Vṛtra Vadha (Skanda Purāṇa)

The Kedāra Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Purāṇa tells of the asura Vṛtra. In an earlier birth he was Citraratha, a gandharva who laughed at Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī at Kailāsa and was cursed to be born as an asura. The account runs in this order: Vṛtra’s birth, his power, the Vajra, the slaying of Namuci, the teaching on the Pradosha vrata, the battle at Antarvedī, and the sharing out of Brahmahatyā.

Vṛtra’s origin: the śāpa on Citraratha

Vṛtra was not an asura from the start. In an earlier birth he was Citraratha, a famous gandharva, known for his beauty and his skill in music.

One day Citraratha was wandering near Kailāsa. He happened to see Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī together in private. He did not turn away with respect. He looked, and he laughed at the divine couple. Devī Pārvatī saw this.

Her anger fell on Citraratha. She gave him a śāpa (a curse): he would be born again as a great asura of terrible form, with power that would make him the enemy of the devas. So Citraratha was born as Vṛtra. His body was huge and his power was very great. In his new birth he also gathered more strength by tapas (austerity). (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17)

Vṛtra swallows Indra

Vṛtra was so strong that he could swallow Indra. In one of the battles Vṛtra opened his huge mouth and swallowed Indra whole. The devas were stunned, because their king was inside the enemy.

Only Bhagavān Śiva could free Indra. The devas gave themselves up to him completely and chanted the Rudra-sūkta, the ancient hymn to Rudra from the Kṛshṇa Yajurveda. Bhagavān Śiva was moved by their devotion. He made Vṛtra yawn, and Indra came out through the open mouth. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17)

The Vajra from Dādhīci’s bones

No ordinary weapon could hurt Vṛtra. On the advice of Bhagavān Vishṇu, the devas obtained the Vajra, which was made from the spine of the ṛshi Dādhīci. The making of the Vajra is told in the account of Dādhīci’s gift of his bones.

The Vajra was Pāśupata-vidyā (the Pāśupata knowledge) made into a solid weapon. With it Indra could now face Vṛtra with a real hope of victory.

Namuci and the sea-foam

Before the last battle with Vṛtra there was another fight, with a powerful asura named Namuci. Namuci had gained a protection: nothing wet and nothing dry could kill him. The devas did not know what to do.

Bhagavān Vishṇu showed them the answer. Sea-foam (phena) is neither wet nor dry, because it lies between the two. Indra took foam from the ocean as his weapon and slew Namuci. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17)

Bṛhaspati’s teaching on the Pradosha vrata

In this part of the account the Kedāra Khaṇḍa gives an important teaching by Bṛhaspati on the Pradosha vrata (vow). This is the observance of fasting and pūjā of Bhagavān Śiva on trayodaśī (the thirteenth day of each lunar fortnight), at pradosha (the twilight hour). It is kept twice a month.

Bṛhaspati told Indra that many of the troubles of the devas came because they had neglected this vrata. The devas who keep the Pradosha vrata faithfully have the constant protection of Bhagavān Śiva. Those who neglect it can be overpowered by the asuras.

Pradosha is the twilight of the trayodaśī. At that time Bhagavān Śiva dances the tāṇḍava, surrounded by all the devas. It is the holiest moment of the lunar month for the pūjā of Bhagavān Śiva. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17)

The battle at Antarvedī

The last battle with Vṛtra was fought at Antarvedī, the sacred land between the rivers Gaṅgā and Yamunā (the Doāb). Antarvedī is one of the most sacred tīrthas in the land, lying between the two divine rivers. The battle made it holier still. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17)

Indra took up the Vajra and struck Vṛtra with all his strength. The Vajra was made from the bones of Dādhīci, which were filled with the Pāśupata mantra. It did what no other weapon could do, and Vṛtra was slain. His death sent a violent shock through the whole creation.

Brahmahatyā is shared out

When Vṛtra fell, Brahmahatyā (the pāpa of killing a brāhmaṇa) fastened on Indra. Vṛtra had gained brāhmaṇa status through tapas. Indra was frightened and ashamed, and the pāpa took the form of a consuming darkness. To lighten this unbearable load, Indra made an agreement with the elements of the world:

• Earth took one share of Brahmahatyā. This is why the earth has barren land, wasteland, and cracked and scorched places.
• Trees took one share. This is why trees sometimes have hollows, leaking sap, and parts that rot from inside.
• Water took one share. This is why water can sometimes carry disease and dirt.
• Women took one share. This is why women have the monthly time of impurity, after which they become pure again.

Each one accepted its share in return for a vara (a boon). The earth received the power to heal itself. Trees received the power to grow again from their own parts. Water received the power to purify. Women received stronger desire and the ability to enjoy pleasure equal to men. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17)

With Brahmahatyā shared out, Indra was partly relieved, but he still had to go through further purification. He hid in the fibres of a lotus at Māna-sarovara until this was finished.

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 17