Vaishṇava Jvara

Vaishṇava Jvara · vaishṇava-jvara, “the fever of Vishṇu”

The Vaishṇava Jvara is the fever of Vishṇu. In the battle at the city of Bāṇa it drove the Māheśvara Jvara, the fever of Maheśvara, out of the body of Śrī Kṛshṇa, and when Brahmā asked Hari to forgive the defeated fever, Hari withdrew the Vaishṇava Jvara into himself.

In the battle with Bāṇa

Vyāsa tells the munis the life of Śrī Kṛshṇa. When Aniruddha had been bound by the daitya Bāṇa in Śoṇitapura, Hari mounted Garuḍa, who came as soon as he was thought of, and went with Balarāma and Pradyumna to Bāṇa’s city. At its very gate he destroyed the mighty host of the pramatha-gaṇas.

Then the Mahājvara, the great fever, three-footed and three-headed, came to fight Śārṅgadhanvā, the bearer of the Śārṅga bow, for Bāṇa’s protection. Even Balarāma felt a burning heat and closed his eyes. The Māheśvara Jvara, which was fighting Śrī Kṛshṇa, was driven out of his body by the Vaishṇava Jvara.

Seeing the Māheśvara Jvara tormented by the pressure of Nārāyaṇa‘s arms, its eyes closed from the pain of the blow, Brahmā said to Hari: “Forgive this one.” Hari said, “I have forgiven,” and withdrew the Vaishṇava Jvara into himself. Then he said to the Māheśvara Jvara: “Whoever remembers this battle between you and me will be free of fever.” So saying, Hari went on to the battle with Bāṇa.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 206

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 206