Śveta Rājarshi

Śveta, also called Śvetaka, was a rājarshi, a royal ṛshi. The Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa praises his firm devotion to Bhagavān Śiva at the Kālañjara kshetra (sacred field). When Kāla, Death himself, came to take his life, Śveta held the Śivaliṅga and chanted the Śatarudrīya without leaving it. Bhagavān Śiva appeared and struck Kāla dead with his left foot. Śveta gained gaṇāpatya, a place among Bhagavān Śiva’s own gaṇas (attendants). Kālañjara is a holy place because of this event.

Śveta’s devotion at Kālañjara

Śveta was a rājarshi, one who joined royal birth with the tapas of a ṛshi. He was wholly devoted to Bhagavān Śaṅkara, the Śūlī (holder of the trident). At the Kālañjara kshetra, the great forest of Rudrādhipatya in the outer regions, Śveta had set up a Śivaliṅga and worshipped it in the proper way. His mind stayed on Bhagavān Śiva alone. He did liṅgārcana (worship of the liṅga) at all times, chanted Śiva’s name and meditated on Śiva’s own form without turning away. His whole life was given to this devotion.

Kāla comes

When the time of Śveta’s death came, as set by his karma, Kāla appeared in a blazing form. He was fierce, carried a burning trident, had searing radiance (tīkshṇa-tejas) and was terrible to see. He had come to carry Śveta away.

Śveta saw the frightening figure of Kāla coming and was filled with fear. He held the Śivaliṅga tightly with both hands, chanted the Śatarudrīya and bowed again and again before Rudra. His prayer was simple: “You who protect the devotee who takes refuge, look upon me. Free this one who has always worshipped you, and let Kāla take someone else.” He spoke like one who can do nothing but call on his master.

Śiva’s help and the death of Kāla

While Śveta prayed and watched Kāla draw near, the sky split open. In a blazing mass of divine light (tejo-rāśi) that filled the whole sky, golden in colour and wrapped in a garland of flames, with the crescent moon shining, Parameśvara himself appeared with Devī Pārvatī. Śveta was still afraid of Kāla, but he saw his master coming and took courage.

Even so, Kāla, proud of his duty, kept coming towards Śveta and bound him with the pāśa (noose). Kāla then turned on Parameśvara with his weapon. Parameśvara stayed calm. He lifted his left foot and kicked Kāla, who died on the spot before Śveta’s eyes.

Śveta’s stotra and his freedom

Śveta saw the greatness of Bhagavān Śiva. Parameśvara stood before him with Ambā, having just destroyed the destroyer. Śveta fell down and offered praise with tears of devotion:

Jagaddhetave bhavāya jagat-sṛshṭir-harāya namaḥ / jñānarūpāya śivāya apavargadāyike namaḥ / mahāvibhūtaye tubhyaṃ mumuṛcchana namaḥ…

He praised Parameśvara as the cause of the world, as Jagatsṛshṭi-hara, as the giver of apavarga (liberation), as lord of great vibhūti (glory), as Akhaṇḍarūpa, as Narādhipa and Gaṇādhipa, as the one who ends the suffering of those who take refuge, as Vārāha-śṛṅga-dhārī, as Vṛshadhvaja, as Kapālamālī, as Mahānaṭa, and again as Vṛshadhvaja.

Parameśvara was pleased with Śveta’s devotion and gave him gaṇāpatya, a place for ever among Bhagavān Śiva’s gaṇas, and sārūpya, a form like Śiva’s own. Hara went away with Pārvatī, and Śveta went with them. They vanished at once from sight.

Brahmā had also seen what happened. He asked that Kāla be brought back to life. He said that Kāla had done no wrong, since Kāla was only doing the duty that Brahmā himself had given him. Parameśvara agreed, and Kāla was brought back to life.

The Kālañjara kshetra

The tīrtha of Kālañjara gets its name and its power from this event. Bhagavān Śiva “devoured” (añjara) Kāla, Death, here. The Purāṇa says that one who comes to Kālañjara, worships Rudrādhipati Śaṅkara with devotion and bathes in its waters will receive gaṇāpatya. This is the same gaṇāpatya that Śveta received through his devotion at this very place.

Sources

• Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapter 35