213 - The greatness of Gokarņeśhvara 

Sūta said: 

1. In days of yore, when the manace in the form of demon Tāraka had been completely crushed in battle, and the army of the demons routed, 

2. Indra had been restored to his position, the enemy being annihilated, and the world of animate and inanimate beings had become fully productive. 

3. And in the golden peak of the Meru full of gems, 

4. Brahma was sitting in comfort with full concentration effulgent like the sun and fire, 

5. Sanatkumara approached him with great humility, prostrated at his feet in reverence, and asked him. 

Sanatkumāra said: 

6. “O lord, I wish to know from you about an old thing which the sages cherish, namely.

7. How is the northern Gokarna, how the southern, how is it placed at the top of the peak. 

8. Of what dimension is that place, what is the merit of the tīrtha there, how is there Lord Shiva in the form of an animal.

9. How did gods led by you reach there, where is the animal form of his consecrated, and 

10. What are the special rules to be observed there. Be pleased to tell me all this.” 

11. Thus asked by the son, lord Brahmä told him about his old and secret matter. 

Brahmā said: 

12. O sage, my son, I shall tell you this secret truth, as I have heard it. 

13. On the northern side of the great mountain Mandara, there is a peak called Muñjavăn, beautiful like the Nandana garden. 

14. It has pebbles shining, stones resembling coral and slabs like sapphire and many caves and waterfalls. 

15. With its rising rocks covered with creepers bearing a variety of blossoms, it seems to scrape the sky.

16. The caves in it are beautiful with numerous flowing minerals and flowers of mushrooms. 

17. The streaks of forests in it shine with the flowers of Jasmine and Ketaki. 

18. In that mount washed by strcams of pure water blue like sapphire, having stretches of slabs covered with many kinds of flowers. 

19. Displaying a variety of colours as in the rainbow and so appearing like the abode of Kubera.

20. With celestial couples playing, groups of Apsarases dancing and inebriated peacocks cooing, 

21. With ponds full of clear water and having full-blown flowers of lotus and Kalhāra and resorted to by swans and cranes, 

22. With numerous brooks flocked by herds of elephants, dcar, birds and many sages, 

23. With groves enjoyed by Devas, Gandharvas and Vidya dharas, where the cuckoos warble and the hollows resound with the music of Kinnaras. 

24. With numerous waterfalls and green meadows illumined by natural glow.

25. Natural gardens full of flowers blossoming in all seasons and resorted to by Kimpuruşhas and Guhyakas.

26. With very attractive and auspicious penance-groves of sages and Siddhas.

27. There remains always lord Maheśhvara as Sthanu, the preceptor of all gods, granting boons. 

28. He remains there accompanied by Parvati, Guha and attendants, full of grace for the devotees. 

29. The gods used to go there in their aerial cars to pay homage to that great lord. The demigods also used to go there for his worship. 

30. Once in Tretāyuga, a great sage named Nandi began to perform severe penance in order to propitiate Shiva. 

31-32. Sitting in the midst of five fires in summer, standing in cold water in winter, with hands raised and remaining without support, feeding on water and air alone, and observing numerous vows and restraints.

33. And with Japa and offerings of flowers from time to time, he worshipped Shiva with great devotion. 

34. He fully engaged himself in severe penance, as a result of which he became much emaciated and almost looked like a piece of wood. 

35. He became very lean and dark in complexion. Thus worshipped, Shiva was pleased. 

36-37. Shiva then appeared before the sage and told him, “I am pleased with you and I give you divine eyes with which to see my form which is visible only to those with the highest knowledge.” 

38. Seeing the great lord Mahadeva shedding lustre like a thousand suns, with a blazing halo around him, 

39. With prominent matted hair adorned by the moon, sur veying the whole universe with his three shining eyes, 

40. Very attractive with hundred heads, hundred bellies, thousand hands and feet, thousand eyes and mouths.

41. Smaller than the smallest, bigger than the biggest, wearing the rosary and holding the water-vessel in hand.

42. Wearing the skin of lion and serpent for Yajñopavīta, the sage became thrilled. 

43. He prostrated before him with folded hands and utter ed a hymn in praise. 

“Bow to the creator, dispenser, granter of boons, Shambhu, 

44. The enjoyer of the world, three-eyed, Shankara, Shiva, Bhava, the protector from worldly existence, sage, wearer of elephant's skin.

