24 - Incarnations of Shiva 

Sūta said: 

1. On hearing everything uttered by Rudra, Brahmā the Prajapati bowed to Rudra, lord of Devas and spoke thus: 

2. “O lord, lord of the chiefs of Devas, O multiformed, O Maheshvara, O husband of Umā, O great god, honoured by all, obeisance to you. 

3-4. O multiformed, O highly blessed god, when and in which age (yuga) will these bodies honoured by all be seen by the brahmins and by what penance or meditation of yoga? Obeisance to you, O lord Mahādeva”. 

5. On hearing his words and seeing him in front, the great lord Rudra revealed by Ruk, Yajus and Saman smiled and said: 

6-9. Except through meditation, neither through penance nor by conduct nor through gifts and holy rites nor by visits to pilgrim centres nor through sacrifices with ample monetary gifts nor through the study of the Vedas¹⁰¹ nor through wealth nor through knowledge of various kinds is it possible for men to see me. 

101. Vedanaiḥ -śhāstraih ST. by sacred books.

O Brahmā, in the Varāha kalpa --the seventh in number, Varāha, will be the illuminator of The kalpa and your grandson, Vaivasvata, will be the Manu. 

10-13. In the course of that kalpa containing the four yugas, towards the end of Kali. I will be born to bless the worlds and for the welfare of the brahmins, O Brahmä. As the yuga proceeds further, when the great lord himself becomes Vyasa, during the first Dvāpara age I will be born at the end of Dvāpara¹⁰² as sage Shveta. I will be endowed with a tuft and will stay on the excellent mountain Chāgala¹⁰³ a beautiful peak of the Himālaya mountain. 

102. Yugantike-dväpara-samăptau ST.-at the end of Dvāpara age. 

103. Chagala: ‘This peak of the Himalayas has not been identificd so far. 

14-18 Then my disciples will be four noble brahmins, the masters of The Vedas and having tufts. They will be Shveta, Shvetashikha, Shvetāsya and Shvetalohita. After attaining Brahman’s goal, they will approach me and will be devoted to the path of meditation and yoga O Brahman, in the second Dvāpara age lord Prajāpati will become Vyasa, known as Sadva. Then, in the Kali age, I will be born by the name Sutāra for the welfare of the world, with a desire for blessing the disciples. My disciples then will be known by these names. 

19-24 Dundhubhi, Shatarūpa, Rucheeka and Ketuman After attaining yoga and meditation and the Brahma¹⁰⁴ on the earth they will attain the and companionship of Rudra. In the third age, Dvapara, Vishnu will be the Vyasa. Then, at the end of Dvapara I will be born as Brahmachari. There too four boys will be born namely, Vikosha, Vipasa and Shāpanasana. These four of great prowess will go to the world of Rudra through the same yogic path and will never return. In the fourth Dvapara yuga Vishnu will become Vyāsa. At that time, I shall be born by the name Suhotra. There too, four asceties will be my sons.

25 They will be yogic souls and will be known as Sumukha, Durmukha, Dundura, and Dhritakarma

29-30 They will be known as Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanat. They will be devoid of ego, altogether.

31-38 One who listens to their names will never return be known as Laugåkşhi. Then also my disciples will be four, all yogic souls with steadfast rites, all blessed and popular. They will be known as Sudhămā, Virajas, Shankhapada and Rajas. They all will be yogic, noble souls, pious and sinless, and endowed with yogic practices. Through the path of meditation, they will come near me and never return. 

In the seventh cycle of yugas, Shatakratu, who was famous in the previous birth as Vibhu the shining one, becomes the Vyasa. Then at the end of Dvãpara and the advent of Kali I shall be born as Jaigişhavya, the omnipresent, renowned, and the best of yogins. There too four sons will be born me. They will be known as Sārasvata, Megha, Meghavāhana and Suvahana. Devoted to the path of meditation those noble souls will, through the very same path, go to Rudraloka devoid of misery. 

39-42. In the eighth cycle, Vasishtha will become the Vyäsa. I will be born by the name Dadhivahana. Then to my sons will be yogic souls of steadfast rites and great yogic practice. There will be none equal to them. They will be known as Kapila, Asuri, Pañchaśikha¹⁰⁵ and Başhkala. These will be righteous souls of great prowess. After attaining the yoga of the lord they will burn their sins and come near me, never to return. 

