Chapter 285 - Greatness of Agastyāśrama Gaṅgeśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the river Nyaṅkumatī. There in the excellent Goṣpada Tīrtha he shall perform Gayāśrāddha.

He then should visit the deity Varāha. From there he should go to Harigṛha shrine. There he should take his holy bath in the confluence of Nyaṅkumatī and the ocean and adore the Mothers. Then he should go to the east to the divine hermitage of Agasti remembered as Kṣudhāhara.

It was here that the holy Lord, Sage Agastya, killed Ilvala and Vātāpi and released the Brāhmaṇas from the dangers arising from them. Then he gave them that abode (region).

5. Know that this excellent Agastyāśrama is a favourite of Agasti. It is situated on the charming banks of Nyaṅkumatī destructive of all sins.

The Devī sāid:

6. What for was Vātāpi killed here by Agasti? What powerful influence did that Brāhmaṇa-slayer Daitya exercise here? Why did the noble-souled Agasti become furious?

Īśvara said:

7. O lady of excellent complexion, there was a leading Daitya named Ilvala formerly in the city of Maṇimatī^[1]. Vātāpi was his younger brother.

8. That Daitya used to meet a Brāhmaṇa equipped with the power of penance and tell him, “O holy lord, may your holy self present me with a son on a par with Indra.”

9. At that, the Brāhmaṇa did not like to grant him such a son. Therefore, the Daitya became extremely angry with that Brāhmaṇa.

10. That Daitya went to Prabhāsa Kṣetra with evil intentions. Instantly Vātāpi who could assume any guise he chose, took the form of a sheep.

11. He used to cut and consecrate him to feed the Brāhmaṇas he wished to kill. After returning home he used to call orally once again the brother who had vanished.

12. He (Vātāpi) was then visible alive after resuming his physical body. Again this Vātāpi was made a goat and well consecrated. After feeding the Brāhamaṇa, he called him once again.

13. Vātāpi then used to split the sides of the noble-souled Brāhmaṇa and come out of the stomach of the Brāhmaṇa. He used to come out laughing.

14. This became his regular practice, O goddess. He used to feed Brāhmaṇas and come out splitting their bellies. Thus he killed many Brāhmaṇas.

15. All the Brāhmaṇas became extremely frightened. They fled to the hermitage of Agasti and reported this to him:

16-19. “O holy Sir, do listen to our words. This is extremely frightening to us. We were invited by Ilvala. There is no doubt that taking his food is our death itself. Hence, O holy lord, save us; we are dejected and distressed. We are out of our minds due to fright.”

The great sage came to Prabhāsa Kṣetra where the leading Daityas resided. He saw the sinful Daityas engaged in sinful activities.

He noticed that Vātāpi, the great Asura, was to be turned into a goat and cooked. He said, “I am extremely hungry. Give me food.”

20. On being told thus they welcomed the sage. (Ilvala) said: “O holy Sir, I shall give you a rich feast. Tell me how much you wish to have for food. I shall get that much cooked.”

Agastya said:

21a. O leading Daitya, cook a little rice. I shall feel satisfied.

21b-22a. Then the leading Daitya said: “It is cooked. Please be seated here. Let the food be taken as you please.”

22b. On being told thus, the great sage recited the Aghora Mantra that would destroy even the Kalpas. He occupied the appropriate seat there.

23. Ilvala prepared a heap of cooked rice a hundred Hastas (Hands) high. The leading Daitya laughingly served it to Agastya.

24. Delighted in his mind, Agastya assumed the form and attitude as when he had drunk up the ocean dry and swallowed two mouthfuls.

25. Then he swallowed the entire foodstuffs including Vātāpi. When Agastya concluded his meal, Ilvala gave the call unto him (Vātāpi) to come out.

26. Then he gave to the noble-souled Agastya the food prepared. He finished up that food including the Dānava leaving nothing.

27. In a fist (a fit) of anger (Evidently the word Muṣṭyā is a misprint) the great sage reduced Ilvala to ash. Thereupon, shrieking and howling all those Daityas disappeared from the scene.

28. Then Agastya of great splendour invited the leading Brāhmaṇas and gave unto them that spot of the Daityas filled with Dravyas (cash, valuables etc.).

29. O goddess, the Kṣudhā (hunger) of Agastya was dispelled by the Dānavas. Therefore, that spot of the Brāhmaṇas came to be known by the name Kṣudhāhara.

30. Not far from that place on the western side is situated the shrine well-known as Gaṅgeśvara. It was installed by Gaṅgā.

31. Earlier after eating Vātāpi, O great goddess, Gaṅgā, the destroyer of sins, was called by the noble-souled Agastya, for dispelling the sin arising from consuming the Daitya.

32. Then, O fair lady, Gaṅgā, the destroyer of sins, came there. She purified the sage and stationed herself in that holy spot.

33. The charming hermitage of Agastya dispels the fear of men from sins. A devotee is rid of the sin of eating forbidden food, as soon as he sees the Gaṅgeśvara deity. There is no doubt about it.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The same as Ilvalapuri or Ellora, Aurangabad Dist., Maharashtra—De 77, 126.