Heramba at Śivakāñchī

The Padma Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapter 222 of the Uttara Khaṇḍa, tells of a brāhmaṇa named Heramba who died at the tīrtha (holy place) of Śivakāñchī inside Indraprastha. The attendants of Bhagavān Śiva and the attendants of Bhagavān Vishṇu each claimed him. Bhagavān Vishṇu settled the matter himself.

Heramba’s death at Śivakāñchī

A brāhmaṇa named Heramba died at the Śivakāñchī tīrtha inside Indraprastha. Śivakāñchī is the copy of the great temple city of Kāñchipuram. Bhagavān Śiva set it up at the word of Bhagavān Vishṇu, when Indraprastha was made holy as the highest gathering of all holy places.

The dispute between the attendants

When Heramba died, a strange dispute arose. The attendants of Bhagavān Śiva, his gaṇas, came to take him. They said that he had died at a Śaiva tīrtha, Śivakāñchī, and so he belonged to the world of Śiva.

At the same time the attendants of Bhagavān Vishṇu, the dvārapālas (door-keepers) of Vaikuṇṭha, also came. They claimed Heramba for the world of Vishṇu. Their reason was that the whole tīrtha, Indraprastha, had been set up by Vishṇu and was ruled by him. The two groups argued over Heramba’s ātmā (soul).

Vishṇu’s answer

Bhagavān Vishṇu came himself. He saw that both claims were right: Heramba had died at a Śaiva tīrtha inside the larger holy ground of Vishṇu. So Vishṇu made a rare settlement.

First he took Heramba to Kailāsa, the home of Bhagavān Śiva. In this way he honoured Śiva and let Śiva’s tie with Heramba be properly acknowledged. Then Vishṇu took Heramba from Kailāsa to Vaikuṇṭha, his own eternal world. So Heramba came to both Kailāsa and Vaikuṇṭha, a rare and great end.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 222