Śveta and Kāla at Kālañjara
The Kūrma Purāṇa tells of Śveta, a rājarshi (a king who was also a ṛshi), who gave his whole life to the pūjā of a Śivaliṅga at Kālañjara. When Kāla (Death) came to take him, Śveta held the liṅga and chanted the Śatarudrīya. Parameśvara appeared with Devī Pārvatī and struck Kāla dead with his left foot. Śveta was given a place among Śiva’s gaṇas. Then Brahmā asked that Kāla be brought back to life, and he was. The tīrtha of Kālañjara has its name and its power from this event.
Śveta is also called Śvetaka. The account is in Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 35.
Śveta’s life of devotion at Kālañjara
Śveta was given entirely to Bhagavān Śaṅkara, the bearer of the trident, at the Kālañjara kshetra. Kālañjara was a great forest under the rule of Rudra, a Rudrādhipatya-kshetra at the outer edge of the known world. There Śveta had set up a Śivaliṅga, and he worshipped it every day in the proper way.
His mind was fixed on Śiva alone. He did liṅgārchana (worship of the liṅga) at all times, chanted Śiva’s name, and meditated on Śiva’s form without turning away. His kingship, his tapas and his daily life were all built around this unbroken devotion to Śiva.
Kāla comes
The time of Śveta’s death came, as set by the karma of his life. Kāla, Death himself, came to Kālañjara in a blazing form. He was fierce, three-eyed, and carried a burning trident. His radiance was searing (tīkshṇa-tejas), and he was terrible in every way. He had come to bind Śveta with the pāśa (noose) and carry him away. Śveta saw the fearful figure of Kāla coming toward him and was filled with fear.
The Śatarudrīya and the prayer
In his fear Śveta held the Śivaliṅga tightly with both hands and began to chant the Śatarudrīya. Again and again he bowed down before Rudra. He prayed: “You who protect the one who takes refuge in you, look upon me. Release this one who has always worshipped you, and let Kāla take someone else.” He asked for nothing more. He stood before Parameśvara as one who has taken refuge (prapanna).
Parameśvara descends
While Śveta prayed, watching Kāla come closer, the sky itself split open. A mass of divine light (tejo-rāśi) filled the whole sky. It was wreathed in garlands of flame, golden in colour, with the crescent moon shining in it. From it Parameśvara himself came down, with Devī. Śveta was still gripped by fear of Kāla, but now he saw his master’s form approaching, and he took courage. He had called, and he had been heard.
Kāla and Parameśvara
Even Parameśvara’s coming did not stop Kāla. Kāla does the work that Brahmā gave him and allows no exceptions. He went on, bound Śveta with the pāśa in Parameśvara’s very presence, and then turned on Parameśvara with his weapon raised.
Parameśvara raised his left foot and with one blow killed Kāla on the spot, before Śveta’s eyes.
Śveta’s stotra
Śveta saw Parameśvara standing before him with Ambā, and Kāla dead at his feet. He fell down in front of him and, with tears of devotion, offered this praise:
Jagaddhetave bhavāya jagat-sṛshṭir-harāya namaḥ / jñānarūpāya śivāya apavargadāyike namaḥ / mahāvibhūtaye tubhyaṃ mumuṛcchana namaḥ…
Śveta called Parameśvara the cause of the world, the one who creates and ends the world (Jagatsṛshṭi-hara), the giver of apavarga (final freedom), the lord of great vibhūti (glory), the one whose form is unbroken (Akhaṇḍarūpa), the master of men (Narādhipa), the master of the gaṇas (Gaṇādhipa), and the one who ends the suffering of those who take refuge. He called him the bearer of the boar’s horn (Vārāha-śṛṅga-dhāri), the one with the bull on his banner (Vṛshadhvaja), the wearer of a garland of skulls (Kapālamālī), and the great dancer (Mahānaṭa).
Śveta is freed, and Kāla is brought back
Parameśvara was pleased with Śveta’s devotion and stotra. He gave Śveta gaṇāpatya, a place among Śiva’s gaṇas for ever, and sārūpya, a divine form like Śiva’s own. Hara then left with Devī Pārvatī, and Śveta went with them. They vanished at once.
Brahmā had seen the whole event. He came forward and asked that Kāla be brought back to life. His reason was this. Kāla had done no wrong. He was the instrument of the order of the world, doing the very task that Brahmā himself had given him. His attack on Parameśvara came from that task and not from any pride against Śiva. Parameśvara saw that this was right and agreed, and Kāla was revived.
The tīrtha of Kālañjara
The tīrtha of Kālañjara gets its name and its power from these events. Here Śiva “devoured” (añjara) Kāla, Death. The Purāṇa says that whoever comes to Kālañjara, worships Mahādeva Rudrādhipati Śaṅkara with devotion, and bathes in its waters, will receive gaṇāpatya. It is the same gaṇāpatya that Śveta received at this very spot through his devotion to Śiva.
Sources
- Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 35