45. Blue-necked, Bhima, the combiner of the past, present and future, with hanging brows, ferocious, auspicious.

46. With broad, matted and tawny hair, the wise, holding the trident, lord of beasts, omnipresent, Sthāņu, 

47. Lord of Gaņas, the creator, condenser and frightener; who is calm and benign, 

48. The resident of the cemetery, Rudra, the benevolent, wearing a garland of skulls and tawny moustache.

49. Lover of devotecs, I bow to you the supreme soul.”

50. Thus praising Shiva, hc bowed to him again and again.

51. Shiva was very much pleased with him and spoke to him. 

52. “O great sagc, seek from me whatever boons you wish. I shall grant you all of them, even if they are such as are not normally granted. 

53. Tell me soon what you desirc, whether it is lordship, the status of Devas, Indra or Brahmă, the position of the guardian deities, liberation, cight-fold power or leadership of Gaņas. 

54. Asked thus, the sage replied with great delight. 

55-56. “I don't desire lordship, the status of Devas, Indra or Brahmă, the position of the Guardian deitics, liberation, the eight-fold power or lcadership of Ganas. 

57. O grcat god Shankara, if you are pleased with me and wish to favour me, 

58. Please give me that kind of devotion which will make me worship you alone and none else. 

59. I wish to have devotion for you who dwell in the minds of all. Let there be no impediment in this. I wish to worship you with the Rudra mantra a crore times.” 

60. Hearing these words of Nandin, lord Maheśhvara laughed and then spoke in sweet words. 

61. “O sage, I am pleased with you. Rise from your penance. “I am fully propitiated by your pure mind and constant devotion.

62. Enough of this penance. You have been deeply devoted to my feet. 

63. You have already recited three crores of Rudra mantra before me. 

64. You have completed, O sage, thousand years of severe penance, the like of which neither Devas nor Asuras nor sages have ever done. 

65. You have done something difficult and wonderful as a result of which the three worlds are awed. 

66. All Devas led by Indra will come to see you. You have become eternal and fully knowable by Devas or Asuras. 

67. With your divine body and divine ornaments you have become cqual to me. 

68. You will get a form and splendour like mine, three-eyed and endowed with all virtucs and worshipped by Devas and Asuras. 

69. With this body which will be free from age and death, you will also be the lord of Gaņas. 

70. O Brahmin, you will be the foremost among my atten dants and will be known as Nandiśhvara. 

71. O sage, you have attained the eightfold power and Devas will bow to you as my second form. 

72. Hereafter, O sage, by my blessing you will be the chief in all matters relating to Devas. 

73. As the chief of my attendants, you will be worshipped by all beings that desire my favour. 

74. You will be the dispenser of boons in this world and the refuge for the fear-stricken. 

75. He who hates you hates me, he who worships you wor ships me. There is no difference between us just as there is none between the sky and air. 

76. O lord of Gaņas, you should stand on the right of my door-way and Mahakāla on the left. 

77. You will be the principal doorkeeper. You are to guard me and Mahākāla is to guard the Gaņas. 

78. None will be able to injure you in the three worlds whe ther by the Vajra, Chakra, fire or Cane. 

79. Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakşhas, Rakşhasas, and Pan nagas will resort to you, so too men who are my devotees. 

80. When you are pleased, I will be pleased and when you are angry, I too. There is none more dear to me than you.” 

81. Being thus pleased with him and after giving him these boons, Shiva spoke to him again in clear tone which filled the air. 

82. “See gods together with the Maruts come here to see you. You have now become fully gratified. 

83. If the words I spoke giving you the boons have not yet entered into your car, see these gods in the sky here. 

81. The gods and Maruts led by lord Vişhnu come hcre out of love and regard for you. Sages will come here to get boons. 

85-86. Yakşhas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Pan nagas and sages who are already immerscd in penance, knowing about what you have accomplished by penance, engage them selves in various kinds of severe penance with a desire to gain similar boons. 

87-88. Before they come here knowing me to be present in this pcak Muñjavān, I shall go away from herc. 

89. I have to see Brahma and other gods who are waiting for my blessing. I know what they have in mind.” 

90. Thus blessing him and giving him boons, he disappeared from there.