The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.261

v2.c17.s1.261

Indradyumna, having duly worshipped the log which had come floating on the sea from Śvetadvīpa, enquired of the noble sage Nārada: By whom and in what form should the image of Viṣṇu be produced? Hearing this, the sage of pre-eminent greatness, the noble tutor, replied, saying, ‘Who can know the transcendental object of the Divinity? Even Brahmā the creator of the universe is doubtful of the subject.’ While this conversation was getting on, the king and the sage heard a deep sound proceeding from heaven but from no corporeal being; those who were around them were also astonished at hearing it, but the superhuman Lord was beyond their understanding. The sound exclaimed, ‘The great god will secretly descend into the noble temple; keep the log covered for fifteen days; when an old carpenter with his implements in hand will appear and enter the temple, carefully close the doors and make a great noise on the outside so as to drown the noise inside, which will otherwise bring on deafness and paralysis. It will also bring on condemnation to hell and the death of children. None should enter the temple nor peep into it. Should other than he who is appointed look in, the king will lose his kingdom and the beholder shall be greatly frightened and be born blind from age to age. Therefore none should look into the temple until the work of making the images is completed. Left alone the god will complete this work, the source of good to all creation and inform you of it’. Hearing this proclamation made by Viṣṇu himself, Nārada and others wished to do as they were directed. Then came there the old carpenter and told the king, ‘Whatever you have seen in your dream, the same I shall accomplish with this excellent wood’. Having said this, the old man in the shape of a carpenter, who was no other than Nārāyaṇa himself, descended to lay the faith of men, disappeared in the temple. Then the protector of the earth did as he was directed by the voice, Thus day after day passed on; a delightful aroma spread everywhere; the heavenly flower *pārijāta*, so rare among mortals, fell in showers; the sonnd of sweet music and charmings songs echoed in the ear; pleasing showers of the water of the celestial Ganges drizzled on earth; wild she-elephants, felt the aroma of the exudation from the temple of noble elephants, an aroma insufferable but beneficial to created beings; the gods came down to perform ceremonies and they were free from all trouble; and seeing that Hari was descending on the earth, the twice-born recited their hymns in praise of Viṣṇu, the same who was Mādhava before. Through the adoration of the gods Viṣṇu assumed his emblems and made himself manifest on the fifteenth day. The god appeared in four forms as before mentioned by me. He appeared, as formerly described to you, seated on a noble throne and accompanied by Balabhadra and Sudarśana. Janārdana appeared, holding the conch-shell, the discus, the mace and the lotus. Baladeva appeared holding the mace, the club, the discus and the lotus ornament; he had earrings and was canopied by the seven hoods of a cobra. Subhadrā, the lovely-faced, was seen holding forth blessings, the lotus and encouragement.