Bhushunda Commences His Story - 3

Sage Vasishtha

BHUSHUNDA replied:

Since you ask these questions concerning me, O sage, I shall duly answer them. Pray listen attentively. The story I am about to narrate is so inspiring that it will destroy the sins of those who relate it and those who listen to it.

Having said this, O Rama, Bhushunda began the following narration. His words were grave and polite. They had power for he had risen beyond all desires and the pursuit of pleasure. His heart was pure for it had reached its own fulfilment. He was fully aware of the birth and the extinction of the creations. His words were sweet. He had the dignity of the creator Brahma himself. His words were like nectar and he commenced his discourse which follows.

BHUSHUNDA said: 

In this universe there is a great divinity known as Hara who is the god of gods and who is adored by all the gods in heaven. His consort occupies one half of the body. The holy river Ganga flows from his matted locks. On his head also shines the radiant moon. A deadly cobra encircles his neck, apparently deprived of its poison by the nectar that flows from the moon. His sole adornment is the sacred ash which is smeared all over his body. He dwells in cemeteries or cremation grounds. He wears a garland of skulls. His amulets and bracelets are snakes. 

By a mere glance he destroys the demons. He is devoted to the welfare of the entire universe. Hills and mountains which seem to be forever immersed in meditation are the symbols which represent him. His lieutenants or goblins that have heads and hands like razors and that have faces like a bear, a camel, a mouse, etc. He is radiant with three eyes. These goblins bow down to him. And, the female deities who feed on the beings in the fourteen worlds dance in front of him. 

These female deities are also endowed with faces resembling various animals. They dwell on the peaks of mountains, in space, in different worlds, in crematoriums and in bodies of embodied ones. Of these female deities eight are principal ones: they are Jaya, Vijaya, Jayanti, Aparajita, Siddha, Raktta, Alambusa and Utpala. All the others follow these eight deities. Of these, the seventh Alambusa is the most famous. Her vehicle is the crow which is extremely powerful and which is blue in color. 

Once upon a time all these female deities assembled in space. They duly worshiped the divinity known as Tumburu (which is one of the aspects of Rudra) and engaged themselves in left handed ritual which reveals the supreme truth. They adored Tumburu and also the deity known as Bhairava and they began to perform various rites intoxicated, as they were, by wine. Soon they began to discuss an important question: how is it that the Lord of Uma (Hara) treats us contemptuously? They made up their mind thus: "we shall demonstrate our prowess in such a way that he does not do so hereafter." They overwhelmed Uma by their magic powers and separated her from her lord Hara. All the female deities sang and danced in ecstasy. Some drank, some sang, some laughed, some roared, some ran, some fell, and some ate flesh. These intoxicated deities began to create disorder in the whole world.