105. Kapila is considered as the founder of the Sāmkhya system of philosophy. Asuri and his pupil Panchaśikha, like the founder-teacher Kapila, are known only by their names. Perhaps they preached their cult by oral transmission. Their works, if any, are lost to us. 

43-47. In the ninth cycle when Särasvata will be the Vyasa I will be born by the name Ruşhabha. There too, my sons will be persons of great prowess. They will be Parashara, Garga, Bhargava and Angiras all brahmins well versed in the Vedas, exalted with the strength of their penance, and capable of cursing and blessing. Attaining the path of meditation in the the manner prescribed in the yogic system those ascetics will go to Rudraloka never to return.

48-51. In the tenth Dvāpara age, the sage Tripada will be the Vyāsa. Then I will he born as a brahmin sage on the excellent hill Bhrugutunga,¹⁰⁶ a beautiful peak of the Himālayas. That peak adored by Devas is well known through the name of sage Bhrugu. There too my sons will be steadfast in their holy rites. They will be known Balabandhu, Nirāmitra, Ketubhrunga and Tapodhana. They will be yogic and noble souls, endowed with penance and yoga. With their sins burned through penance they will go to Rudraloka. 

106. Bhrugutunga is one of the peaks of the Himalayas. According to Varaha Purana it is a mountain in Nepal on the eastern bank of the Gandaka river where the celebrated sage Bhrugu had a hermitage. The Va. (81. 83) locates it near the Vitastã (Jhelum) and Himavat.

52-5.1. In the eleventh Dväpara age, ‘Trivrata will become Vyása. Then I will be born at Gangādvåra in¹⁰⁷ the Kali age as a person of great splendour named Ugra, famous in all the worlds. There too I will have four sons of great prowess, viz. - Lambodara, lambakşha, Lambakesha and Pralambaka. After attaining the yoga of Maheshvara they will go to the Rudra’s world. 

107. Gangadvara represents modern Haradvara, it is also known by other names like Haridvära, Mokşhadvāra, Mayadvāra. Cf. SK iv.1.7.114.

But according to SP. KRS (25.3) Gangå is said to have descended from Brahmagirı situated in the south (Ibid. 24. 3) in the proximity of Nasik near Tryambaka. This place of Ganga’s descent is said to be Gangádvāra (Ibid. 27. 6). 

55-58. In the twelfth cycle the sage Shatatejas of great splendour, the best among the wise, will become Vyasa. At that time, when Dvapara ends, and Kaliyuga starts, I shall be known by the name Atri in the forest Haituka¹⁰⁸. There too will be born my sons who will have ashes for ablution and unguent, who will be such yogins, and who will be devoted to Rudra’s world. They will be known as Sarvajña Samabuddhi, Sädya and Sarva. After attaining the yoga of Maheshvara they will go to Rudraloka. 

108. Haituka vana. It is not identifiable. 

59-62. When the thirteenth cycle sets in due order, Dharma under the name Nārāyana will be the Vyasa. At that time, I will be born as the sage Vali in the holy penance grove of Vālakhilva on the mountain Gandhamadana^109. There too those ascetics, will be born as my sons. They will be known as Sudhama, Kashyapa, Vasishtha and Virajas. They will all be endowed with the power of great yogas, be devoid of impurities and will remain celibate. After attaining the yoga of Maheshvara they will go to the world of Rudra. 

109 Gandhamadana Its location is highly controversed. According to the Pauranic account this mountain forms the division between Ilavita and Bhadrishva to the south of Meru and is renowned to its fragrant forests. 

63-66. In the fourteenth cycle Tarakshu will be the Vyasa.There too in the final yuga I will be born in the excellent farm of Angiras under the name Gautama. That penance grove ^11o will be named after Gautama. There too my sons will be born in the Kali age. They will be known as Atri, Devasada, Shravana and Shravi thaka. They will be yogic noble souls, and endowed with yoga. After attaining the yoga of Maheshvara they will go to Rudraloka. 

