The Glory of Vrishabheshvara (Vrishavahaneshvara)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.90.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि चतुर्थं रुद्रमुत्तमम्। वृषभेश्वरनामानं कल्पलिंगं सुरप्रियम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi caturthaṁ rudramuttamam| vṛṣabheśvaranāmānaṁ kalpaliṅgaṁ surapriyam

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the fourth, the excellent Rudra named Vrishabheshvara, the Kalpa-Linga, dear to the gods.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.90.2)

बालरूपी महादेवि यत्र ब्रह्मा स्वयं स्थितः। तस्यैव चोत्तरे भागे धनुषां त्रितये स्थितम्

bālarūpī mahādevi yatra brahmā svayaṁ sthitaḥ| tasyaiva cottare bhāge dhanuṣāṁ tritaye sthitam

In the form of a child, O great Goddess, where Brahma himself abides; it stands to the north of that very place, at a distance of three bows.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.90.3)

आद्यं महाप्रभावं हि नापुण्यो वेद मानवः। तस्यैव कल्पनामानि सांप्रतं प्रब्रवीमि ते

ādyaṁ mahāprabhāvaṁ hi nāpuṇyo veda mānavaḥ| tasyaiva kalpanāmāni sāṁprataṁ prabravīmi te

It is the first Linga, of great power indeed; an unmeritorious man does not know it. Now I shall tell you the succession of its names through the Kalpas.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.90.4)

पूर्वकल्पे महादेवि ब्रह्मेश्वर इति स्मृतः। ब्रह्मणाराधितः पूर्वं वर्षाणामयुतं प्रिये

pūrvakalpe mahādevi brahmeśvara iti smṛtaḥ| brahmaṇārādhitaḥ pūrvaṁ varṣāṇāmayutaṁ priye

In the former Kalpa, O great Goddess, it was known as Brahmeshvara; it was worshipped by Brahma of old, for ten thousand years, O beloved.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.90.5)

सृष्टिकामेन देवेन ततस्तुष्टो महेश्वरः। चतुर्विधां भूतसृष्टिं ततश्चक्रे पितामहः

sṛṣṭikāmena devena tatastuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ| caturvidhāṁ bhūtasṛṣṭiṁ tataścakre pitāmahaḥ

Maheshvara then became pleased with the god who desired creation; then the Grandsire fashioned the fourfold creation of beings.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.90.6)

ब्रह्मणस्त्वीशभावेन गतस्तुष्टिं यतो हरः। तेन ब्रह्मेश्वरं नाम तस्मिँल्लिंगे पुराऽभवत्

brahmaṇastvīśabhāvena gatastuṣṭiṁ yato haraḥ| tena brahmeśvaraṁ nāma tasmilliṅge purā'bhavat

Since Hara became pleased through Brahma's lordly devotion, thereby the name Brahmeshvara came to be, of old, for that Linga.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.90.7)

ततो द्वितीयकल्पे तु संप्राप्ते वरवर्णिनि। रैवतेश्वरनामेति प्रख्यातं धरणीतले

tato dvitīyakalpe tu saṁprāpte varavarṇini| raivateśvaranāmeti prakhyātaṁ dharaṇītale

Then, when the second Kalpa arrived, O fair one, it became renowned on earth by the name Raivateshvara.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.90.8)

रैवतो नाम राजाऽभूद्ब्रह्मांडे सचराचरे। जगद्योनिर्जिगायेदं तल्लिंगस्य प्रभावतः

raivato nāma rājā'bhūdbrahmāṇḍe sacarācare| jagadyonirjigāyedaṁ talliṅgasya prabhāvataḥ

There was a king named Raivata in this universe of moving and unmoving beings, the very source of the world; he conquered this realm by the power of that Linga.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.90.9)

रैवतेश्वरनामाभूत्तेन लिंगं महाप्रभम्। पुनस्तृतीयकल्पे तु संप्राप्ते वरवर्णिनि

raivateśvaranāmābhūttena liṅgaṁ mahāprabham| punastṛtīyakalpe tu saṁprāpte varavarṇini

The name Raivateshvara thus came to be, and the Linga became one of great splendor. Then, when the third Kalpa arrived once more, O fair one —

Verse 10 (skanda.7.90.10)

वृषभेश्वरनामाभूत्तस्य लिंगस्य भामिनि। ममैव वाहनं योऽसौ धर्मोयं वृषरूपधृक्

vṛṣabheśvaranāmābhūttasya liṅgasya bhāmini| mamaiva vāhanaṁ yo'sau dharmo'yaṁ vṛṣarūpadhṛk

