Don’t Be Suspicious of Mother’s Motive

IN THE LAST COLUMN, I started to tell an interesting, but relatively unknown, story from Matsya Purana. Criticised for being dark, Devi wished to perform austerities, so that she might become fair. Off she went. Viraka was a leader of the ganas. (Ganas are Shiva’s companions and attendants.) Devi treated him like a son and, while she was away, asked him to guard the gate. No other woman should be allowed to approach Shiva. Devi went away to perform austerities. Meanwhile, there was a powerful daitya who was Andhaka’s son. His name was Adi and he constantly grieved over his father’s death, seeking revenge. He sensed an opportunity. Earlier, Adi had performed austerities and had satisfied Brahma. As always happened, Brahma granted him a boon. Adi had wished to be immortal. But that wasn’t possible. So, he was granted the boon that he would be killed only when his form was transformed, not otherwise. (Whenever Brahma granted a boon for immortality, he left a loophole as a safeguard.) To avoid being noticed by Viraka, Adi assumed the form of a snake and entered through a hole. Once inside the city, he discarded the form of the snake and assumed Umaa’s form. Shiva couldn’t detect the difference. He thought that Devi had returned.

On seeing him, Girisha was content and embraced the great asura. Given every aspect of the limbs, he thought that this was the mountain’s daughter. He asked, “O daughter of a mountain! Are your sentiments true and not artificial? O one beautiful in complexion! You seem to have come here because you know what I wish for. Without you, I regard the three worlds as empty. You have come here with a pleasant face. That is indeed appropriate for you.” Thus addressed, the Indra among danavas spoke slowly. He did not know of the special signs known to the destroyer of Tripura, secret signs only known to Shiva. In the form of Devi, Adi replied, “To obtain your unmatched love, I went to perform austerities. But I found no attachment in that and have returned to your presence.” Addressed in this way, Shankara suspected something. However, hiding this in his mind, the divinity spoke, with a smile on his face. “O slender-limbed one! You were angry with me. By nature, you are firm in your vows. You have returned without achieving what you want. What is this? I have a doubt.” Thinking this, Hara pondered about her signs. On her left flank, on her limbs, the divinity Pinaki had twisted her body-hair to fashion the mark of a lotus. He did not see this and discerned that this was the secret maya of a danava. Invoking the vajrastra on his penis, he slew the Indra among danavas. Viraka did not know that the Indra among danavas had been killed in this way. Devi had also left Kusumamodini, the divinity of the mountain and her friend, as an additional guard. She was to inform Devi if anything went wrong. The divinity of the mountain, Kusumamodini, saw that Hara had killed the lord of danavas, who was in the form of a woman. She did not know the truth and used the swift wind as a messenger to convey the news to the mountain’s daughter. Hearing this through Vayu’s mouth, Devi’s eyes turned red with rage. With her heart shattered, she got ready to curse her son, Viraka.

Devi said, “You were overwhelmed by love for Shankara and ignored me, your mother. You created an opportunity for other women to enter near him in private. Therefore, you will become harsh and rough, dumb and heartless. O Ganesha (lord of the ganas)! Your mother will be a corrosive rock.” This is the famous reason for Viraka to have emerged from a rock. Shila means rock. Nandi was the son of Shilada, the son of a rock. But there is nothing to identify Viraka with Nandi, though that identification seems obvious.) In the course of time, this incident became the source of colourful accounts.”

