Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c9.12

v1.c9.12

barians, Śūdras, and other workers of sin, obtained entrance into heaven by visiting the celebrated temple of Sōmēśvara.* Sacrifices, ascetic practices, charitable gifts, and all the other prescribed ordinances ceased, and men thronged only to the temple of Śiva. Hence old and young, the skilled in the Vēdas and those ignorant of them, and women and Śūdras, ascended to heaven, until at length it became crowded to excess. Then Indra and the gods afflicted at being thus overcome by men, sought the protection of Śiva, and thus with reverence addressed him :—‘ O, Śaṅkara, by thy favour heaven is pervaded by men, and we are nearly expelled from it. These mortals wander wherever they please, exclaiming, ‘ I am the greatest ’; and Dharmarāja, beholding the register of their good and evil deeds, remains silent, lost in astonishment. For the seven hells were most assuredly intended for their reception; but, having visited thy shrine, their sins have been remitted, and they have obtained a most excellent futurity.’ Śiva replied :—‘ Such was my promise to Sōma, nor can it be infringed; and all men, therefore, who visit the temple of Sōmēśvara must ascend to heaven. But supplicate Pārvatī, and she will contrive some means for extricating you from this distress.’ The gods then kneeling before Pārvatī, with folded hands and bended heads, thus invoked her assistance with laudatory strains :—‘ Praise be to thee, O supreme of goddesses, supporter of the universe! Praise be to thee, O lotus-eyed, resplendent as gold! Praise be to thee, O beloved of Śiva, who createst and destroyest! Praise be to thee, O mountain-born! Praise be to thee, O Kālarātri, O Durgā, who pervadest the universe, and art the sole substance from which all female forms whether mortal or immortal, originate! Grant us thy aid, and save us from this fearful distress.’ Having heard the supplication of Indra and the gods, thou, O goddess! wert moved with compassion, and gently rubbing thy body, there was thence produced a wondrous being with four arms and the head of an elephant; when thou thus addressed the gods:—‘ Desirous of your advantage have I created this being, who will occasion obstacles to men, and deluding them will deprive them of the wish to visit Sōmanātha, and thus shall they fall into hell.’ This heard, the gods were delighted, and returned to their own abodes, relieved from all fear of mankind.’