110. Gautamavana can be placed in the proximity of Brahmagiri near Tryambaka in which Godavari has its source where the sage Gautama has its hermitage. 

67-71 When the fifteenth cycle comes in due order, Vishnu becomes the Vyasa.

I will be born as a brahmana

111.Himavat or Himalaya, this most celebrated mountain forms the northern boundary of Bharata extending from the eastern to the western sea. 

112. Sarasvati this sacred river rises in the Sirmur hills of the Shivalika range in the Himalayas. 

spread yoga among the devotees of restrained souls. That forest (whicre I live and preach) will become sacred and famous as Gokarna. There too the four yogins will be my sons viz., Kāśhyapa, Uśhanas, Chyavana and Bruhaspati. They will be endowed with meditation and yoga. By following the same path and attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudra Himself. 

113. Gokarna or the Gokarna forest is located on the Western Ghat. This place is sacred to Shiva and is celebrated for a jyotirlinga of Shiva. There is also another Gokarna in Nepal on the Bagamati river.

76-84. When the seventeenth cycle sets in duly, O Lord Brahmā, Krutañjaya¹¹⁴ will be the Vyāsa, and I shall be born, under the name Guhāvāsa on the lofty and beautiful peak of the Himalayas, Mahālaya¹¹⁵. I shall be known as Guhāvāsin. This Mahālaya will become a Siddhakşhetra the place of Sanctity. There too my sons will be conversant with yoga and expounders of Brahman. They will be noble sons and devoid of ego. They will be known as--Utathya, Vámadeva, Mahāyoga and Mahabala. At that time, in the practice of yogic meditation, they will have hundreds and thousands of disciples. Engaged in the practice of yoga, and meditating upon the great lord within their hearts, they after observing the foot prints in the Mahālaya will attain the region of the lord. The other noble souls who engage their minds in meditation at the end of Dvāpara age and the advent of Kali will become sinless and pure in intellect. Devoid of distress they will go to Rudraloka, by my grace, by visiting the sacred Mahālaya, the region of the great lord, a devotee will cross the ocean of worldly existence and redeem his end previous and ten future generations. Thus, including himself, he will redeem Twenty-one generations in Mahālaya. These being free from fiver will go to Rudraloka, by my grace. 

114. Deva-krutañjayah. ST. takes Deva in the vocative case;

115. This peak of the Himālayas has not been identified so far.

85-89. O lord, in the eighteenth cycle the sage Rutanjaya will become a Vyasa. Then I shall be born in the name of Shikhandin in the most sacred region of the Siddhas which is adored by Devas as well as Dänavas. On the beautiful peak of the Himalayas there is a hill named Shikhandin, ¹¹⁶ wherein is situated the penance grove of the sage Shikhandin, resorted to by the Siddhas. There too four ascetics will be born to me. They will be known as Vāchaśhravas, Ruchika, Shyāvāśhva and Yatišhvara. They will be yogic and noble sons and masters of the Vedas. After attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudraloka. 

116. Not identifiable, 

90-93. When the nineteenth cycle sets in duly, the great sage Bharadvāja will become the Vyāsa. Then I will be born by the name Jaţāmālin on the beautiful peak of the Himālayas where the mountain Jațăyu¹¹⁷ exists. There too four sons of great prowess will be born to me. They will be known as Hiranyanābha, Kausalya, Laugākșhi and Kuthumi. Characterized by yogic virtues they will remain celibate. After attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudraloka. 

117. Not identifiable.

94-99. When the twentieth cycle of yugas sets in, the sage Gautama becomes a Vyāsa. Then I shall be born by the name Ațțahāsa, most liked by the people. There itself on the ridge of the Himavat a great mountain Attahāsa¹¹⁸ is the abode of Devas, Dänavas, Yakşhas, Siddhas and Chāraņas. There too, powerful sons will be born to me. They will be yogic and noble souls, habitually meditating and performing the holy rites. They will be known as Sumantu, Barbari, Kabandha and Kushikandhara. After attaining the Yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudraloka. 

