The Naimisha Ṛshis’ Stotra to Someśvara (Brahma Purāṇa)
Naimisha Ṛshi Kṛta Someśvara Stotra · naimisha ṛshi kṛta soma-īśvara stotra, “the stotra to Someśvara sung by the ṛshis of Naimisha”
The Naimisha Ṛshis’ Stotra to Someśvara is the single verse in which the ṛshis of the Naimisha forest took refuge in Bhagavān Śiva, as Someśvara, on the bank of the Gautamī. It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 46 (verse 14), where Brahmā tells Nārada the account of Vaḍavā-saṅgama and the liṅga Mahānala. The ṛshis’ yajña, at which Mṛtyu himself served as the śamitṛ, was threatened by rākshasas sent by the devas. The ṛshis fled with their sacred fire to the Gautamī, bathed, and praised Someśvara as the one who created the universe in play, of cosmic form, beyond the existent and the non-existent. Śiva protected them, and the yajña was completed.
The setting
Brahmā tells Nārada of a tīrtha that removes death, old age and other defects. Long ago the ṛshis of great tapas performed a yajña in the Naimisha forest, and they made Mṛtyu (Death) the śamitṛ, the one who slays the animal of the yajña. While the yajña went on with Mṛtyu at that work, no one died among moving and unmoving beings: apart from the animals of the yajña, every mortal became deathless. Neglected by Mṛtyu, svarga became empty and the world of mortals overcrowded.
The devas told the rākshasas to go and destroy that great yajña. The rākshasas asked what they would gain, for no one acts without a reason, and the devas promised them a share in the fruit of the yajña. At the devas’ bidding they hurried to the place. The ṛshis learned of it and asked Mṛtyu what they should do. Taking counsel with him, they left their āśrama, carrying only the sacred fire and leaving the vessels behind, so that the yajña might be completed, and with Mṛtyu they hurried to the Gautamī. There they bathed, and with joined palms they praised Maheśāna, Deveśa, the master of the devas, for protection.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 46
The stotra
The ṛshis said:
“We take refuge in that Someśvara who in play (līlā) created this universe; who is the creator and the ordainer of the three worlds; who has the cosmic form (viśvarūpa); and who is beyond both the existent and the non-existent (sat and asat).”
Mṛtyu then praised Śaṅkara with a stotra of his own (verses 15–16), taking refuge in Śaṅkara, the master of the devas, who creates, protects and destroys everything by his will alone, of great strength and vast form, adorned with great serpents.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 46
What followed
Bhagavān Śiva asked, “What is it that you wish?” Mṛtyu answered: “O Deveśa, master of the devas, a terrible danger has come upon us from the rākshasas. Protect our yajña, so that it may be completed.” Bhagavān Śiva, the three-eyed Vṛshadhvaja whose banner bears the bull, did so, and with Mṛtyu as the śamitṛ the yajña was completed.
When the devas came slowly for their shares of the havis, the ṛshis, in fury, spoke to them with Mṛtyu: “Since the rākshasas were sent by you to destroy our yajña, let the rākshasas be your enemies.” From then on the rākshasas became the enemies of the devas. The devas and the ṛshis then crowned Vaḍavā, a kṛtyā (a being born of a rite), as the wife of Mṛtyu, and the holy water of that abhisheka became the river Vaḍavā. The liṅga installed by Mṛtyu is called Mahānala, and the tīrtha is known as Vaḍavā-saṅgama.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 46
The phala
The tīrtha where Bhagavān Śiva dwells as Mahānala gives bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and moksha. There are a thousand tīrthas on the two banks there; they give every desired thing, and by remembering them pāpas are washed away.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 46
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 46