Candrasena of Ujjayinī

Candrasena was the king of Ujjayinī. In his reign one of the best-known Pradosha Māhātmya narratives took place. Pradosha is the twilight hour of the thirteenth lunar day (trayodaśī), when Bhagavān Śiva is worshipped for his grace.

Candrasena owned the Cintāmaṇi, a wish-fulfilling gem. He had received it from Maṇibhadra, the chief of the yakshas. The gem made his kingdom shine with prosperity. Kings of nearby lands came with their armies to take it. A young cowherd boy named Śrīkara watched the king worship Bhagavān Śiva and was so moved that he began to worship a stone on the bank of the Kshiprā river. Bhagavān Śiva was pleased with the boy’s pūjā (worship). He protected the whole kingdom, defeated the enemy forces and gave great varas (boons) to both Candrasena and Śrīkara. Hanumān also foretold that Bhagavān Kṛshṇa would be born in the eighth generation from Śrīkara.

The Cintāmaṇi and the enemy threat

Candrasena was a king who followed dharma. He received the Cintāmaṇi gem from Maṇibhadra, the chief of the yakshas, as a vara (boon) for his devotion and friendship. While the king held the gem, the city of Ujjayinī was full of light and the kingdom grew rich beyond measure.

The fame of the gem spread to the neighbouring kingdoms. The kings there were jealous and greedy. They joined together and marched against Ujjayinī to seize the gem.

In this time of danger Candrasena turned to Bhagavān Śiva. He worshipped him sincerely in the temple, which was filled with the light of the Cintāmaṇi. It was the Pradosha hour, the twilight of the Trayodaśī. At that time Bhagavān Śiva dances on Mount Meru and grants varas to all who worship him.

Śrīkara’s worship and the response of Bhagavān Śiva

A young cowherd boy named Śrīkara saw the king’s worship from a distance. He was deeply moved. He went to the bank of the Kshiprā river and began to worship a stone. He used the stone as a Śiva-liṅga (the sign of Bhagavān Śiva). He did the whole pūjā with whatever materials he could gather, and he was lost in devotion. He stayed in this worship from Pradosha through the night.

Bhagavān Śiva was moved more by Śrīkara’s simple and complete surrender than even by the king’s formal worship. He sent his own gaṇas (attendants) to protect Ujjayinī. The enemy armies were thrown into confusion. Their commanders fell and their forces ran in defeat. Candrasena did not have to fight at all. The kingdom was saved by the protection that came from Śrīkara’s Pradosha devotion.

Boons and Hanumān’s prophecy

At the end of these events Candrasena received the blessings of Bhagavān Śiva for his own Pradosha worship. Śrīkara received even greater varas: sovereignty, long life and a destiny of moksha (liberation).

Then Hanumān appeared and spoke a prophecy. In the eighth generation descended from Śrīkara, Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, the avatāra (incarnation) of Bhagavān Vishṇu, would be born.

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 5