Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c15.11

v2.c15.11

small quantity of the water of the Gaṅgā which he sprinkled on the dead cow. The water of this divine river revived the cow and itself began to flow as the river Gōdāvarī. Gautama at last perceived through his mind's eye that the death of the cow and other incidents connected therewith were a clear deceit practised on him by the *ṛishis* and cursed them to become *Vēdabāhyas* or those outside the pale of the Vēdic religion. On their entreaty to abate his anger against them, he was pleased to assure them that though they were outside the Vēdic cult, they would rise to heaven through *bhakti* or devotional love of God. The fallen *ṛishis* went to Kailāsa and prayed to Śiva to grant them some *śāstras* which had a few Vēdic rites at least. Thereupon, the *ṛishis* were decreed to be born to the Raudras, the lovers of spirituous liquors and flesh, who sprang up from the sweat-drops which flowed from Śiva while he was in the aspect of Bhairava, and to these he gave the Pāśupata Śāstra.