dvāri sthitā ye vai brahmaṇe tānnyavedayan | tena te viviśurveśma piṇḍībhūyāṇḍajanmanaḥ

Then those who were stationed at the door announced them to Brahma; and by his leave they entered the dwelling of that being born from the cosmic egg, gathering together as a group.

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.75.25)

प्रविश्य दूरतो देवं प्रणम्य भुवि दण्डवत् । समीपे तदनुज्ञाताः परिवृत्योपतस्थिरे

praviśya dūrato devaṃ praṇamya bhuvi daṇḍavat | samīpe tadanujñātāḥ parivṛtyopatasthire

Having entered, they bowed to the god from a distance, prostrate upon the ground like a staff; and, given his leave, they came near and stood around him in attendance.

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.75.26)

तांस्तत्रावस्थितान् पृष्ट्वा कुशलं कमलासनः । वृत्तान्तं वो मया ज्ञातं वायुरेवाह नो यतः

tāṃstatrāvasthitān pṛṣṭvā kuśalaṃ kamalāsanaḥ | vṛttāntaṃ vo mayā jñātaṃ vāyurevāha no yataḥ

Having asked after the welfare of those assembled there, the Lotus-seated one said, 'Your whole account is already known to me, since Vayu himself has told it to us.

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.75.27)

भवद्भिः किं कृतं पश्चान्मारुतेऽन्तर्हिते सति । इत्युक्तवति देवेशे मुनयोऽवभृथात्परम्

bhavadbhiḥ kiṃ kṛtaṃ paścānmārute'ntarhite sati | ityuktavati deveśe munayo'vabhṛthātparam

But what did you do afterward, once Maruta had vanished?' When the Lord of gods had said this, the sages, starting from the account of their concluding bath onward —

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.75.28)

गङ्गातीर्थेऽस्य गमनं यात्रां वाराणसीं प्रति । दर्शनं तत्र लिङ्गानां स्थापितानां सुरेश्वरैः

gaṅgātīrthe'sya gamanaṃ yātrāṃ vārāṇasīṃ prati | darśanaṃ tatra liṅgānāṃ sthāpitānāṃ sureśvaraiḥ

told him of their going to the sacred waters of the Ganga, their journey toward Varanasi, their vision there of the Lingas installed by the lords of the gods,

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.75.29)

अविमुक्तेश्वरस्यापि लिङ्गस्याभ्यर्चनं सकृत् । आकाशे महतस्तस्य तेजोराशेश्च दर्शनम्

avimukteśvarasyāpi liṅgasyābhyarcanaṃ sakṛt | ākāśe mahatastasya tejorāśeśca darśanam

their worship, in due order, of the Linga of Avimukteshvara as well, and their vision of that great mass of radiance in the sky,

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.75.30)

मुनीनां विलयं तत्र निरोधं तेजसस्ततः । याथात्म्यवेदनं तस्य चिन्तितस्यापि चात्मभिः

munīnāṃ vilayaṃ tatra nirodhaṃ tejasastataḥ | yāthātmyavedanaṃ tasya cintitasyāpi cātmabhiḥ

the dissolution of the sages there, and then the sudden vanishing of that radiance — and their not knowing, even upon reflecting on it within themselves, its true nature.

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.75.31)

सर्वं सविस्तरं तस्मै प्रणम्याहुर्मुहुर्मुहुः । मुनिभिः कथितं श्रुत्वा विश्वकर्मा चतुर्मुखः

sarvaṃ savistaraṃ tasmai praṇamyāhurmuhurmuhuḥ | munibhiḥ kathitaṃ śrutvā viśvakarmā caturmukhaḥ

All of this they told him, bowing again and again, in full detail. Having heard what the sages related, the four-faced Vishvakarma,

Verse 32 (shiva.vayaviya.75.32)

कम्पयित्वा शिरः किञ्चित्प्राह गम्भीरया गिरा । प्रत्यासीदति युष्माकं सिद्धिरामुष्मिकी परा

kampayitvā śiraḥ kiñcitprāha gambhīrayā girā | pratyāsīdati yuṣmākaṃ siddhirāmuṣmikī parā

shaking his head slightly, spoke in a deep voice: 'Your supreme accomplishment for the world beyond is now drawing near.

