Ajaikapāda

Ajaikapāda · aja-eka-pāda, “he whose one foot is a goat’s”

Ajaikapāda is the Rudra of the rāśi Kumbha. The Pratisarga Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa tells that he was born to Vasuśarmā, a Śiva-bhakta brāhmaṇa of Māhishmatī, from the aṃśa of Bhagavān Śaṅkara, with one foot like a man’s and one like a goat’s. He overcame the Mṛtyu-devatā in battle and became renowned as Mṛtyuñjaya. Brahmā made him adhipati (ruler) of the Candra-maṇḍala, and he came again to Māhishmatī as Purīśarmā, the śishya of Śaṅkarācārya. In the Brahma Parva, Aja is the devatā of the nakshatra Pūrva Bhādrā.

His birth

Bṛhaspati tells Devendra that in Māhishmatī there lived a brāhmaṇa named Vasuśarmā, a bhakta of Śiva. Desiring a son, he was especially intent on pārthivārcana, the pūjā of a Śiva of earth. After many efforts Bhagavān Śaṅkara appeared and told him to ask for a vara. “O you who are tender to those who take refuge,” said the vipra, “give me a son.”

Bhagavān Śaṅkara said: “Vatsa, no son is written for you; even so I give you a radiant son from my own aṃśa.” Saying this, he brought forth a tejas, and from that tejas a beautiful son was born to Vasuśarmā. One foot of that son was like a man’s and the other like a goat’s (aja). Therefore he became renowned on earth as Ajaikapāda.

Victory over Mṛtyu

When four hundred years had passed, the Mṛtyu-devatā came there with his gaṇas, and a terrible battle took place with Ajaikapāda. In the end Ajaikapāda was victorious and became renowned on earth by the name Mṛtyuñjaya. Defeated and distressed, the Mṛtyu-devatā told his trouble to Brahmā.

The Rudra of Kumbha

Then Bhagavān Brahmā, with all the devas, when Sūrya stood in the rāśi Kumbha, made that brāhmaṇa adhipati of the Candra-maṇḍala in the form of the fear-removing Rudra.

Purīśarmā

Sūta tells that the same Ajaikapāda came to Māhishmatīpurī, and as the one who gives purification in Kali became renowned by the name Purīśarmā, descending again as the son of Yatidatta. At sixteen years of age he defeated scholars who were masters of the Veda, came to Śaṅkarācārya and accepted discipleship under him.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 11

Aja of Pūrva Bhādrā

The Brahma Parva names Aja, who resembles pure crystal, as the devatā of Pūrva Bhādrā. Worshipped on that nakshatra, he gives bhakti and victory.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 102

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 102; Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 11