Dārukāvana Ṛshi Stotra

The Dārukāvana Ṛshi Stotra is the hymn that the ṛshis (seers) sang to Parameśvara (Bhagavān Śiva) and Devī Pārvatī in the Dārukāvana forest. They sang it when Parameśvara appeared again after they had learned who he truly is. It is kept in the Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 37, as the final recognition by the ṛshis of the true nature (svarūpa) of Parameśvara after the Dārukāvana episode.

The setting

Parameśvara and Bhagavān Vishṇu had come into Dārukāvana in disguise, as a bhikshu (a wandering beggar) and a beautiful woman. The wives and sons of the ṛshis fell under their spell. The ṛshis attacked them. Then both disappeared.

The frightened ṛshis went to Brahmā. Brahmā told them that the bhikshu was Mahādeva and that the beautiful woman was Śrī Nārāyaṇa in the form of a woman. He told them to go back to the forest and worship Parameśvara through a Śivaliṅga, with Vedic mantras and the Śatarudrīya.

The ṛshis went back and kept up hard tapas (austerity) for a long time. They ate leaves, stood in water, slept on stone, and faced the sun and drank only its rays. At last Parameśvara appeared again in his own form, with Pārvatī. At that moment the ṛshis fell prostrate and sang this stotra.

The stotra

The ṛshis offered their salutations in these words.

• Salutation to Devādideva. Salutation to Mahādeva. Salutation to Tryambaka, to the uttamaśūladhārin (the bearer of the best triśūla). Salutation to Digambara, to Vikṛta, to Pinākapāṇi. Salutation to the one who is the āśraya (refuge) of those who bow, to the one who himself has no refuge (āśrayarahita).
• Salutation to Antaka’s Antaka, to the sarvasaṃhāraka (the one who dissolves all). Salutation to Nartanaśīla, to Bhairavamālin. Salutation to Ardhanārīśvara, to Yogiguru.
• Salutation to Dānta, to Śānta, to Tapasvī, to Hara. Salutation to Sarvabhayaṃkara, to Rudra, to Kṛttivāsa. Salutation to Lelipa, to Śītīkaṇṭha, to Aghoraghorarūpa, to Vāmadeva.
• Salutation to Kanakanūla, to Devīpriyakara. Salutation to Gaṅgāsalidadhāra, to Śambhu, to Parameshṭhī.
• Salutation to Yogādhipati, to Brahmādhipati.
• Salutation to Prāṇabhūta, to Bhasmāṅgarāgin. Salutation to Ghanavāhana, to Daṃshṭrin, to Vahniretas, to Brahmaśirodhara, to Kālarūpin.
• “We cannot understand your coming and your going. Viśveśvara, Mahādeva, salutation to your own form (svasvarūpa). Salutation to Pramadhanātha, to Śubhasampraprada. Salutation to Kapālapāṇi, to Mīḍhushṭama.”
• Salutation to Kanakaliṅga, to Pauraliṅga. Salutation to Vahniarkaliṅga, to Jñānaliṅga. Salutation to Bhujagahāra, to Karṇikārapriya, to Kīrīṭin, to Kuṇḍalin, to Kālakāla.

Then the ṛshis spoke to him directly.

Vāmadeva, Maheśāna, Devadeva, Trilocana, forgive what we have done out of moha (delusion). You are our only rakshaka (protector). Your carita (deeds) are citra (wonderful) and unfathomable in their depth. They are unknown to Brahmā and all the devas. Whatever a mānava (human being) does, out of ajñāna (ignorance) or out of jñāna (knowledge), you cause all of it through your yogamāyā.

They ended with a request: “Thus, satisfied in our inner being, we have praised Mahādeva and bowed to him. And now we ask: let us see your yathāpūrva rūpa (your form as before).”

Parameśvara’s answer and the teaching

When he heard the stotra, Śaṅkara, who wears the moon as his ornament and is joined with Umā, showed his highest form once more. The ṛshis saw him with Pārvatī as before and were filled with joy.

Then the great ṛshis bowed to Devadeva. They were Bhṛgu, Aṅgiras, Vasishṭha, Viśvāmitra, Gautama, Atri, Sukeśa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Marīci, Kaśyapa, and the great Saṃvarta. They asked the question that became the base of the Pāśupata teaching. By which path is Parameśvara to be worshipped, the path of karma-yoga, of jñāna-yoga or another? What is to be followed? What is to be given up?

Parameśvara then gave the teaching on the supremacy of jñāna-yoga and on the Pāśupata-vrata.

Sources

• Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapter 37