Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1970

c9.1970

Brahmā appeared to the frightened maharṣis and told them that it was not a Jin, but only the sword for the destruction of the asura tribe. Śiva took the sword in his hand, and as soon as he touched it he became possessed of four hands. "Śiva, whose head touched the sun, who had the third eye and from whose mouth flames of fire emerged, who changed himself to various colours like blue, white and red, who wore deer skin with golden spots, who had on his forehead an eye as effulgent as the Sun—such Śiva took in his hands the fiery sword and raising his shield he swirled the sword in various directions."