Storia do Mogor 248: The Life of Rudram.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 248
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The Life of Rudram.
248.1
Rudram is the third and last son of Parachety (Parasakti) and her first husband. Rudra was a jogi by calling, and one of the wickedest men then in the world. He was atanary (ardha-nari) — that is to say, a hermaphrodite; he espoused Paravady (Parvati), daughter of the king of the mountains, and lived a thousand years with her. . . . Seeing this, the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and the other three hundred and thirty thousand millions of gods concluded that Rudra was mad. Thus, they all joined and separated him by force from Paravady (Parvati) ; but she was so angry that she cursed all the gods with the imprecation that they should never have children nor any wife of their own, but only concubines. This malediction, as our authors say, produced its effect. Rudra became, as it were, mad, and impregnated the four elements beyond the capacity of air, fire, and sea. The earth alone received it at one spot, where it gaped in six places ; and forthwith was born a little child with six heads.
248.2
But as in this world there was no nurse who could suckle him, the seven stars, styled ordinarily David's Wain, were called down to give him suck, and they named him Camaro Svami (Kumara Swami) — that is, ' Lord Son.' These wretched people are so devoted to him that on all their writings, obligations, contracts, and correspondence they insert Arumugam Tumca (Arumugam tumika) — that is, ' Thou with the six faces, be with us.' Subsequent to this miracle, they imagine that Paravadi (Parvati) was born a second time to a king called Dacha Pariadi (Daksha Prajapati), and that Rudra was a second time married to her. One day, as she was bathing in the garden, she had an intense longing for a son, who forthwith appeared in her hand out of the sweat wiped from her breast. She gave him the name of Vinaigem (Vinayakam)—that is, 'He who is not God.' Rudra came home, and, ignorant of this event, was much dejected when he saw Vinayaka talking to Parvati. On this account he resolved to renounce her. But she knew whence his anger arose, and calmed him by describing how the thing had come to pass. When he learnt the truth, his sadness changed into joy; what had been a source of sorrow became a subject of rejoicing.
248.3
But he was not left long in this condition, for the king, his father-in-law, had to offer up a sacrifice, which they call echiam (yajna), and to it he invited all the gods [101]. But whether by forgetfulness, or through ill-will to the god, his son-in-law, caused by the tricks he played, he did not invite him. That very moment Rudra, aflame with rage, presented himself where his father-in-law was sacrificing to the gods and feasting them. As soon as he arrived, he in his rage drew forth a horse-whip and struck it on the ground with all his strength, and by force of this blow there was born instantly a giant, who breathed vengeance for the slight done to and suffered by Rudra. Among the other violent things he did, he gave such a smack to the Sun that it knocked out all his teeth. This is why all the things now offered by the Hindus to this planet are soft, such as milk, butter, flour, and very ripe fruit. After this assault, he trod the Moon's face underfoot, and made the scars still to be seen on it to this day. After he had slain the king, Daksha Prajapati, and many more, some among the survivors cut off the head of Vinayaka.
248.4
When the choler had evaporated and the dispute blown over, Rudra sought for his son. He had fallen before the giant's violence. He found only a headless body, and was thus forced to cut off an elephant's head, which he so made to adhere that his son came to life. The father then told his son he must never marry until he found a woman as lovely as his mother. This is why in this country this idol is always turned with its face to the east, looking for a woman equal to his mother. But up to this time the resuscitated Vinayaka, also called by them Polyar (Pillaiyar), has not found her. By order of the gods Rudra went to cut off the head of Brahma, who had turned himself into a stag and seduced his own daughter. In doing such an act, as they assert, Rudra was guilty of a heinous sin. To expiate it he divested himself of clothing, increasing his penance by wearing nothing and dwelling in grave-yards. There, smeared with ashes and holding Brahma's head in his hand, he passed his days and nights with grievous groans, until he thereby lost his senses. However, in the end he grew weary of such heavy penance, and decided to obtain some solace.