— the name Vrishabheshvara came to be for that Linga, O radiant one; he who is verily my own mount, this Dharma who bears the form of a bull —

Verse 11 (skanda.7.90.11)

तेन तत्पूजितं लिंगं दिव्याब्दानां सहस्रकम्। ततस्तुष्टेन देवेशि नीतः सायुज्यतां वृषः

tena tatpūjitaṁ liṅgaṁ divyābdānāṁ sahasrakam| tatastuṣṭena deveśi nītaḥ sāyujyatāṁ vṛṣaḥ

— worshipped that Linga for a thousand divine years; then, pleased, O queen of gods, the bull was led to union with me.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.90.12)

तेन तल्लिंगमभवद्वृषभेशेति भूतले। ततश्चतुर्थे संप्राप्ते वाराहेकल्प संज्ञिते

tena talliṅgamabhavadvṛṣabheśeti bhūtale| tataścaturthe saṁprāpte vārāhekalpa saṁjñite

By that, the Linga became known on earth as Vrishabhesha. Then, when the fourth Kalpa arrived, called the Varaha-kalpa —

Verse 13 (skanda.7.90.13)

अष्टाविंशतिमे तत्र त्रेतायुगमुखे तदा। इक्ष्वाकुर्नाम राजाऽभूत्सूर्यवंशविभूषणः

aṣṭāviṁśatime tatra tretāyugamukhe tadā| ikṣvākurnāma rājā'bhūtsūryavaṁśavibhūṣaṇaḥ

— in the twenty-eighth age there, at the dawn of the Treta Yuga, there was a king named Ikshvaku, ornament of the solar dynasty.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.90.14)

स लिंगं पूजयामास त्रिकालं भक्तिभावितः। एकाहारो जिताहारो भूभिशायी जितेंद्रियः

sa liṅgaṁ pūjayāmāsa trikālaṁ bhaktibhāvitaḥ| ekāhāro jitāhāro bhūbhiśāyī jitendriyaḥ

He worshipped that Linga three times daily, filled with devotion; eating but once, restrained in diet, sleeping upon the ground, his senses subdued.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.90.15)

एवं काले बहुविधे ततस्तुष्टो महेश्वरः। ददौ राज्यं महोदग्रं संततिं पुत्र पौत्रिकीम्

evaṁ kāle bahuvidhe tatastuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ| dadau rājyaṁ mahodagraṁ saṁtatiṁ putra pautrikīm

Thus, after much time had passed in various ways, Maheshvara became pleased; he granted him a vast and exalted kingdom, and progeny of sons and grandsons.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.90.16)

इक्ष्वाक्वीश्वरनामाभूत्तेनेदं लिंगमुत्तमम्। यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या देवं वृषभवाहनम्

ikṣvākvīśvaranāmābhūttenedaṁ liṅgamuttamam| yastaṁ pūjayate bhaktyā devaṁ vṛṣabhavāhanam

The name Ikshvakvishvara came to be, and thereby this Linga became supreme. He who worships that bull-mounted god with devotion —

Verse 17 (skanda.7.90.17)

सप्तजन्मकृतैः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः। त्रिंशद्धनुष्प्रमाणेन तस्य क्षेत्रचतुर्द्दिशम्

saptajanmakṛtaiḥ pāpairmucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ| triṁśaddhanuṣpramāṇena tasya kṣetracaturddiśam

— is freed from the sins committed across seven births; of this there is no doubt. Its field extends on all four sides to a measure of thirty bows.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.90.18)

स्नानं जाप्यं बलिं होमं पूजां स्तोत्रमुदीरणम्। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु यः कुर्यात्तत्सर्वं चाक्षयं भवेत्

snānaṁ jāpyaṁ baliṁ homaṁ pūjāṁ stotramudīraṇam| tasmiṁstīrthe tu yaḥ kuryāttatsarvaṁ cākṣayaṁ bhavet

Whatever bathing, muttered prayer, offering, fire-oblation, worship, or recitation of hymns one performs at that tirtha — all of it becomes imperishable.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.90.19)

चतुष्कोणांतरा क्षेत्रमेवं मात्राप्रमाणतः। एकरात्रोषितो भूत्वा तस्य लिंगस्य सन्निधौ

catuṣkoṇāntarā kṣetramevaṁ mātrāpramāṇataḥ| ekarātroṣito bhūtvā tasya liṅgasya sannidhau

