Skandapurana 5.33

English (machine translation) 5.33

Language: English

5.33.1

Sūta said: / There is another hermitage of Agastya there, O best of twice-born,
where the Self of all, God Maheśvara himself, resides.

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On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Caitra, the sun,
coming in person, worships Śaṃkara, the lord of gods.

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Therefore, whatever other person also goes there on that day and worships Śaṃkara
with devotion, he goes to the abode of the gods.

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Whoever performs a śrāddha there, endowed with complete faith,
his ancestors are satisfied, just as when a pitṛmedha sacrifice is performed.

5.33.5

The seers said: / Having arrived at the hermitage of Agastya, why does the divine sun
circumambulate it? Tell me this in full detail.

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Sūta said: / I shall relate this narrative; listen, O best of twice-born:
There is a mountain renowned as Vindhya on the surface of the earth.

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On whose treetop branches the clinging rays of the sun
are perceived by innocent young siddhas below as clusters of flowers.

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The dwellers on its slopes are unaware of darkness
dispelled by the radiance of jewels, even on the nights of the dark fortnight.

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On whose slopes the trees shedding flowers appear splendid,
verily like clouds shedding torrents of water under the force of the wind.

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Upon which various animals are seen running to and fro,
like humans driven by greed for the nourishment of wives and sons.

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Where trees whose bark has been wounded by elephants’ tusks shed tears
under the guise of resin, perfuming all the quarters of the sky.

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And other trees on its ridges, struck by elephants' trunks,
are thought to be weeping through the prolonged chirping of crickets.

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Surrounded by cascade waters flowing here and there,
it shone like a man adorned with opulent white garments.

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Formerly, a rivalry arose between it and Sumeru;
then, swooning with rage, it approached the thousand-rayed [sun] and spoke:

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“Why, O Bhāskara, do you circumambulate Meru?
Why do you not circumambulate me, though I am also designated a clan mountain?”

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Bhāskara said: / “We do not circumambulate that mountain out of devotion;
this is my path ordained by the One by whom this world was ordained.

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Its towering peaks pervade and reach into the sky;
therefore, circumambulating it happens by necessity alone.”

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Hearing this, the Vindhya mountain became especially enraged / and said: “See then my height today, O Sun!” / And forthwith it blocked the pathway of the sky by which the sun travels.

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Then, seeing the path blocked, the lord of day
thought in his heart: “What shall I do now?

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If I perform a circumambulation of this mountain,
there will be a disruption of time in the three worlds.

And likewise a confusion of months, seasons, and realms will occur;
all rites such as the agniṣṭoma will meet with destruction; / when the festivals of sacrifice are destroyed in the world, great distress will befall the gods.”

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Having reflected thus in many ways within his mind, the hot-rayed [sun],
afraid, went in thought to Agastya, the bull among sages.

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“Indeed, there is no other capable of stopping this Vindhya except him,
Agastya, the best of brahmins, born from Mitra and Varuṇa.”

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Then, assuming the form of a twice-born, the hot-rayed [sun]
went to the precincts of his hermitage in the sacred field of Camatkārapura.

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Then, at the conclusion of the Vaiśvadeva rite, devoted to chanting the Veda,
he spoke: “I, a guest, have arrived, O best of sages.”

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Then Agastya, filled with joy, [said]: “Welcome to you, O great sage,
who have arrived at the end of the fire ritual, like a cherished desire thought upon!

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Speak the truth, O best of sages, that I may grant your desire;
there is nothing that cannot be given by me when asked for at this time.”

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Bhāskara said: / “I, Bhāskara, have come in the form of a brahmin, O noble sage,
considering you the only one capable of all deeds in the three worlds.

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Formerly, the ocean of waters was drunk dry by you for the sake of the gods,
and likewise the Daitya Vātāpi, the tormentor of the twice-born, was devoured.

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Therefore, be our refuge now, O best of sages,
since you alone are the protector of the gods and the castes here.”

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Sūta said: / Hearing that, O brahmins, that sage was exceedingly delighted;
having offered the respectful water offering to the lord of day, he then said with respect:

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"I am blessed, I am graced, that you have come to my home. / Therefore speak, and I shall carry out your word without fail."

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Bhāskara said: / "This Vindhya mountain stands blocking our path, / out of rivalry with the foremost of mountains, Sumeru, O best of sages.

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Restrain it, therefore, by various means such as conciliation and the rest; / act so that there is no passing of time, so that the course is not obstructed."

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Agastya said: / "I shall restrain for you this growing clan mountain. / Therefore go to your own place, O maker of day, and be at ease."

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Then Bhāskara of sharp rays, dismissed by him, / took leave of that lord of sages and went to his own place, rejoicing.

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Agastya also went quickly and spoke respectfully to the Vindhya: / 'Descend to a low state at my word, swiftly, O best of mountains!

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Today the thought has arisen in me to bathe in the southern tīrthas; / that depends on you, O mountain, so act as is fitting.'

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Hearing his word, the Vindhya, best of mountains, / immediately assumed a low level, filled with humility.

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Agastya, having reached its southern border, O twice-born, / said to it: 'You must remain standing just as you are,

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until my return; let there be no doubt here. / Otherwise I will pronounce a curse, by which you will meet destruction.'

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Promising 'So be it', terrified of the curse, the best of mountains / did not grow again, desiring his return.

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And he [Agastya] did not turn back by that path; / even today, O leaders of brahmins, he remains residing in the southern region.

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Then, bringing Lopāmudrā there, the lord of sages / summoned the thousand-rayed [sun] and spoke respectfully to him:

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"At your word, O one of sharp rays, I abandoned my own hermitage; / and for your sake, I must by no means go back there again.

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Therefore, at my word, O Sun, on the bright fourteenth of Madhu, / that liṅga installed by me there must certainly be worshipped by you."

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Bhāskara said: / "O sage, at your word I will certainly do so without doubt. / I myself shall worship that liṅga at the end of the year.

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Whatever other human being worships that liṅga on that day / shall reach my world and attain liberation."

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Sūta said: / For this reason the blessed one of sharp rays / always manifests his presence there on the fourteenth of the bright half of Caitra.

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All this which I was asked has been told to you, O best of the twice-born; / speak again if any doubt remains in your hearts.

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Thus ends the thirty-third chapter, named 'Description of the Glory of Agastya's Hermitage,' in the glory of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the Nāgarakhaṇḍa, the sixth [part] of the auspicious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, a collection of eighty-one thousand [verses].

Linked texts (1)

Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit