Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.s6.35

v2.c16.s6.35

Rāvaṇa, king of Laṅka, having gone to defeat Kubēra was returning after achieving his purpose. On his way he came to Śaravaṇa, the place in which Kārttikeya was born. He ascended the hill, from the top of which he saw a much more pleasant garden whither he drove his vimāna Pushpaka. But when it neared the place it would not move any further. At this place Rāvaṇa met a tawny coloured, monkey-faced and powerful dwarf, by name Nandikēśvara, one of the strong adherents of Śiva, who, on being asked why the car was unable to move further, told Rāvaṇa that Mahādēva with his consort Umā was sporting on the mountain and had prohibited all, even the gods, from crossing that way. In great anger Rāvaṇa asked who that Mahādēva was and laughed contemptuously at the monkey-faced Nandikēśvara. Nandikēśvara, who was no other than a form of Śiva, grew incensed at the insult offered to him by Rāvaṇa and cursed that he should be destroyed by monkeys like himself in appearance and strength. Not being able to proceed further and being cursed by Nandikēśvara, Rāvaṇa determined to pluck up the mountain Kailāsa, from its very roots, threw his ten arms round the mountain and began to lift it up. He was able to move it, so that those that were on it trembled and Umā actually began to shake out of fear and clung to her lord. Śiva, learning the real cause, pressed the mountain with the great toe of his foot, which fixed the mountain firmly as of old and also pinned down Rāvaṇa underneath it. Rāvaṇa seeing his own miserably helpless condition, and advised by his counsellors to propitiate Mahādeva wept for a thousand years, singing hymns in praise of Śiva; the latter was at last pleased with Rāvaṇa, whom he presented with a sword at his request and let him return to Lanka. Because he cried, he was given the name Rāvaṇa.