Vidhruta Goes to Śiva’s Abode
The Pātāla Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapter 111, tells of King Vidhruta. He lived a life of the worst pāpa (sin). At his death he said the word “Prahara”, which holds the name “Hara” of Śiva. Jvālāvaktra, an attendant of Śiva, then came and beat Yama’s messengers and Death himself. He led Vidhruta to the abode of Śiva.
Vidhruta’s pāpa
In the Tretā Yuga, King Vidhruta piled up pāpa of the gravest kind. He kept only the company of wicked people. Under their influence he brought his kingdom to complete ruin. When he had nothing left to rule, he turned to robbing travellers on the roads. He spent a thousand years as a bandit in the forest. He also carried off women and ate human flesh. The Pātāla Khaṇḍa counts him among its kings of greatest pāpa. No act of kindness, worship or giving ever touched him.
His last word
At the moment of his death, Vidhruta spoke to his minister Surāpa. He said “Prahara“, which means “strike”. It was an ordinary order, with no religious meaning. But inside “Prahara” are the syllables Hara, one of the holy names of Śiva. It means “He who takes away” (pāpa). Vidhruta did not know this. He had never worshipped Śiva and had no devotion. Yet these holy syllables were spoken at the door of death.
Jvālāvaktra comes
After Vidhruta died, Śiva’s fierce attendant Jvālāvaktra came to take his soul. His name means “flame-faced”, and he was one of Vīrabhadra’s attendants. Yama’s messengers tried to bind Vidhruta’s soul with the bonds they use on the dead. The bonds did not work at all. The protection of Śiva’s name had made Yama’s power useless here.
Then Death himself came in person. He claimed this soul, which had so much pāpa that no one could doubt it. Jvālāvaktra fought the deva of Death face to face. He defeated Death and put him on a spike.
Śiva’s declaration
After this, Śiva made a rule for all. Every being who says “Hara” falls under his protection at the time of death. It does not matter where it is said or what the speaker meant. It does not matter how great the pāpa is or how by accident the word was spoken. Such souls are not under Yama’s rule. They are taken to Śiva’s abode.
One more teaching goes with this. Even insects that die in the holy ground of Kāśī reach Śiva directly, by the śakti (power) of that ground.
Yama’s answer
Yama heard Śiva’s declaration and accepted it with respect. He praised Śiva with deep devotion. In return for accepting it, he received a vara (a boon) from Śiva.
Vidhruta is freed
Jvālāvaktra led Vidhruta to the svarga (heaven) of Śiva. Vidhruta had been a bandit for a thousand years and an eater of human flesh. He was freed only because the name of Hara came close to his last breath, by chance.
Sources
- Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 111