Sthāneśvara

Sthāneśvara is a Śaiva tīrtha (sacred place) that arose where the famous conflict of Dadhīci and Kshupa took place. Tradition places it at Thanesar in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana. It is also called Sthāṇīśvara or Sthāṇeśvara.

At this place Dadhīci’s power of devotion to Bhagavān Śiva defeated even Bhagavān Vishṇu and all the devas in battle. Here Dadhīci also spoke his curse on the devas. The Sthāneśvara Śivaliṅga set up at this spot is one of the great tīrtha liṅgas. The Liṅga Purāṇa says that darśana (sight) of this liṅga gives Śivasāyujya, union with Bhagavān Śiva.

Origin

The tīrtha of Sthāneśvara came into being from three great events that happened at the same spot:

  1. The dialogue and conflict between Dadhīci and Kshupa over whether brāhmaṇas or kshatriyas are supreme.
  2. The defeat of Bhagavān Vishṇu and all the assembled devas by Dadhīci’s power of devotion to Bhagavān Śiva.
  3. Dadhīci’s curse on the devas: “At Daksha’s yajña (fire ritual), you will all be burned by the fire of Rudra’s anger.”

These events made the place holy, and the Sthāneśvara Śivaliṅga arose there. The Liṅga Purāṇa gives this in the following words, which say that the place where the Kshupa and Dadhīci dialogue, the defeat of Vishṇu, and Dadhīci’s curse on the immortals took place came to be known as Sthāneśvara:

Kshupa-Dadhīci saṃvādam, Vishṇu-parābhavam, amarulaku Dadhīci śāpamu jarigina cōṭu — Sthāneśvara mana baṛagi nanduna…

Phala of the pilgrimage

The Liṅga Purāṇa says that those who see and worship the Sthāneśvara Śivaliṅga attain Śivasāyujya (union with Bhagavān Śiva).

Phala of hearing the narrative

Those who read, hear or recite the narrative of Kshupa and Dadhīci will conquer untimely death (apamṛtyu). At the end of their prārabdha (the karma that has begun to bear fruit), they will live in Kailāsa. Kshatriyas who recite this narrative before they enter battle will overcome their enemies and win.

Identification

Sthāneśvara, also called Sthāṇīśvara or Sthāṇeśvara, is identified by tradition with the ancient holy site at Thanesar in the present Kurukshetra district of Haryana. The ancient city of Sthāṇvīśvara, or Sthāṇeśvara, was long linked with the Śaiva Pāśupata tradition and was a famous place of pilgrimage. Its link with the Dadhīci episode ties it to the wider Kurukshetra pilgrimage complex.

Sources

  • Liṅga Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapters 35–36