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Matsya Purana (critical study)

by Kushal Kalita | 2018 | 74,766 words | ISBN-13: 9788171103058

This page relates ‘Myth of the Man-Lion Form of Lord Vishnu� of the English study on the Matsya-purana: a Sanskrit text preserving ancient Indian traditions and legends written in over 14,000 metrical verses. In this study, the background and content of the Matsyapurana is outlined against the cultural history of ancient India in terms of religion, politics, geography and architectural aspects. It shows how the encyclopedic character causes the text to deal with almost all the aspects of human civilization.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Part 1f - The Myth of the Man-Lion Form of Lord ³Õ¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü

±á¾±°ù²¹á¹‡y²¹°ì²¹Å›¾±±è³Ü was a powerful demon who with a view to obtain more power severely practiced austerities for 11,000 years. Being pleased with his devotion Lord µþ°ù²¹³ó³¾Äå told him to ask a boon. At this the demon wished that he should not be killed by devas, asuras, gandharvas, ²â²¹°ìá¹£a²õ, °ùÄå°ìá¹£a²õ²¹²õ, ³¾²¹²Ô³Üá¹£y²¹²õ or ±è¾±Å›Ä峦²¹²õ. The curse of the sages should not affect him. He should not die of any weapon, missile, rock, tree, wet and dry things, not during the day or night. He should have all the power. µþ°ù²¹³ó³¾Äå granted him the boon.

Attaining the boon ±á¾±°ù²¹á¹‡y²¹°ì²¹Å›¾±±è³Ü became proud and started to oppress the world. He conquered the heaven and interfered with the rights of the devas. He did not even spare the sages practicing austerities. He disturbed the three worlds so much that ultimately all went to Lord ³Õ¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü and prayed him to save them. Giving assurance to them Lord, with the assistance of Åš¾±±¹²¹ went to the place of the demon. He assumed the form of ±·²¹°ù²¹²õ¾±á¹ƒh²¹ i.e., the man-lion form (the lower half of human form with the upper half of the lion).

When ±Ê°ù²¹³ó±ôÄå»å²¹, the son of ±á¾±°ù²¹á¹‡y²¹°ì²¹Å›¾±±è³Ü who was an ardent devotee of Lord eulogized ³Õ¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü, then the demon with his assemblage present there, insulted Him. At this ±·²¹°ù²¹²õ¾±á¹ƒh²¹ roared loudly with opened wide mouth and started destroying the assembly of ±á¾±°ù²¹á¹‡y²¹°ì²¹Å›¾±±è³Ü. The demons attacked ±·²¹°ù²¹²õ¾±á¹ƒh²¹ with the shower of rocks, rains, fire etc.; but nothing could move him. Then ±á¾±°ù²¹á¹‡y²¹°ì²¹Å›¾±±è³Ü used every kind of force to stop him but as he failed the demon took the club and the trident rushed to ³Õ¾±á¹£á¹‡³Ü assuming a fearful form. At that very moment ±·²¹°ù²¹²õ¾±á¹ƒh²¹ with the help of Åš¾±±¹²¹ jumped and tore the demon with his pointed nails. Thus ±á¾±°ù²¹á¹‡y²¹°ì²¹Å›¾±±è³Ü met his death.[1]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

, 163.93

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