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Puranic encyclopaedia

by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222

This page describes the Story of Virabhadra 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 ī󲹻

One of the guards of Ś.

Origin.

There are two different opinions in the ʳܰṇa, regarding the origin of ī󲹻. There is no doubt that his birth was due to the anger of Ś. When Ś knew that his wife ī jumped into the fire and died at the sacrifice of ٲṣa, he struck his matted hair on the ground and from that, ī󲹻 and 󲹻ī came into being. This is the version given in Devī 岵ٲ, Skandha 7. According to Ѳٲ, ŚԳپ Parva, Chapter 284, ī󲹻 was born from the mouth of Ś. From each of the hairpores of ī󲹻, who was born from the mouth of Ś to destroy the sacrifice of ٲṣa a fearful monster was born, all of whom, formed a group of ghosts called the Raumyas.

The Destruction of the sacrifice of ٲṣa.

See under ٲṣa.

Attainment of boon.

After the destruction of the sacrifice of ٲṣa, the fearful monster ī󲹻, began to exterminate the entire creation. Then Ś appeared and pacified him and said "You shall become a planet in the sky called ṅgṣa첹 (Bodyguard) or Ѳṅg (well being). Everybody will worship you. Those who thus exalt you, will get health, wealth and long life." (岵ٲ, Skandha 7; Vāyu ʳܰṇa, 101, 209; Padma ʳܰṇa, ṛṣṭi ṇḍ, 24).

After the destruction of the sacrifice of ٲṣa, ī󲹻 severed a portion of his radiance, and from that radiance, later Ādiśaṅkara (Śṅk峦ⲹ) was born. This story occurs in Bhaviṣya ʳܰṇa, Pratisarga Parva.

Prowess.

ī󲹻 was not only a follower of Ś. He was a prominent general of the army. In the battle of the burning of Tripura and the Jalandhara fight, ī󲹻 stood with Ś and fought fiercely. (Padma ʳܰṇa, ṇḍ and Uttara ṇḍ).

Protector of the Devas.

ī󲹻 was the destroyer of the Asuras and the protector of the Devas. Once śⲹ貹 and all the other hermits and sages with him were burnt to ashes in the wild fire that occurred in the Śaukaṭa mountain. Instantly ī󲹻 swallowed that wild fire and by the power of incantation, he brought to life from the ashes all the Ṛṣis (hermits) who were burnt to death.

On another occasion a serpent swallowed all the gods. ī󲹻 killed the snake and rescued all the Devas. Once an asura called Pañcameḍhra put into his mouth all the gods, all the hermits and and ܲī. Those who escaped from the danger stood agape being powerless to confront the Asura. At last ī󲹻 attacked the asura. That great and fierce battle lasted for years. At the end ī󲹻 killed the Asura and rescued all.

Because ī󲹻 had thus protected the Devas and the others on three occasions, Ś became immensely pleased with him and gave him several boons. (Padma ʳܰṇa, ṇḍ, 107).

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