Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3341

c9.3341

3) The story of Dharmadhvaja. Who was this Dharmadhvaja to whom was born Mahālakṣmī as a daughter? In times of old there was a Manu called Dakṣasāvarṇi who was extremely virtuous and a part of Viṣṇu. Descending from Dakṣasāvarṇi were Brahmaśāvarṇi-Dharmasāvarṇi-Rudrasāvarṇi-Devasāvarṇi-Indrasāvarṇi Vṛṣadhvaja. This last named was a great devotee of Śiva and because of his great affection for this devotee Śiva lived a whole period of a devayuga in the āśrama of Vṛṣadhvaja. King Vṛṣadhvaja by an edict prohibited the worship of any other deity than Śiva in his country. Even the worship of Mahālakṣmī ordained by the Vedas during the month of Bhādra (September) became extinct. All Yāgas and worship of Viṣṇu came to a stop. Sūrya (Sun-god) got angry at this belittling of other gods than Śiva and cursed the King Vṛṣadhvaja that he would cease to be prosperous. Śiva did not like it and he went to punish Sūrya holding his trident in his hand. Sūrya was frightened and he approached his father Kaśyapa. Kaśyapa and Sūrya went to Brahmā and acquainted him with all details. Brahmā also was helpless in the matter and so all the three of them went to Mahāviṣṇu. They prostrated before Viṣṇu and told him all. At that time Śiva also came there. Addressing all of them Viṣṇu said “Oh Devas, within this half an hour twentyone yugas have passed by on the earth. He about whom you have come to speak to me is dead and gone. Even his son Rathadhvaja is dead. The latter has two sons named Dharmadhvaja and Kuśadhvaja. They are dull and splendourless because of the curse of Sūrya and are now worshipping Lakṣmī.” Saying thus Viṣṇu disappeared.