Māheśvara Jvara
Māheśvara Jvara · māheśvara-jvara, “the fever of Maheśvara”
The Māheśvara Jvara, the fever of Maheśvara, also called the Mahājvara, the great fever, is three-footed and three-headed. In the battle at Bāṇa‘s city it came to fight Śrī Kṛshṇa for the protection of the daitya Bāṇa, and it was driven out by the Vaishṇava Jvara, the fever of Vishṇu. At Brahmā‘s request Hari forgave it, and he declared that whoever remembers this battle will be free of fever.
The battle at Bāṇa’s city
Vyāsa tells the munis that when Aniruddha was bound by Bāṇa with the serpent-astra, Hari mounted Garuḍa, who came as soon as he was thought of, and went with Balarāma and Pradyumna to Bāṇa’s city. At the very entrance he destroyed the mighty host of the pramatha-gaṇas and came to the outskirts of the city.
Then the Mahājvara, three-footed and three-headed, came to fight Śārṅgadhanvā, the bearer of the divine bow Śārṅga, for the protection of Bāṇa. Balarāma too felt a burning heat and closed his eyes. The Māheśvara Jvara, fighting Kṛshṇa, was driven out of Kṛshṇa’s body by the Vaishṇava Jvara.
Brahmā’s plea and Hari’s word
Brahmā saw the Māheśvara Jvara crushed by the pressure of Nārāyaṇa‘s arms, its eyes closed from the pain of the blow, and asked Hari: “Forgive this one.” Hari said, “I have forgiven,” and withdrew the Vaishṇava Jvara into himself. Then he said to the jvara: “Whoever remembers this battle between you and me will be free of fever.” So saying, Hari went on.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 206
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 206