Vishṇu’s Eye and Cakratīrtha

The Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, in the Gautamī Māhātmya, tells how Cakratīrtha came to be on the river Gautamī. Bhagavān Vishṇu lost his discus (cakra) to the leader of Bhagavān Śiva’s Bhūtas. Later, when the devas faced a great battle with the daityas, Bhagavān Vishṇu went to the Godāvarī and worshipped Bhagavān Śiva every day with a thousand golden lotuses. When one lotus was missing, he took out his own eye and offered it as the thousandth. Bhagavān Śiva was moved and gave back both the discus and the eye. The place where Bhagavān Vishṇu stood to worship became Cakratīrtha (a holy bathing place).

Daksha’s yajña and Satī’s death

Daksha arranged a great yajña (fire ritual) that all the devas attended. Bhagavān Śiva was neither invited nor honoured. Daksha had slandered and insulted him in the assembly of the devas.

Satī, Daksha’s daughter, heard this from Ahalyā. She was furious that her father had insulted her husband. She said that women who listen to their husbands being blamed take on limitless pāpa (sin). Then she resolved: “I shall not hold on to this despicable body.” She gave up her body by the power of yoga, turning her mind only to Bhagavān Śiva.

Maheśvara heard everything from Nārada. He went to the place of Daksha’s yajña with his terrible gaṇas and senior Bhūtas. Vīrabhadra and Bhadrakālī went in front. They surrounded the yajña on all sides and destroyed it. There was a great uproar. Pūshan’s teeth were pulled out, Bhaga’s eyes were split, and Bhagavān Śiva’s arms hurled the Sun down. All the devas ran to Bhagavān Vishṇu for refuge and cried, “Save us from the leader of the Bhūtas.”

To kill the Bhūta leader, Bhagavān Vishṇu hurled his discus. As the discus came near, the Bhūta leader caught it. Now the discus was in the Bhūta leader’s hands and the devas were in disorder. Daksha fell to the ground in fear and then praised Bhagavān Śiva with full devotion. Bhagavān Śiva was pleased. He completed Daksha’s yajña and disappeared with his Bhūtas. The devas went back to their own homes. But Bhagavān Vishṇu had no discus. (Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39)

The later battle and Vishṇu’s problem

After this, a great battle broke out between the devas and the daityas. The devas were afraid and praised Bhagavān Vishṇu: “There is none equal or superior to Nṛsiṃha, whose vehicle is Garuḍa. Let Bhagavān Nṛsiṃha protect us from this great danger.”

Bhagavān Vishṇu was pleased and asked what they wished. They said, “The devas are in great danger from the daityas. Save them, O Bhagavān Vishṇu.”

He answered plainly: “My discus has been caught by Hara. I am without the discus. Still, I will protect you. Let all the devas go back.”

When the devas had gone, Bhagavān Vishṇu decided to get the discus back. He went to the Godāvarī and began to worship Śambhu. (Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39)

The thousand lotuses and the eye

With great devotion Bhagavān Vishṇu worshipped Bhagavān Śiva every day with a thousand divine, sweet-smelling golden lotuses. This was the mantra he used:

“Obeisance to the Pināka-bearing Maheśa, who removes great danger in the forest of worldly existence and who fulfils all cherished desires.”

With this mantra and a mind wholly devoted, he worshipped Bhagavān Śiva day after day.

One day, as the worship went on, the lotuses were found to be one short of a thousand. Bhagavān Vishṇu saw that one lotus was missing and that he had no other. He did not hesitate. He took his own eye out of its socket and offered it as argha (an offering of reverential water). He took the vessel of argha that now held a thousand offerings, 999 lotuses and his eye. He meditated on Śambhu, and Hari made the argha offering. Tears filled the eye that remained, and he said:

“O Prabhu Śiva, you alone know the innermost feelings of men. You alone are refuge and overlord. What doubt can there be?”

(Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39)

Śiva’s grace: the discus and the eye return

As he spoke, Bhagavān Vishṇu was so deep in devotion that he seemed to merge with Īśvara. Then Śambhu appeared before him with Bhavānī. He embraced Hari closely and gave him many varas (boons). He gave back both Bhagavān Vishṇu’s own eye and the discus.

All the devas then praised Hari and Śaṅkara together. They also praised the Gaṅgā, the best of all rivers, and the bull-bannered Bhagavān Śiva.

From then on, the holy place on the Gautamī where Bhagavān Vishṇu stood and worshipped Śaṅkara is known as Cakratīrtha. Even today the place can be known by the mark of the discus there. Just by hearing this account, a person is freed from all pāpa. A person who bathes there, gives gifts and offers water to the ancestors will reach svarga (heaven) together with the ancestors. (Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapters 39–40)

Sources

• Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 39
• Brahma Mahā Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 40