Verse 33 (shiva.vayaviya.75.33)

भवद्भिर्दीर्घसत्रेण चिरमाराधितः प्रभुः । प्रसादाभिमुखो भूत इति भूतार्थसूचितम्

bhavadbhirdīrghasatreṇa ciramārādhitaḥ prabhuḥ | prasādābhimukho bhūta iti bhūtārthasūcitam

By your long sacrificial session, the Lord has been worshipped by you for a long time, and he has now turned toward favoring you — this is what is indicated by what has actually happened.

Verse 34 (shiva.vayaviya.75.34)

वाराणस्यां तु युष्माभिर्यद् दृष्टं दिवि दीप्तिमत् । तल्लिङ्गसंज्ञितं साक्षात्तेजो माहेश्वरं परम्

vārāṇasyāṃ tu yuṣmābhiryad dṛṣṭaṃ divi dīptimat | talliṅgasaṃjñitaṃ sākṣāttejo māheśvaraṃ param

That blazing thing which you saw in the sky at Varanasi was itself the radiance called by the name of the Linga — that supreme splendor belonging to Maheshvara himself.

Verse 35 (shiva.vayaviya.75.35)

तत्र लीनाश्च मुनयः श्रौतपाशुपतव्रताः । मुक्ता बभूवुः स्वस्थाश्च नैष्ठिका दग्धकिल्बिषाः

tatra līnāśca munayaḥ śrautapāśupatavratāḥ | muktā babhūvuḥ svasthāśca naiṣṭhikā dagdhakilbiṣāḥ

The sages who dissolved there, devoted to the Pashupata vow taught in the scriptures, became liberated and established in their own true nature — steadfast, their every taint burnt away.

Verse 36 (shiva.vayaviya.75.36)

प्राप्यानेन यथा मुक्तिरचिराद्भवतामपि । स चायमर्थः सूच्येत युष्मद्दृष्टेन तेजसा

prāpyānena yathā muktiracirādbhavatāmapi | sa cāyamarthaḥ sūcyeta yuṣmaddṛṣṭena tejasā

That liberation will soon come to you too, in this same way, by this same means; and this very meaning is what is indicated by the radiance you have witnessed.

Verse 37 (shiva.vayaviya.75.37)

तत्र वः काल एवैष दैवादुपनतः स्वयम् । प्रयात दक्षिणं मेरोः शिखरं देवसेवितम्

tatra vaḥ kāla evaiṣa daivādupanataḥ svayam | prayāta dakṣiṇaṃ meroḥ śikharaṃ devasevitam

This is indeed the very time for that, come upon you now of itself by fate. Go to the southern peak of Meru, the one attended by the gods,

Verse 38 (shiva.vayaviya.75.38)

सनत्कुमारो यत्रास्ते मम पुत्रः परो मुनिः । प्रतीक्ष्यागमनं साक्षाद्भूतनाथस्य नन्दिनः

sanatkumāro yatrāste mama putraḥ paro muniḥ | pratīkṣyāgamanaṃ sākṣādbhūtanāthasya nandinaḥ

where Sanatkumara, my son, that supreme sage, abides, awaiting the actual arrival of Nandin, the lord of Shiva's hosts.

Verse 39 (shiva.vayaviya.75.39)

पुरा सनत्कुमारोऽपि दृष्ट्वापि परमेश्वरम् । अज्ञानात्सर्वयोगीन्द्रमानी विनयदूषितः

purā sanatkumāro'pi dṛṣṭvāpi parameśvaram | ajñānātsarvayogīndramānī vinayadūṣitaḥ

Long ago, Sanatkumara too, even though he had seen the Supreme Lord, out of ignorance considered himself the foremost among all masters of Yoga, and, his humility thus corrupted,

Verse 40 (shiva.vayaviya.75.40)

अभ्युत्थानादिकं युक्तमकुर्वन्नतिनिर्भयः । ततोऽपराधात्क्रुद्धेन महोष्ट्रो नन्दिना कृतः

abhyutthānādikaṃ yuktamakurvannatinirbhayaḥ | tato'parādhātkruddhena mahoṣṭro nandinā kṛtaḥ

did not perform the rising and other proper courtesies toward Nandi, being entirely without fear of consequence. Then, because of that offense, the angered Nandin turned him into a huge camel.