118. Not identifiable. 

100-102. When the twenty-first cycle sets in duly, the excellent sage Vāchashravas becomes a Vyāsa. Then I shall be born by the name Däruka. Hence there will be a splendid and sacred forest of Deodars ¹¹⁹. There too my sons will be very powerful. They will be known as Plakşha, Dārbhyaņi, Ketumān and Gautama. They will be yogic and great souls, well controlled and celibate. After practising the perpetual holy rites, they will go to Rudra’s region.

119. Devadáruvana is identical with Daru and Daraka vana and is placed close to the western ocean (SP. KRS 29. 4). Another vana of the same name also stands in the Himalayas near Badrinath (Mbh. XIII. 25. 27). 

103-106. In the twenty-second cycle when Shuşhmāyaṇa becomes a Vyāsa, I shall be born as a great sage by the name of Längalin the terrible, at Vārāṇasī ¹²⁰. There the Devas including lord Indra will see me in the Kali age as Bhava and Halāyudha. There too my virtuous sons will be known as Bhallavi, Madhupinga, Shvetaketu and Kusha. After attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will be engaged in meditation. Free from impurities and identical with Brahman they will enter Rudra’s world. 

120. Värāṇasi- ancient Kāśi. It came to be so called because it was situated between the two rivers Barna and Asi. 

107b-111a. In the twenty-third cycle of four yugas when the sage Trunabindu becomes a Vyāsa Brahmā, I shall be born as the virtuous son of a sage under the name Shveta with a great body. At that time, I shall be spending my days (in penance) on a mountain which will therefore be named Kälanjara¹²¹, there too four ascetics will become my disciples. They will be known as Ushika, Bruhadashva, Devala and Kavi. After attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudraloka. 

121. Kalanjara: The Mbh. (III. 83, 56) associates Kälañjara with Chitrakūta. According to this reference, it lies in The Madhya Bharata territory formerly known as Bundelkhanda. Cunningham (A.G. see map at the end) places it to the east of Mahoba, below Chitrakūța. 

111b-114a. In the twenty-fourth cycle, O lord, when Ruksha will be a Vyasa, I will be born at the end of Dvāpara, in that Kali age as a great yogin named Shūlin in the Naimişha ¹²² forest, saluted by Devas. There too these ascetics will be my disciples viz. Shalihotra, Agnivesha, Yuvanāshva and Sharadvasu. They too will go to Rudraloka by the same path. 

122. See p. 1. note 4. 

114b-117a. When the twenty-fifth cycle of four yugas sets in, the son of Vasişhtha, Shakti by name, will become a Vyäsa. At that time, I will be born as Lord Dandi Mundīśhvara with shaven head and a staff in the hand. There too these ascetics will be my sons, viz. Chagala, Kundakarna. Kumbhända and Pravāhaka. After attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will attain immortality. 

117b-120. In the twenty-sixth cycle when Parāśhara will become Vyasa, at the end of Dvàpara and the advent of Kali age I shall be born by the name Sahişhņu. I shall go to the city, Bhadravata¹²³ where the four righteous sons will be born to me. They will be Uluka, Vidyuta, Shambúka and Āśhvalayana. After attaining yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudraloka.

123. Bhadravata: Cf. ŚP. SRS. 5. 39. This town has not been identified so far. 

120-124a. When the twenty-seventh cycle of four yugas arrives duly, the ascetic Jätukarnya will become a Vyäsa. Then I shall be born as the brahmin Somašharman at Prabhāsa¹²⁴ Tīrtha. I shall be known as a yogic soul by taking resort to yoga. There too four ascetics will be my disciples, viz. Akşhapāda, Kumāra, Ulūka and Vatsa. They will be great yogic souls, pure in intellect and devoid of impurities. After attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudraloka. 