248.5
He knew that in a neighbouring desert there dwelt many ascetic Brahmans, and by magic arts he filled their wives with concupiscence ; then, appearing at that spot all naked, he asked for alms. The Brahman women quitted their husbands in pursuit of the god, and followed him. Here, where he hoped for the greatest transports, he encountered a still worse cause of chagrin ; for the ascetic Brahmans, revolting at such treachery, uttered a malediction upon the god. Forthwith he was turned into a eunuch. Unable to remedy his misfortune otherwise, he announced a grant of heavenly glory to whosoever for his love became a eunuch. This several men did forthwith; and not [102] stopping short at the sacrifice thus made, they converted it into an idol, which some hang from their neck, some place on their head, others on their arms. This is called linguon (lingam). Thus does the great god made of stone, besides filling all the temples and all the streets, go about hung to the necks of a sect of men and women called yogueys (yogis). These are the fiercest enemies of God's Law that can be found, extremely degraded and haughty, also the most cowardly people in the world.
248.6
There is still another sect which imitates the disgraceful penance of Rudra. They call them Larres (Illar), or filthy yogis. They go about naked, covered all over with ashes, and demand alms everywhere ; they are held to be holy men. Many carry the lingam idol tied on their hands, and those hands extended above the head ; they are never lowered, but always raised at full length and motionless. From this cause someone else is required to put food into their mouths, and those who do this believe they are performing a great work of charity.
248.7
After the malediction, Rudra married the river Ganges, described by the Hindus as a very handsome woman ; but with her he was impotent, and had no children. He had to content himself with carrying her always on his head. But she was not satisfied, and without the knowledge of the god, her husband, she sought someone else, devoid of the defect of Rudra as above stated. Thus, in the course of several adventures, Vishnu delivered Rudra from the greatest peril he had yet undergone; for a giant, called Pasmevram (Bhasmasura) — that is, ' Lord of Ashes ' — after having done penance for several years in honour of Rudra, came to him one day to ask reward for so many hardships. Rudra conferred on him the power of reducing to ashes anyone on whose head he placed his hand. As the giant was eager to know if the gift were a veritable one, he wanted to test it upon Rudra himself. The latter became conscious of his mistake, and seeing himself in greater straits than ever before, he resorted to magic, and became invisible within a fruit. It was the size of a filbert or hazel.
248.8
Vishnu learnt of this difficulty, and taking the form of a courtesan, appeared to the giant, who was taken with her beauty, and asked leave to put up in her house. Vishnu's answer was that, having lived as an ascetic for so many years, his head had been fouled by the crows, rooks, and other birds to such an extent that it was very dirty. He must go to the river to wash it ; after that she would take him into her house. Thereupon off went the giant to the river in great glee ; but he met with destruction where he had looked for the highest delight : for, in rubbing his head with his hands, he touched himself, and was thus reduced to ashes, to the great satisfaction of Vishnu.
248.9
Having quitted that shape, Vishnu resorted to Rudra to tell him it was time to quit the fruit, the giant being now destroyed; and warned him not to be such a fool again as to enter into such agreements. Then Rudra, anxious to know the device, asked Vishnu to show him the form in which he had appeared. But he refused [103], telling Rudra over and over again that if he saw the figure in which he appeared before the giant, his mind would lose its balance. In spite of this, Rudra reiterated his demand, and prayed for his desire to be satisfied. Touched by this, Vishnu consented ; when Rudra, beholding so much beauty, went out of his senses, and by mere force of passion produced a son, which through that apparition came to life in the hand of Vishnu. They named it Angara Putrim — that is, ' Son of Vishnu and Rudra.' These two imaginary persons are the most revered of all by those barbarians, and they have the most worshippers. These Indian people are so naturally ignorant that they are unable to philosophize, or convince themselves by light of Reason, that all these stupidities and improprieties are unworthy, to say the least of it, of the Divine Essence.
248.10
Another error of these Hindus is that they hold God to be whatever thing can exist. Moreover, they hold that God is the author of sin, and as they have not the science for distinguishing between permitting and willing, it is very difficult to convince them that they are unblushingly admitting the existence of two contraries. That remark means that they say God forbids sin and is most just, and at the same time they say He desires sin, and yet chastens mankind for their sins.