Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.981

c9.981

When the King had finished saying thus much, Sumedhas came there. To remove the darkness of illusion from their minds, the hermit taught them the Nine-lettered Mantra (spell) with prayer and meditation. Thus giving them the mantra, the teacher hermit advised them to go to the bank of the river and select a suitable place and worship Devī with devotion and concentration of mind. Accordingly they went to the bank of the river and selected a pure and solitary place, and concentrating their minds on Devī, began to meditate and worship her taking only very little food. Thus engaged in deep meditation they spent two years. One day in a dream Devī appeared to them. She was clad in red clothes, and wore beautiful ornaments. They were full of joy on seeing the goddess. The third year of the penance was over. But Devī did not appear directly before them. In the third year they took only water. They finished the fourth year without seeing the goddess. They decided to do severe penance. Their intention was to offer their bodies to Devī. So they made a triangular cavity, with three parts each having an extension of 1½ ft. and made the walls of the cavity firm and kindled a large fire in it. The King and the Vaiśya began to cut pieces of flesh from their bodies and offered to Devī in the fire, and with the blood coming from the body they performed sacrifice to Devī. Instantly Devī appeared before them and asked them what boon they wanted. The King wanted to get his kingdom back. Devī said. "You return home. Your enemies shall leave the kingdom. Your ministers will fall at your feet and beg your pardon. You can rule over your country for ten thousand years. After that you will take rebirth as Sāvarṇi Manu, the son of the Sun."