Harikeśa Yaksha
Harikeśa was a yaksha, son of Pūrṇabhadra, a chief of the yakshas. Chapter 179 of the Matsya Mahā Purāṇa tells how he did intense tapas (austerity) in Vārāṇasī. Bhagavān Śiva then gave him three offices in the holy city: Gaṇeśvara (ruler of the gaṇas, the attendants of Bhagavān Śiva), giver of food (anna-dāta) and guardian of the kshetra (kshetrapāla). In his office as guardian he was given the name Piṅgala.
Harikeśa and his tapas
Harikeśa was a yaksha, the son of Pūrṇabhadra, a chief among the yakshas.
He came to Vārāṇasī, the city where Bhagavān Śiva is always present, and did intense tapas there. This chapter describes the city of Avimukta as having a special power to increase the fruit of tapas. Bhagavān Śiva himself stays there in his sthāṇu-rūpa (his still and unmoving form) and is always within reach of a sincere seeker.
The text does not say what kind of tapas Harikeśa did or for how long. It stresses the sincerity and strength of his practice in this holy kshetra (sacred field).
Bhagavān Śiva appears and gives three offices
Bhagavān Śiva was pleased with the tapas of Harikeśa. He appeared before him and gave him three offices that together make up the guarding of the living city.
1. Gaṇeśvara, ruler of the gaṇas
Harikeśa received the title and work of Gaṇeśvara, ruler of the gaṇas of Bhagavān Śiva. This is a place of great honour among the attendants of Bhagavān Śiva. It is not the same as Gaṇeśa or Vināyaka, the elephant-headed son of Bhagavān Śiva. For Harikeśa it is a special title for the guardian of the kshetra among the gaṇas.
2. Anna-dāta, giver of food
He became the anna-dāta of Vārāṇasī, the one who sees that the people of the holy city and its pilgrims are fed. The Purāṇas teach that giving food is the most basic form of dharma, and that a holy city must be able to feed all who come to it, whatever their standing.
3. Kshetrapāla, guardian of the sacred field
He received the office of kshetrapāla, guardian of the kshetra, who keeps its boundaries and its holiness. In this office he was given the name Piṅgala.
Piṅgala, the guardian
As Piṅgala, Harikeśa stands at the boundaries of Avimukta. He sees that the holiness of the kshetra of Bhagavān Śiva is kept and that the city goes on doing its work as the place of liberation for all.
Bhagavān Śiva describes Avimukta
After the consecration of Harikeśa, the chapter turns to Bhagavān Śiva describing the Avimukta kshetra to Pārvatī. He says:
- Size. It is two and a half yojanas long and half a yojana wide.
- The Gaṅgā. The holy river flows through it, so it is made pure twice: by the presence of Bhagavān Śiva and by the waters of the Gaṅgā.
- Never left. Bhagavān Śiva says that he never leaves this kshetra, in no yuga (age) and not at pralaya (the dissolution of the world). While the rest of creation is dissolved, Avimukta remains, held on the tip of the trident of Bhagavān Śiva.
- Moksha at death. Every being who dies within the Avimukta kshetra receives the tāraka-brahma (the mantra that carries across), whispered into the right ear by Bhagavān Śiva himself, and reaches moksha (liberation).
This teaching is given at the time of Harikeśa’s rise. The one who guards the boundaries of Avimukta serves directly the work of Bhagavān Śiva, which is moksha for all.
Sources
- Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 179