124. It is a celebrated place of pilgrimage in Saurāşhtra, the southern part of Kathiawar. 

124b-133. When The twenty-eighth cycle of four yugas occurs in due order, the glorious son of Parāśhara named Dvaipāyana¹²⁵ will become a Vyāsa. He is Vişhnu himself, the grandfather of the worlds. At that time, Vāsudeva, black in colour and the best among men and exalted among the Yadus, will be born of Vasudeva. At the same time, by the power of my yogic illusion I the Yogātman will be born as Brahmachārin and inspire awe among the people. On seeing a dead body left in the cremation ground without a claimant, I shall be entering it by the yogic power for the welfare of the brahmins. Along with you and Vişhnu ¹²⁶ I will enter the divine and holy cave of the Meru. ¹²⁷ O Brahmā, at that time, I will be known as Lakuli. That holy place where I entered the dead body will be known as Kāyāvatāra -a name that will last as long as the earth lasts. There too the ascetic sons will be born to me. They will be known as Kuśhika, Garga, Mitra and Kauruşhya. They will be great yogic souls and brahmins who will have mastered all the Vedas. They will remain celibate and free from impurities. After attaining the yoga of Maheśhvara they will go to Rudra’s world, never to return. 

125. Dvaipāyana Vyäsa: See p. 2. note 6. 

126. Tvayā särdham cha Vishņunā. ST, construes tvaya with Vişhnunā (tvayā Vishņunā sārdham) and thus excludes Brahmā. 

127. Meru: It is situated in the centre of the earth. It is described in the Puräņas as the four-armed svastika, evolving in four directions, each with seven constituent members. It can be identified with the highland of Tartary, north of the Himalayas. It is variously called Su-meru, Hemãdri (the golden mountain), Ratnasānu (jewel-peaked), Karņikāchala (lotus mountain), Amarādri, Deva-parvata, ‘mountain of the Gods’. On its extent and identification with the Great Pamir knot of Asia, see The Geography of the Puranas: - S. M. ALI. Ch. III. pp. 47-52. 

134-140. All these enlightened souls will be the devotees of Shiva and will have their bodies smeared with ashes. They will be perpetually engaged in worshipping Linga. They will be steadfast and firm in body and the mind. With devotion towards me and by means of yoga they will be established in meditation and acquire self-control. The great Pāśhupata yoga can snap worldly ties and illuminate the path of knowledge. It is also conducive to Real knowledge. There are several paths of yoga and several paths of knowledge. But without taking recourse to the five-syllabled Mantra¹²⁸ one cannot attain eternal bliss. When a person performs penance eschewing Dvandvas (mutually clashing opposites) he can become a liberated soul, as one who has attained the ripe fruit. Even if a man performs Pāśhupata rite for a single day he can obtain fruits, the like of which he cannot have either by Pañcharātra¹²⁹ or Sānkhya. 

128. ‘The five-syllabled mantra of Shiva: namah Shivāya. 

129. Pancharatra - a name as the sacred books of the various Vaishnava sects.

Thus I have narrated the characteristics of incarnations in the course of twenty-right sets of four yugas in due order, beginning with Manu and ending with Krishna. The classification of the Vedas revealing Dharma will take place in the kalpa when Krishna Dvaipāyana becomes a Vyasa. 

Suta said: 

141-144. On hearing about the incarnations of Rudra described thus, by the supreme lord, Lord Brahmā, of great splendour bowed to him and eulogised him with pleasing words, ‘Then he spoke to lord Shiva. 

Brahmā said: 

All the Devas and all the Gaņas are identical with Vishņu. There is no other goal equal to the goal of attaining Vişhnu. Thus sing the Vedas perpetually. Then how did this happen that the lord of Devas worshipped you in the Linga and remained ever devoted to you? 

145-150. On hearing the words of Brahmã lord Shiva was delighted on account of the weighty relevancy of the question. He looked at him as if he would drink him through his eyes. Facing him, he then described the method of worship of the Linga. It was after worshipping the Linga in accordance with the instructions that you (Brahmā), Vişhnu and Indra, the best of Devas and the sages, had attained their respective status. O lord, hence they continue to worship me further. There cannot be steadiness ¹³⁰ in piety without the worship of the Linga; hence lord Vişhnu worships me perpetually with due devotion and faith. 

130. nishthā nishchala-sthanam ST, a permanent abode.

After saying this and blessing Brahmã by glancing at him once again, Shiva, the lord of Devas, vanished there itself. 

After gaining enlightenment¹³¹ from Shiva to create every thing afresh, Brahmä joined his palms in reverence and bowed to Shiva in the direction where he had vanished.

131. labdha-samjñah --prāptānujñaḥ ST. sanjñā here means a direction, command or order. Ed.