Kīrti and Kshipraprasādana

The Śamī Māhātmya Upākhyāna is told in Chapters 33–35 of the Krīḍā Khaṇḍa of the Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, in the voice of the ṛshi Gṛtsamada. It is about King Priyavrata of Madra deśa, his senior queen Kīrti, and their son Kshipraprasādana. The child was poisoned at birth. He was brought back to life by puṇya (merit) that Gṛtsamada had gathered over many years by offering śamī leaves to Gaṇeśa. The Purāṇa shows here that this puṇya, given with true intention to save an innocent life, reaches anyone in need.

King Priyavrata and his two queens

King Priyavrata ruled the Madra deśa with all the qualities of a just king. He had two queens: Kīrti, the senior queen, and Prabhā, the junior queen. The king’s attention and love went mostly to Prabhā, and Kīrti was left in loneliness and neglect. This is told in Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 33.

In spite of this, Kīrti kept her devotion and her dignity. She was a sincere devotee of Gaṇeśa. Her inner life was held up by her pūjā, even while her outer life was marked by the sorrow of being set aside by her husband.

The birth and poisoning of Kshipraprasādana

Kīrti gave birth to a son. The day that should have brought joy brought disaster instead. The baby, who would be known as Kshipraprasādana, was poisoned at birth. He lay dying, and no ordinary means could bring him back. This is told in Chapter 33.

The name Kshipraprasādana means “the one who quickly gives grace”. The name proved true, for his whole life showed the quick grace of Gaṇeśa.

Gṛtsamada gives the puṇya of śamī pūjā

The ṛshi Gṛtsamada had spent years offering śamī leaves to the mūrti of Gaṇeśa with a one-pointed mind. Over the years he had gathered puṇya. This was his spiritual wealth.

When Kīrti’s child lay dying, Gṛtsamada gave all the puṇya of his śamī pūjā to the baby. He gave it with intention and with compassion, so that the child might live. The power of the śamī pūjā puṇya, sent in this way, reached the dying child. He was brought back to life. He opened his eyes, he breathed, and he lived. This is told in Chapters 33–34.

The Heraṃba temple in Karnāṭaka

The Śamī Māhātmya also records the setting up of the Heraṃba temple in Karnāṭaka. Heraṃba is one of the names of Gaṇeśa. This is told in Chapter 35.

Kīrti and her son worship Ḍhuṇḍhirāja

The account does not end with the child’s recovery. Later Kīrti and her son Kshipraprasādana travel to Kāśī and offer worship to the Ḍhuṇḍhirāja mūrti of Gaṇeśa, the Vināyaka who presides over the holy city. They worship him with śamī leaves, mandāra flowers and dūrvā grass.

Ḍhuṇḍhirāja is pleased with their devotion. He appears before them in a splendid form with ten arms. He gives the son a new name, Paraśubāhu, “one whose arms are as strong as a paraśu (axe)”. Under this name Kshipraprasādana rules his father’s kingdom for 1,000 years with justice and plenty. In the end he reaches Gaṇeśa-svarūpa, the state of becoming one with Gaṇeśa. This is told in Chapters 48–49.

Sources

• Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapters 33–35 (Śamī Māhātmya Upākhyāna, told in the voice of Gṛtsamada)
• Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapters 48–49 (Kīrti and Kshipraprasādana at Kāśī, Paraśubāhu)