Nairṛta and Vanaśarmā
Nairṛta Vanaśarmā · nairṛta vana-śarmā, “Nairṛta and the one sheltered by the forest”
Vṛshabha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Vṛshabha.
The account of Nairṛta and Vanaśarmā is told in the Pratisarga Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa. Nairṛta was a poor brāhmaṇa of Prayāga who lived by begging with his son and wife. Taught by Nārada Maharshi, he pleased Bhagavān Śiva for a year by pārthivārcana, gained wealth like that of Kubera, gave it to works of dharma, and after a thousand years went to svarga. He became renowned as Nairṛta Rudra, shining in the rāśi Vṛsha. By his aṃśa he came to earth as Vanaśarmā, who defeated many scholars at twelve years of age and became a disciple of Śaṅkarācārya at Kāśī.
The poor brāhmaṇa of Prayāga
Sūta tells a muni, whom he names as Śaunaka, an account that Bṛhaspati, the guru of the devas, told the devas. Bṛhaspati said: “Devendra, of old there was at Prayāga a well-known brāhmaṇa named Nairṛta. He was pained by poverty and of poor fortune.” With great hardship, after begging all day, he got his bhikshā (alms). With his son and wife he was tormented by constant poverty.
One day Devarshi Nārada, dear to Vaishṇavas, came to him and said: “Best of vipras, this whole brahmāṇḍa is full of the devas, and Bhava is the master of all. So you too quickly do bhajana of Bhava. He will accomplish your work.”
The year of pārthivārcana
Receiving this teaching from Nārada, Nairṛta with supreme bhakti pleased Bhagavān Śiva for a year by pārthivārcana (worship of a liṅga of earth). Bhagavān Maheśvara, pleased, gave him divine, abundant wealth like that of Kubera.
With that wealth he carried out works of dharma, and so became famous among the puṇyātmās (those rich in puṇya). By the power of Śiva-bhakti he obtained wealth free of any obstacle. He lived a thousand years, and at the end gave up his prāṇas and went to svarga. When Sūrya stood in the rāśi Vṛsha he shone like the Moon, and he became renowned as Nairṛta Rudra, dear to all people.
Vanaśarmā
Sūta said: “Śaunaka, that same Nairṛta came to earth by his aṃśa.” He was born in the forest of Giranāla-giri as the son of a forest-dwelling Siddha, a Sāṅkhya-yogī, and became renowned as Vanaśarmā, devoted to the Veda and śāstra.
At twelve years of age he defeated many scholars. Then, wishing to gain tattva-jñāna (knowledge of the truth), he came to Kāśī, bowed to the excellent Śaṅkarācārya and became his disciple.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 11
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 11