The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c11.45

v1.c11.45

**Seventh objection:** The next exception taken to Śiva's Aryan-hood is due to the shape in which he is worshipped—an uncarved or rudely carved block, such as a rude primitive race, like the ancestors of the present Kols and Bhīls, might alone accept as the emblem of the godhead. The Aryans, familiar with the ritual of the Vedas in which no images are tolerated, could not themselves design it, much less identify it with so disgusting an object as the *liṅgam*. Certain it is that they have often felt shocked at the idea, but unable to denounce the divinity of Śiva, tried to explain it away. The *Vāmana Purāṇa* attempts it in this wise: When Śiva was influenced by Cupid, he roamed about naked, and in an amatory mood in the Dāruvaṇa forest, where dwelt a number of [ 140 ] sages with their families. He asked alms of the sages, but they averted their faces, ashamed to look at his nude figure. He then turned towards their huts, and saw the wives of Bhārgava, Aṅgirasa, Ātreya, &c, and they were at once overcome by his charming appearance, and induced to follow him to the neglect of their household duties. The sages, perceiving this, cursed him, so that the member of his body dropped off. Śiva immediately disappeared; but the fall of the member of his body caused a fearful commotion, and the earth shook repeatedly, showing threatening signs of immediate destruction; all creation trembled with fear; and the sages, in trepidation, sought the advice of Brahmā. That great divinity was, however, neither able to expound the cause of the misadventure, nor devise a remedy to prevent the destruction of the earth. He sought, therefore, the abode of Śiva in the company of Viṣṇu, and besought his aid. The advice he got was to adore the dislocated member; and this was accordingly done, and the earth was saved. Brahmā, thereupon, ordained that all the four orders of mankind should for all time come to worship it. Several *ṛṣis* subsequently laid down elaborate rules founded upon this ordinance, and the worship became general. Among the last is named the sage Kundodara who was by birth a Śūdra.¹⁷ Elsewhere the Purāṇa repeats the story, but with some variations. The *ṛṣis* are said to have been the Bālakhilyas, and the instrument of dismemberment their staves and brickbats, instead of a curse, although the latter is undoubtedly the most potent in Brāhmanical estimation. Viṣṇu is also excluded from the deputation.