Thus the field, square in extent, is measured by this dimension. Having remained there fasting for one night in the presence of that Linga —

Verse 20 (skanda.7.90.20)

ब्रह्मचर्येण जागर्त्ति स पापैः संप्रमुच्यते। होमजाप्यसमाधिस्थो नृत्यगीतादिवादनैः

brahmacaryeṇa jāgartti sa pāpaiḥ saṁpramucyate| homajāpyasamādhistho nṛtyagītādivādanaiḥ

— he who keeps vigil in chastity is freed from his sins; abiding in fire-rites, prayer, and meditation, amid dance, song, and other music —

Verse 21 (skanda.7.90.21)

गोघ्नो वा ब्रह्महा पापी मुच्यते दुष्कृतैर्नरः। यः संप्रीणयते विप्रांस्तत्र भोज्यैः पृथग्विधैः

goghno vā brahmahā pāpī mucyate duṣkṛtairnaraḥ| yaḥ saṁprīṇayate viprāṁstatra bhojyaiḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ

— even a sinful man, a killer of cows or of a brahmin, is freed from his misdeeds, if he gratifies brahmins there with various kinds of food.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.90.22)

एकस्मिन्भोजिते विप्रे कोटिर्भवति भोजिता। भैरवं चैव केदारं पुष्करं द्रुतिजंगमम्

ekasminbhojite vipre koṭirbhavati bhojitā| bhairavaṁ caiva kedāraṁ puṣkaraṁ drutijaṅgamam

By feeding one brahmin there, the merit of feeding a crore is obtained. Bhairava, and also Kedara, Pushkara, and Drutijangama —

Verse 23 (skanda.7.90.23)

वाराणसी कुरुक्षेत्रं महा कालं च नैमिषम्। एतत्तीर्थाष्टकं देवि तस्मिँल्लिंगे व्यवस्थितम्

vārāṇasī kurukṣetraṁ mahā kālaṁ ca naimiṣam| etattīrthāṣṭakaṁ devi tasmilliṅge vyavasthitam

— Varanasi, Kurukshetra, Mahakala, and Naimisha — these eight tirthas, O Goddess, are established within that very Linga.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.90.24)

माघे कृष्णचतुर्द्दश्यां तत्र यो जागृयान्निशि। संपूज्य विधिना देवं स तीर्थाष्टफलं लभेत्

māghe kṛṣṇacaturddaśyāṁ tatra yo jāgṛyānniśi| saṁpūjya vidhinā devaṁ sa tīrthāṣṭaphalaṁ labhet

He who keeps vigil there at night on the dark fourteenth of Magha, having duly worshipped the god, obtains the fruit of all eight tirthas.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.90.25)

ददाति तत्र यः पिण्डं नष्टेन्दौ शिवसंनिधौ। तृप्यन्ति पितरस्तस्य यावद्ब्रह्मदिनान्तकम्

dadāti tatra yaḥ piṇḍaṁ naṣṭendau śivasannidhau| tṛpyanti pitarastasya yāvadbrahmadināntakam

He who offers a rice-ball there on the new-moon night, in Shiva's presence — his ancestors remain satisfied until the end of Brahma's day.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.90.26)

दधिक्षीर घृतेनैव पंचगव्यकुशोदकैः। कुंकुमागरुकर्पूरैस्तल्लिगं पूजयेन्निशि

dadhikṣīra ghṛtenaiva pañcagavyakuśodakaiḥ| kuṁkumāgarukarpūraistalliṅgaṁ pūjayenniśi

With curd, milk, and ghee, with the five products of the cow and Kusha-water, with saffron, aguru, and camphor, one should worship that Linga at night.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.90.27)

संमंत्र्याघोरमंत्रेण ध्यात्वा देवं सदाशिवम्। एवं कृत्वा महादेवि मुच्यते पंचपातकैः

saṁmantryāghoramantreṇa dhyātvā devaṁ sadāśivam| evaṁ kṛtvā mahādevi mucyate pañcapātakaiḥ

Having duly recited the Aghora mantra, meditating upon the god Sadashiva — doing thus, O great Goddess, one is freed from the five great sins.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.90.28)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्द्दश्यां दध्ना संस्नापयेद्यदि। स ब्राह्मणश्चतुर्वेदो जायते नात्र संशयः

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturddaśyāṁ dadhnā saṁsnāpayedyadi| sa brāhmaṇaścaturvedo jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

If one bathes him with curd on the eighth and the fourteenth lunar days, he is born a brahmin versed in the four Vedas — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.90.29)

क्षीरेण स्नापयेद्देवि यदि तं वृषभेश्वरम्। सप्तधेनुसहस्राणां स फलं विंदते महत्

kṣīreṇa snāpayeddevi yadi taṁ vṛṣabheśvaram| saptadhenusahasrāṇāṁ sa phalaṁ viṁdate mahat

If, O Goddess, one bathes that Vrishabheshvara with milk, he obtains the great fruit of donating seven thousand cows.

