Shaivacintamani (analytical study)
by Swati Sucharita Pattanaik | 2022 | 84,311 words
This page relates ‘Thousand Names of Lord Shiva� of the English study on the Shaivacintamani—an unstudied text on Shaiva or Shiva worship by Lakshmidhara Mishra, written in the late 17th century and edited for the first time in 1994 by Shri Dukhisyam Pattanaik from the Orissa State Museum. The present research aims to offer a comprehensive study of the Saivacintamani, filling the knowledge gap by being the first to provide in-depth analysis and commentary.
Part 2.6 - Thousand Names of Lord Ś
Many eons ago, a fierce war raged between the gods and the demons. The gods received a sound thrashing and fled. While they were running away, they happened to encounter վṣṇ. When վṣṇ asked the reason and learnt about it, he advised the gods to start praying Lord հܰī (Ś) since “only he is capable of subduing these wroth demons.� Then saying so վṣṇ also joined the gods to invoke Lord Ś to their presence. Guided by Lord վṣṇ they chanted the 1000 names of Lord Ś. The sages said that O ūٲ, how was the discus ܻ岹śԲ acquired from Ѳś, the lord of Devas, by lord վṣṇ? It behoves you to recount it. ūٲ said that a terrible fight ensured between Devas and the leading asuras causing destruction to all living beings. On being pierced and hit by lances, iron clubs, javelins and arrows of bent knots Devas became extremely terrified and fled. The vanquished Devas with minds agitated due to grief bowed down to the lord of Devas, to վṣṇ the lord of the chiefs of Devas.
On seeing them standing aside after bowing down to him, lord վṣṇ, the lord of the chiefs of Devas, spoke to them these words:�
“O Devas, O dear ones of good holy rites, wherefore have come here with so much of distress and forgetful of your former exploits? It behoves you to speak out.�
On hearing his words, the excellent Devas who were in a miserable plight bowed down to վṣṇ, The lord of Devas, and recounted everything in the manner it had happened. O lords վṣṇ, O lord of the chiefs of Devas, O victorious վṣṇ, all of us are afflicted by Բ. We have sought refuge in you. O ʳܰṣoٳٲ, the lord of the chiefs of Devas, you are our goal. Indeed, you alone are the greatest Āٳ; you are the father of the worlds. O 岹Բ, you alone are the sustainer, annihilator, enjoyer and donor. Hence, O suppressor of Բ, it behoves you to kill them.
Since they have acquired boons, they cannot be killed with any of these arrows and miraculous weapons:—such as those belonging to վṣṇ, , Rudra,Yama, Kubera, Soma, ṛt, ղṇa, , Agni, ղṣa, Sun, ĪśԲ, and other terrible missiles which make others tremble and powerless. O lotus-eyed one, all of them defy death due to their boons. Opreceptor of the universe, the blazing Cakra (discuss) that belongs to you, and that has originated from the solar disc has been rendered blunt by ٲī, son of Cyavana. Your staff and bow, your miraculous weapons have been acquired by Daityas through your grace. Formerly, a terrible and sharp pointed discus was evolved by lord Ś, the enemy of the հܰ� in order to kill Jalandhara. It behoves you to kill them with that weapon.They can be killed with that weapon and not by any of the hundreds of other weapons.