Śambhu of Kāñcī
Śambhu is a brahmin of Kāñcī, the great southern sacred city in present-day Tamil Nadu. He is the main person of the second Caitra snāna (holy bath in the month of Caitra) account in chapter 11 of the Manohara Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa. He made the long journey from Kāñcī to Ayodhyā for the Caitra snāna. By his journey he became the means of moksha (liberation) for a chain of beings: a bhilla robber, a cursed rākshasa, a piśāca who was his own father, an elephant and a lion. His wife Kāśī also helps in this work.
His nature and devotion
Śambhu is known for his sincere devotion and his calm in hard times. When Karkaśa the bhilla robbed him, he did not become angry or sad. He gave Karkaśa bananas in the month of Caitra, as an act of dharma. When he met a rākshasa, he did not run away. He sprinkled water charged with the name of Rāma (Rāmanāma) to awaken the being’s memory. When he was told that his own father was a piśāca, he took in this painful news and put it to use. He offered tarpaṇa (water offering) at the Rāmatīrtha in Ayodhyā to free his father.
His name Śambhu is a name of Bhagavān Śiva and means “the auspicious one”. His journey shows this meaning, since a trail of freed beings followed his steps.
The journey from Kāñcī to Ayodhyā
Śambhu went from Kāñcī in Tamil Nadu to Ayodhyā in Uttar Pradesh. He did this for the Caitra snāna at the Rāmatīrtha in Ayodhyā.
The beings he freed
On the road Śambhu was the means of freeing these beings, in this order:
- Karkaśa the bhilla. He robbed Śambhu and received a gift of bananas. A pure and good mind (sattva-buddhi) woke in him. Through the Caitra snāna he finally reached Vishṇu-loka.
- The rākshasa. He received Rāmanāma water from Śambhu. He remembered his past birth (pūrva-janma smṛti) and understood his śāpa (curse). He was finally freed by the transfer of puṇya (merit) made by Śambhu’s wife Kāśī.
- The piśāca who was Śambhu’s father. A Vaiśya’s words showed who he was. Śambhu freed him by tarpaṇa at Ayodhyā.
- Gaja, the elephant. He was freed by Śambhu’s Caitra kīrtana (singing of Bhagavān Rāma’s praise) and the transfer of puṇya.
- Siṃha, the lion. He was freed in the same way, by Śambhu’s Caitra kīrtana and the transfer of puṇya.
Śambhu’s wife Kāśī
Śambhu’s wife is named Kāśī. Her part in the chain was to make the transfer of puṇya that freed the rākshasa from his cursed state.
Sources
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Manohara Khaṇḍa, chapter 11