Gajāsura Vadha

The Gajāsura Vadha (the slaying of the asura Gajāsura) is told in Chapter 57 of the Yuddha Khaṇḍa of the Rudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa. Gajāsura was the son of Mahishāsura. He won a special vara from Brahmā, conquered the three worlds, and troubled the devotees of Bhagavān Śiva at Kāśī. Bhagavān Śiva fought him and killed him with the triśūla (trident).

As he died, Gajāsura asked that Bhagavān Śiva wear his elephant skin for ever. Bhagavān Śiva agreed and became Kṛttivāsa, the wearer of the hide. Gajāsura’s body became the Kṛttivāseśvara liṅga, one of the sacred liṅgas of Kāśī.

Gajāsura’s birth and vara

Gajāsura was the son of Mahishāsura, the great buffalo asura slain by Durgā. After his father’s death, Gajāsura did hard tapas (austerity) for Brahmā. He received a special vara (boon). No being who was kāma-pīḍita, afflicted by lust or desire, could kill him.

With this protection Gajāsura conquered the three worlds and brought Indra and all the devas under his rule. In time he came to Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), the most sacred city of Bhagavān Śiva. There he began to trouble and torment the brāhmaṇas, the devotees of Bhagavān Śiva, and the ascetics who lived in that city of moksha (liberation). His presence spoiled the holy air of the city.

The battle and Gajāsura’s death

The devas went to Bhagavān Śiva and begged for help. He is the protector of Kāśī and of all his devotees, and he agreed to fight. He fought Gajāsura with his triśūla.

Bhagavān Śiva alone among all beings is untouched by lust and desire. He was beyond the kāma-affliction that was the condition of Gajāsura’s safety. So his weapon could harm Gajāsura where no other being’s could. Bhagavān Śiva pierced Gajāsura with his triśūla.

As Gajāsura lay dying, he offered a stotra (hymn of praise) to Bhagavān Śiva, calling him the supreme Parabrahman. Then he made a last request. He did not ask for his life. He asked for something that was entirely for the sake of Bhagavān Śiva.

“Bhagavān Śiva, I ask only one thing. Wear my elephant skin on your body for ever. Let my skin be your garment always.”

Bhagavān Śiva was deeply moved by this request, and he granted it fully. He took off Gajāsura’s elephant hide and wrapped it around himself as a garment. From then on he has the names Kṛttivāsa (one who wears a hide) and Gajacarmādhārī (wearer of the elephant skin).

The Kṛttivāseśvara liṅga

Gajāsura’s body became the Kṛttivāseśvara liṅga. It is one of the sacred svayambhū (self-born) or kshetra (place) liṅgas of Kāśī. The devotees of Kāśī celebrated Gajāsura’s death and the setting up of this new sacred liṅga with great joy.

The Kṛttivāseśvara liṅga at Kāśī holds the memory of Gajāsura’s last act of devotion. At the moment of death he thought not of himself but of how he could be a lasting garment for the one who slew him.

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Yuddha Khaṇḍa, Chapter 57