Avadhūteśvara Avatāra

The Avadhūteśvara Avatāra is the form Bhagavān Śiva took as a naked avadhūta (a wandering ascetic who has left all worldly ties, here a digambara, one clothed only by the sky). He took it to break the pride of Indra, who was going to Kailāsa for Śiva’s darśana (sight of a holy being). The fire from Śiva’s third eye in this episode became the asura Jalandhara, whom Śiva himself later slew. The account is in Chapter 30 of the Śata Rudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa.

Indra’s journey to Kailāsa

Indra, together with all the devas and Bṛhaspati, set out for Kailāsa to see Bhagavān Śiva. Śiva knew that Indra and Bṛhaspati were coming, their minds full of joy at the thought of his darśana. He decided to test their bhakti (devotion). He took the form of a terrifying naked avadhūta, blazing like fire, with a shawl hanging loose from one shoulder. In this digambara form he stood on the path in front of them and blocked it.

Indra’s pride and Śiva’s silence

Indra and Bṛhaspati came along the path and met the astonishing and fearsome figure standing before them. Indra was proud of his authority as ruler of the three worlds. He did not know that this was Śaṃkara, and he challenged him: “O naked avadhūta, who are you? Where have you come from? What is your famous name? Tell me at once, plainly. Is Śambhu in his place, or has he gone somewhere? I am going with Bṛhaspati and the devas to see him.”

Śaṃkara played the part of the unreadable avadhūta. He had decided to humble Indra’s ahaṃkāra (ego), so he gave no answer. Indra asked again. The great yogī stayed silent. The ruler of the three worlds asked again and again, and the blazing digambara kept standing without a word.

At last Indra was filled with rage at being ignored. He threatened to strike the avadhūta with his vajra (thunderbolt) and raised the weapon. Śiva at once froze Indra’s raised hand, so that Indra could not bring it down. Then a terrible, blazing tejas (fiery power) burst out of Śiva’s third eye (lalāṭa-netra). It was a fire that no deva could stand against.

Bṛhaspati recognises Śiva

Bṛhaspati saw the blazing light shining from the avadhūta and knew at once that this was Śiva himself. He bowed down before Prabhu Śiva, joined his hands, and praised him with heartfelt words: “O Deva-deva! O Mahādeva! O Gaurīpati! O Sarveśvara, I bow to you! Be gracious. Even Brahmā, Vishṇu and the others are deceived by your māyā (power of illusion) and do not truly know your svarūpa (true nature). If they ever do know it, that knowledge is only your anugraha (grace).” Then he made Indra fall at Śiva’s feet.

Bṛhaspati appealed to him again: “O Dīna-Prabhu Śiva! O Mahādeva, you should always show compassion to your devotees! O Śaṃkara, you are famous as Bhaktavatsala. Live up to that name. O Deva-deva, the terrible tejas from your third eye is blazing toward us. Turn it away to another place. You lift up all bhaktas. Lift up Indra now.”

The birth of Jalandhara

Śiva’s heart is full of compassion. He smiled through his avadhūta form and answered: “The tejas has already burst from my eye. How can I take it back? Can a snake put on its shed skin again?”

But the compassionate Rudra gave way because of Bṛhaspati’s devoted prayer. Śiva took the blazing fire from his third eye in his hand and threw it far away into the salt ocean, so that it would not harm Indra. The tejas entered the ocean and at once became a child, a son of the sea. He became famous by the name Jalandhara, “the one born from jala (water)”.

Jalandhara later grew into a great and powerful asura king who tormented the devas. In the end Maheśvara himself slew him, when the devas begged him to do so.

The avadhūta disappears

After these events, Śiva had performed this auspicious and wonderful līlā (divine play) in the form of the avadhūta, and he disappeared from that place. All the devas were freed from fear and found peace. Indra and Bṛhaspati were out of danger and were filled with great joy. They had set out to see Īśvara, and now they had seen him face to face. Their purpose was fulfilled, and they returned happily to their own places.

The fruit of hearing this account

The Śata Rudra Saṃhitā says this divine charitra (account) is pure. It gives fame, svarga (heaven), bhukti (enjoyment) and mukti (liberation), and it fulfils all desires. Whoever hears it or recites it every day with a one-pointed mind receives Śiva’s sāyujya (union with him).

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 30