Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2031

c9.2031

18) Bull of Śiva. Cows were born on earth from Surabhi. The foam of milk which flowed like sea from cows rose into waves and fell in Śivabhūmi (Śiva land). Śiva did not like it. He opened his third eye and looked at the cows. The flames from the eye caused different colours to the cows. The cows took refuge with Candra. But, the fire of Śiva's eye followed the cows there also. At last the Prajāpatis pacified Śiva and presented him a bull for vehicle. From that day onwards Śiva came to be known as Vṛṣabhavāhana and Vṛṣabhāṅka also. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 77).