Verse 30 (skanda.7.90.30)

जन्मांतरेण यत्पापं सांप्रतं यत्कृतं प्रिये। तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति घृतस्नानेन भामिनि

janmāntareṇa yatpāpaṁ sāṁprataṁ yatkṛtaṁ priye| tatsarvaṁ nāśamāyāti ghṛtasnānena bhāmini

Whatever sin was done in another birth, or is committed now, O beloved — all of it comes to destruction through a bath of ghee, O radiant one.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.90.31)

पंचगव्येन यो देवि स्नापयेद्वृषभेश्वरम्। स दहेत्सर्वपापानि सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्

pañcagavyena yo devi snāpayedvṛṣabheśvaram| sa dahetsarvapāpāni sarvayajñaphalaṁ labhet

He who, O Goddess, bathes Vrishabheshvara with the five products of the cow, burns away all his sins and obtains the fruit of every sacrifice.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.90.32)

तद्दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नः स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः। शरणागतघाती च मित्रविश्रंभघातकः

taddṛṣṭvā brahmahā goghnaḥ steyī ca gurutalpagaḥ| śaraṇāgataghātī ca mitraviśraṁbhaghātakaḥ

Beholding him, even a slayer of a brahmin, a killer of cows, a thief, a defiler of the guru's bed, a killer of a refugee, and a betrayer of a trusting friend —

Verse 33 (skanda.7.90.33)

दुष्टपापसमाचारो मातृहा पितृहा तथा। मुच्यते सर्वपापैस्तु तल्लिंगाराधनोद्यतः

duṣṭapāpasamācāro mātṛhā pitṛhā tathā| mucyate sarvapāpaistu talliṅgārādhanodyataḥ

— even one of wicked, sinful conduct, or a matricide, or likewise a patricide, is freed from all sins if devoted to the worship of that Linga.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.90.34)

कार्तिकं सकलं यस्तु पूजयेद्ब्रह्मणा सह। ब्रह्मेश्वरं महालिंगं स मुक्तः पातकैर्भवेत्

kārtikaṁ sakalaṁ yastu pūjayedbrahmaṇā saha| brahmeśvaraṁ mahāliṅgaṁ sa muktaḥ pātakairbhavet

He who worships the great Linga Brahmeshvara throughout the whole month of Kartika, together with Brahma, becomes freed from sins.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.90.35)

तेन दत्तं भवेत्सर्वं गुरवस्तेन तोषिताः। श्राद्धं कृतं गयातीर्थे तेन तप्तं महत्तपः। येन देवाधिदेवोऽसौ पूजितो वृषभेश्वरः

tena dattaṁ bhavetsarvaṁ guravastena toṣitāḥ| śrāddhaṁ kṛtaṁ gayātīrthe tena taptaṁ mahattapaḥ| yena devādhidevo'sau pūjito vṛṣabheśvaraḥ

By him all gifts have been given, by him all gurus have been satisfied, by him shraddha has been performed at the tirtha of Gaya, by him great austerity has been practiced — by whom that god of gods, Vrishabheshvara, has been worshipped.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.90.36)

इति ते कथितं देवि माहात्म्यं देवपूजितम्। वृषभेश्वरदेवस्य कल्पलिंगस्य भामिनि

iti te kathitaṁ devi māhātmyaṁ devapūjitam| vṛṣabheśvaradevasya kalpaliṅgasya bhāmini

Thus, O Goddess, has been told to you the god-worshipped glory of Lord Vrishabheshvara, the Kalpa-Linga, O radiant one.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.90.37)

यः शृणोति महादेवि माहात्म्यं दैवदेवतम्। मूर्खो वा पंडितो वाऽपि स याति परमां गतिम्

yaḥ śṛṇoti mahādevi māhātmyaṁ daivadevatam| mūrkho vā paṇḍito vā'pi sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

Whoever hears, O great Goddess, this glory of the god of gods — be he a fool or a learned man — attains the supreme state.