Yaksheśvara Avatāra

Chapter 16 of the Śata Rudra Saṃhitā tells of the Yaksheśvara Avatāra. In it Bhagavān Śiva takes the form of a Yaksha, a mysterious being of unknown origin. He does this to end the pride of the devas, who had grown arrogant after they won their victory over the asuras at the Samudra-manthana (the churning of the ocean).

The narrative begins with two events from the churning: Bhagavān Śiva drinking the hālāhala poison, and his grace to Candra, who fled from Rāhu. Then Bhagavān Śiva appears as Yaksheśvara and tests the devas with one blade of grass.

Bhagavān Śiva’s grace at the churning

Nandīśvara tells that the devas and dānavas churned the Kshīra-sāgara (the ocean of milk) to get amṛta (the nectar of life). The first thing to rise was the terrible hālāhala, a poison that blazed like the fire of dissolution. All the devas and dānavas were seized with terror. They ran to Śaṃbhu for refuge. Even Bhagavān Vishṇu joined them.

Bhagavān Śiva felt compassion for his bhaktas (devotees). He drank the poison and held it in his throat. In this way he became the Nīlakaṇṭha, the dark-throated one. The worlds were saved.

After Bhagavān Śiva’s grace had freed them from the danger of the poison, the churning began again. Countless ratnas (jewels) rose from the ocean. At last the amṛta they longed for appeared. Through the action of Bhagavān Vishṇu, the devas alone drank the amṛta, and the asuras were kept from it.

A fierce battle followed. In the turmoil Rāhu chased Candra, and Candra fled in terror to the abode of Bhagavān Śiva. He bowed low and took refuge. Śaṃbhu is always ready to protect those who come to him, and he placed Candra on his own crown. When Rāhu arrived and paid his respects, Bhagavān Śiva placed Rāhu’s severed head, which is Ketu, around his own neck. After the battle the asuras were utterly defeated.

The pride of the devas

The devas, Bhagavān Vishṇu and the others, drank the amṛta and killed the asuras with great ease. Then, through the power of Bhagavān Śiva’s māyā (his power of illusion), deep ahaṃkāra (pride in oneself) took hold of them all. Power seemed to swell inside them. They praised each other and said: “We are all great warriors. We have just slaughtered those feeble asuras. What were they before us?”

The pride of the devas had reached its peak. Parameśvara always removes arrogance, and he decided to teach them the truth about where all power comes from.

Śiva appears as Yaksheśvara

Śaṃbhu took the form of a Yaksha and went to the assembled devas. He asked them: “What is the occasion that brings you all together here? Tell me the reason fully.”

The devas answered with pride: “A great and terrifying war between devas and dānavas was fought here. All the rākshasas were destroyed or driven away. We are all great warriors. The weak asuras were nothing before our strength.”

The Yaksha spoke quietly. He said: “O devas, listen carefully to my true words. They will remove all your arrogance. Do not be so proud. There is the supreme Parameśvara, who creates, sustains and dissolves all things. Have you forgotten Maheśvara? Your strength is hollow without him.”

Then he made his challenge: “If you truly have strength, see if any of you, with all your weapons and powers, can cut this single blade of grass that I place before you.”

The blade of grass

The devas were all confident warriors. One by one they tried to cut or move the blade of grass with their divine weapons. Every weapon was useless. By the power of Bhagavān Śiva’s will, no weapon of any deva could touch the single blade of grass. Varuṇa’s pāśa (noose), Indra’s vajra (thunderbolt) and Agni’s flames were all useless against it. Their weapons fell away powerless.

Then a voice came from the sky, the ākāśavāṇī. It said: “O devas, the being before you is Śaṅkara himself, who removes all pride. He alone creates, protects and dissolves all things. Śaṅkara has taken this Yaksha form to test you. All beings have strength only through his śakti (power). Without him no jīva (living being) would have any power at all. Bhagavān Śiva’s māyā deceived you into thinking that your own strength won this victory. But you could not even understand Prabhu Śiva, whose very form is knowledge (jñāna), and who is your own master.”

The devas surrender

When the devas heard the voice from the sky, they regained their right knowledge. They gave up their pride and bowed down before Bhagavān Śiva in his Yaksheśvara form. They praised him:

“O Deva-deva, Mahādeva, remover of all arrogance! O Yaksheśvara, your līlās (divine acts) are endless and your māyā is wondrous. Today your māyā made us speak proudly before you, as if we were separate from you. Through your grace, knowledge has now dawned. You alone are the creator, sustainer and destroyer of all the worlds. It is not Brahmā, it is not us, it is not any other. You alone are Sarveśvara, the Paramātmā, the indestructible, the one without a second. You appeared as Yaksheśvara and removed our pride, and in this you showed us only compassion.”

Yaksheśvara was pleased. He gave grace and teachings of wisdom to all the devas, and then he vanished from that place.

The Śata Rudra Saṃhitā says that this narrative removes all arrogance and brings peace and joy to good people (sat-purushas). It is to be heard with devotion. Those who hear it or retell it will obtain all their desires, and after death they will reach a state of puṇya (merit).

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 16