Criticised for being dark, Devi wished to perform austerities. Off she went. Viraka was a leader of the ganas. Devi treated him like a son and asked him to guard the gate. No other woman should be allowed to approach Shiva

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Thereafter, the rage that led to the curse emerged from the mouth of the mountain’s daughter. It assumed the form of an immensely strong lion. That lion had a cruel face and its shoulder was covered with a mass of maned hair. Its long tail projected upwards and there were arrays of fierce teeth inside its mouth. A tongue flickered inside its gaping mouth and with a slender waist, it was ready to devour. On seeing the lion, Devi Sati prepared to ascend it. The illustrious one, with the four faces, got to know what she desired. He arrived at the hermitage, which possessed every kind of prosperity. Having arrived, the lord of the devas addressed the mountain’s daughter in clear words. Brahma asked, “O daughter! What do you hope to accomplish? What wish will I grant you? Follow my instructions and refrain from this great hardship of austerities.” Thus addressed, the mountain’s daughter displayed the honour that was due to a guru. In clear letters and words, she articulated the desire that she had harboured for a long time. Devi said, “Having undertaken difficult austerities, I obtained Shankara as a husband. However, Bhava spoke a lot to me about my dark complexion. I desire a golden complexion, so that he loves me. My husband is the lord of the bhutas. When my limbs have the same complexion as his, my limbs will merge into his.” Hearing her words, the one who is seated on a lotus replied. “It shall be that way. You will form half of your husband’s body.” At this, she cast aside her skin, as dark as bees and resembling blossoming blue lotuses. Her skin blazed. She possessed three eyes and held a bell in her hand. She adorned all her limbs with many kinds of ornaments and wore a yellow silk garment. Brahma spoke to the Devi who possessed the complexion of a blue lotus. (Parvati separated into two parts. Nishaa means night. Ekanamsha is identified with Yogamaya and Vishnu’s Shakti. Koushiki means someone who emerged from the kosha [sheath of the body]).

Brahma continued, “O Nishaa! You followed my command and were attached to the body of the mountain’s daughter. Earlier, you were known as Ekanamsha and have now become successful in your objective. O one with the beautiful face! This lion originated from Devi’s rage. O Devi! This immensely strong one will be your mount and will also be present on your standard. Go to Vindhyachala and perform a task for the gods there. There is a yaksha named Panchala and one hundred thousand yakshas are his followers. He knows of one hundred different kinds of maya. O Devi! I give him to you as a servant.” Thus addressed, Devi Koushiki went to Mount Vindhya. Having achieved her resolution, Umaa returned to Girisha’s presence. As she was about to enter, the attentive gatekeeper, Viraka, holding a golden cane made of creepers in his hand, checked her. He thought this form was that of a wanton woman and spoke to her angrily. “There is no need for you here. Leave. Are you not scared? Seeking to deceive the divinity, a daitya assumed Devi’s form. I did not see him enter, but the divinity has killed him. Having killed him, full of rage, Nilakantha has instructed me that I should not be negligent at the gate. Therefore, I am keeping an eye out. When I am stationed at the gate, even if you try for several years, you will not be able to enter. I will not grant you entry. Leave quickly. Full of love and affection, my mother, the mountain’s daughter, has instructed me. O one with eyes like lotuses! No other woman can gain entry.”

Thus addressed, Devi thought in her mind. “The woman Vayu (the Wind God, sent by Kusumamodini as a messenger) spoke about must have been a daitya. Overwhelmed by rage, I have cursed Viraka in vain. Often, succumbing to anger, foolish people do what they should not do. Rage destroys fame. Anger destroys steady prosperity. Without knowing about the truth, I have cursed my son. If the intelligence becomes perverse, a perverse consequence is easily obtained.” Thinking this, the mountain’s daughter spoke to Viraka. Her face, which resembled a lotus, was tinged with shame. Devi said, “O Viraka! I am your mother. Do not harbour a suspicion about me in your mind. I am Shankara’s beloved and the daughter of the snow-clad mountain. O son! Do not be suspicious because of the complexion of my body. Satisfied with me, the one born from the lotus has granted me this fair complexion. I did not know the account about what the daitya had done and cursed you. I thought a woman had entered and had met with Shankara in private. It is impossible to counter the curse. However, I will tell you something. You will soon be born as a human and accomplish your desires.” With a satisfied mind, Viraka lowered his head and worshipped his mother. What Viraka said will be left for the next column.

About The Author

Bibek Debroy

Bibek Debroy has translated the Mahabharata and the Valmiki Ramayana into English. He is the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister

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