Verse 41 (shiva.vayaviya.75.41)

अथ कालेन महता तदर्थे शोचता मया । उपास्य देवं देवीं च नन्दिनं चानुनीय वै

atha kālena mahatā tadarthe śocatā mayā | upāsya devaṃ devīṃ ca nandinaṃ cānunīya vai

Then, after a long time, grieving over this matter, I worshipped the Lord and the Goddess, and having duly appeased Nandin,

Verse 42 (shiva.vayaviya.75.42)

कथञ्चिद् दुष्टता तस्य प्रयत्नेन निवारिता । प्रापितो हि यथापूर्वं सनत्पूर्वां कुमारताम्

kathañcid duṣṭatā tasya prayatnena nivāritā | prāpito hi yathāpūrvaṃ sanatpūrvāṃ kumāratām

his displeasure was, with great effort, somehow overcome, and Sanatkumara was restored to his former state as the eternal youth that he had had before.

Verse 43 (shiva.vayaviya.75.43)

तदाह च महादेवः स्मयन्निव गणाधिपम् । अवज्ञाय हि मामेव तथाहङ्कृतवान्मुनिः

tadāha ca mahādevaḥ smayanniva gaṇādhipam | avajñāya hi māmeva tathāhaṅkṛtavānmuniḥ

And then Mahadeva, smiling as it were, said to the lord of his hosts, 'Having disregarded me alone, that sage became so filled with pride —

Verse 44 (shiva.vayaviya.75.44)

अतस्त्वमेव याथात्म्यं ममास्मै कथयानघ । ब्रह्मणः पूर्वजः पुत्रो मां मूढमिव संस्मरन्

atastvameva yāthātmyaṃ mamāsmai kathayānagha | brahmaṇaḥ pūrvajaḥ putro māṃ mūḍhamiva saṃsmaran

therefore you yourself, O sinless one, should tell him my true nature, since he — the first-born son of Brahma — has been remembering me as though I were foolish.

Verse 45 (shiva.vayaviya.75.45)

मयैव शिष्यस्ते दत्तो मम ज्ञानप्रवर्तकः । धर्माध्यक्षाभिषेकं च तव निर्वर्त्तयिष्यति

mayaiva śiṣyaste datto mama jñānapravartakaḥ | dharmādhyakṣābhiṣekaṃ ca tava nirvarttayiṣyati

He is given by me as your very disciple, to be the propagator of knowledge about me; and he shall also perform for you the consecration of your office as overseer of dharma.'

Verse 46 (shiva.vayaviya.75.46)

स एवं व्याहृतो भूयः सर्वभूतगणाग्रणीः । यत्पुराज्ञापनं मूर्ध्ना प्राप्य प्रतिगृहीतवान्

sa evaṃ vyāhṛto bhūyaḥ sarvabhūtagaṇāgraṇīḥ | yatpurājñāpanaṃ mūrdhnā prāpya pratigṛhītavān

Nandin, the foremost leader of all of Shiva's hosts, having thus been addressed again, received that command upon his own head, just as he had received it before, and accepted it.

Verse 47 (shiva.vayaviya.75.47)

तथा सनत्कुमारोऽपि मेरौ मदनुशासनात् । प्रसादार्थं गणस्यास्य तपश्चरति दुश्चरम्

tathā sanatkumāro'pi merau madanuśāsanāt | prasādārthaṃ gaṇasyāsya tapaścarati duścaram

Sanatkumara too, in accordance with my own instruction, is now practicing, upon Meru, a most difficult austerity, for the sake of gaining the favor of this lord of the hosts.

Verse 48 (shiva.vayaviya.75.48)

द्रष्टव्यश्चेति युष्माभिः प्राग्गणेशसमागमात् । तत्प्रसादार्थमचिरान्नन्दी तत्रागमिष्यति

draṣṭavyaśceti yuṣmābhiḥ prāggaṇeśasamāgamāt | tatprasādārthamacirānnandī tatrāgamiṣyati

He is to be seen by you, going there even before Ganesha's own meeting with him; and, for the sake of granting him his favor, Nandin will himself soon arrive there.'

Verse 49 (shiva.vayaviya.75.49)

इति सत्वरमादिश्य प्रेषिता विश्वयोगिना । कुमारशिखरं मेरोर्दक्षिणं मुनयो ययुः

iti satvaramādiśya preṣitā viśvayoginā | kumāraśikharaṃ merordakṣiṇaṃ munayo yayuḥ

Having thus swiftly instructed and sent them forth, by the Lord of all Yogis, the sages went to Kumara-shikhara, the southern peak of Meru.