Śiva Returns to Kāśī

This is the account of how Bhagavān Śiva came back to Kāśī after King Divodāsa had given up the city and gone away. It is told in Chapters 62, 98 and 99 of the Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Uttarārdha, of the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa. Bhagavān Vishṇu, Brahmā, Gaṇeśa and many others went out to meet Bhagavān Śiva. He entered the city in his great chariot with thirty-three crore devas, was crowned by Brahmā, and showed the Viśveśvara Liṅga to everyone.

The news and the welcome party

Bhagavān Śiva was coming near Kāśī at last. Garuḍa flew ahead and brought the news to Bhagavān Vishṇu, who was living at Pañchanada in Kāśī. Bhagavān Vishṇu was filled with joy. He came down from Garuḍa at once and went out to meet Bhagavān Śiva.

He kept Brahmā at the head of the party. With them went Bhagavān Sūrya, all the gaṇas, and the Yoginīs. These Yoginīs were the ones who had come to Kāśī on earlier missions and had settled there for good. Gaṇeśa walked hand in hand with Bhagavān Vishṇu. (Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 62)

The meeting

Bhagavān Śiva, whose banner carries the bull, came into view. Bhagavān Vishṇu quickly got down from Garuḍa and bowed at his feet. The aged Pitāmaha, Brahmā, bowed his head. Bhagavān Śiva lifted Brahmā up before he had bowed fully. Brahmā then held up wet raw rice grains and fruits and chanted the Rudra Sūktas in salutation.

Gaṇeśa threw himself down at the two lotus feet of Bhagavān Śiva. Bhagavān Śiva kissed the top of Gaṇeśa’s head with great love, embraced him, and seated him beside his own throne. The Yoginīs sang auspicious songs. Bhagavān Sūrya bowed. Then Bhagavān Śiva honoured Bhagavān Vishṇu by seating him on his left. (Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 62)

Kapilā Hrada and the five cows

As Bhagavān Śiva entered Kāśī, five divine cows came down from Goloka, the world of the cows, and reached the sacred spot. They walked around the place, and their hooves cut deep marks in the ground. From this arose the Kapilā Hrada, the pond of the tawny cow.

The pitṛs (ancestors) came out from their own realms and gathered around the place. Bhagavān Śiva gave it ten names:

  1. Madhusravā
  2. Kṛtakṛtyā
  3. Kshitanirādhi
  4. Vṛshabhadhvaja
  5. Pitāmaha Tīrtha
  6. Gadādhara Tīrtha
  7. Pitṛ Tīrtha
  8. Kāpiladhārā
  9. Sudhākhani
  10. Śivagayā

(Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 62)

Nandī describes the chariot

Before Bhagavān Śiva entered the city, Nandī described his chariot to the devas who had gathered. He spoke of it as a picture of the whole universe:

  • The wheels were the mind and the wind.
  • Ten thousand lions pulled it.
  • The cosmic intelligence was its central pole.
  • Narmadā and Alakanandā were its shafts.
  • The Sun and the Moon were its umbrella.
  • Gāyatrī was its yoke.
  • Takshaka and other serpents were its ropes.
  • Praṇava (the sacred syllable Oṃ) was the charioteer.
  • The seven Vedic metres were its guard at the front.

In this chariot, with the whole cosmos as his vehicle, Bhagavān Śiva entered Kāśī. Thirty-three crore devas went with him. (Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 62)

The day of the entry

The entry of Bhagavān Śiva into Kāśī was celebrated on the first lunar day of the bright half (śukla paksha) of the month of Kārttika. Budha (Mercury) stood with the Anurādhā nakshatra, and the Moon was in its seventh position. The whole sky rang with Vedic chanting. Gandharvas sang and apsarās danced. All beings were filled with the four aims of life.

The smoke of the incense gave the sky a blue tinge. The Purāṇa says the sky keeps this colour even today. The stars were declared to be the lamps lit for the nīrājana (waving of lights) for Bhagavān Śiva that evening. (Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 98)

The coronation

Bhagavān Śiva sat on an auspicious throne with Bhavānī beside him. Groups of ṛshis and the Sanaka kumāras stood around. Brahmā performed his abhisheka (the coronation bath).

The oceans that hold gems, the mountains and all beings then honoured Mahādeva with jewels, silk garments and fragrant garlands, each as far as they were able. The groups of Mātṛkās waved the nīrājana lights. (Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 98)

Bhagavān Śiva honours Bhagavān Vishṇu

After the coronation, Bhagavān Śiva turned to Bhagavān Vishṇu and said: “You are the one cause of all my lordship. No one other than you can carry out my work. It is because of you and Gaṇeśa that I obtained Ānandavana.”

Bhagavān Śiva offered Bhagavān Vishṇu any vara (boon) he wished. Bhagavān Vishṇu asked a simple thing: “Let me not be far from your feet.” Bhagavān Śiva was pleased and gave him a place near him for ever: “Stay always near me here, in this place of the glory of liberation.”

Bhagavān Śiva also said that any devotee who comes to him without first pleasing Bhagavān Vishṇu will not have his wish fulfilled. (Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapters 98 and 99)

The Viśveśvara Liṅga declared

Bhagavān Śiva then showed all the assembled devas and ṛshis the Viśveśvara Liṅga, the king of all Liṅgas. It rose of its own accord from the seven nether worlds, the pātālas. He announced how great it is:

“Lifting up my hand, I say again and again that in this world of the three Vedas only three things are essential: the Viśveśa Liṅga, the water of Manikarṇikā, and the city of Kāśī. This is the truth, a threefold truth.”

Then he rose, did the best pūjā of the Liṅga together with Śakti, and merged into it. The devas called out, “Be victorious, be victorious!” (Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 99)

Sources

  • Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 62
  • Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Kāśī Khaṇḍa, Uttarārdha, Chapters 98 and 99