Description of Vamadeva

The rishis said

Suta, most fortunate one, you are our excellent guru. If you will show us favour we will ask: we are always your devoted disciples and have a guru like you, and have just seen how gently you treat us. When you spoke of the Viraja oblations you mentioned Vamadeva's views, sage, but we did not hear of them in detail. Full of great love and devotion we wish to hear that now, so, ocean of compassion, please tell us all affectionately.

Vyasa said

Hearing them, Suta was delighted and his hair stood on end. He devotedly bowed to Mahadeva, greatest guru among gurus, to Mahadevi, mother of the three, and to his guru Vyasa, and spoke in a deep voice that gladdened the sages.

Suta said

Sages, may you all be well and always happy and steady in devotion to Shiva, and may you yourselves spread devotion to Shiva and Shivaa. I heard a wonderful account from my guru's lotus mouth and have not told it before, afraid of revealing a secret. But you are devoted to Shiva and Shivaa and firm in your vows, and having ascertained that I will tell you; listen gladly.

Earlier, in the Rathantara kalpa, the sage Vamadeva was travelling the earth, purifying it with the touch of his feet. Even in his mother's womb he had knowledge of Shiva and Shivaa. He was himself the most revered of gurus and knew the true meanings of the Vedas, agamas, Puranas and all the texts, and the births and karma of gods, asuras, humans and other beings. All his limbs were covered with ash and masses of matted hair covered his head. He was homeless and free of desires, free of the pairs of opposites and of ego, the sky his garment, of immense knowledge, like another Maheshvara. He was surrounded by lords among sages like himself who had become his disciples, his heart sunk in the most sacred destination. He happily entered the place south of Meru called Kumara's mountain, where the peacock-rider, Bhagavan Isha's son, lives, wise and spear-bearing, crusher of all asuras, with Gajavalli, worshipped by all the gods. There is a lake named for Skanda there, as large as an ocean, full of clear, fathomless water, cool and tasty to drink. All wonderful qualities were present in the lord's presence. With his disciples the great sage Vamadeva bathed there. Kumara was seated on the summit surrounded by many sages, the rider of an excellent peacock, bright as the rising sun, four-armed and beautiful of limb, adorned with a diadem and other ornaments, served by two jewel-like spears, holding a spear and a cock, his hands in the boon and fearlessness gestures. Seeing Skanda, the lord among sages was filled with great devotion and began to worship and praise him.

Vamadeva said: Aum. I bow to the meaning of Pranava, to the one who determines Pranava's meaning, to the seed of Pranava's syllables. I bow to Pranava and worship Pranava. Your own form is the meaning of Vedanta; you determine and know that meaning, eternal knower; I bow to you and worship you. I bow to Guha, hidden in beings' hearts. You are secret, your form is secret, you know the secret agamas. You are smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest; I bow to the knower of great and small, a form of the supreme self. Skanda, whose form overflows, whose energy is red as the sun, I bow to the wearer of a garland of mandara flowers, who always wears a diadem and other things. Shiva's disciple and son, giver of auspiciousness, beloved of Shiva, treasure who delights Shiva and Shivaa, I bow to you. I bow to the son of Ganga, wise Kartikeya, Uma's great son who lay in a reed clump, you who have six undecaying bodies, determine six kinds of meaning, whose form is beyond the six paths, six-faced, I bow to you. Twelve large eyes, twelve raised arms, twelve kinds of weapons, I bow to the one with twelve parts. Four-armed, serene, holding spear and cock, with a boon in your hand, shatterer of asuras, I bow to you. Your chest is smeared with kumkuma from Gajavalli's breasts, and you rejoice when Ganesha is happy. You are the abode of fame, whom the pure think on, praised by Brahma and the other gods, sages and kinnaras, whose lotus feet are worshipped with flowers, diadems, ornaments and garlands when the gods bow before them; I bow to you.

Suta continued

Vamadeva spoke this divine praise to Skanda. One who reads or hears it goes to the supreme destination; it leads to great wisdom, increases devotion to Shiva and always grants long life, freedom from disease, wealth and all else desired. So Vamadeva praised the lord, general of the gods, circled him three times, lay like a rod and did full prostration, circled again and then stood humbly by his side. Brahmanas, hearing the very meaningful hymn the lord, Maheshvara's son, was pleased. Mahasena told him he was pleased with his worship, that he had praised him devoutly and ended well, and asked what he could do for him. Sage, you are foremost among yogis, complete and without desires, and people like you have nothing to ask for in this world. Yet for the protection of dharma and wishing to favour the worlds, virtuous saints like you wander the earth. If it is fit to be heard, tell me now, and for the worlds' welfare I will tell you whatever you want. Hearing Skanda, the great sage Vamadeva answered humbly in a deep voice like rumbling clouds: illustrious one, you are the supreme lord who brings prosperity to high and low, who knows and does everything, lord of every power. Before one like you, the supreme lord, what can we ordinary beings say? Still it is your favour that you speak so to me. Wise one, I am successful, yet I have only a tiny particle of discernment. Since you urge me I will ask; forgive my transgression. Pranava is supreme and expresses Parameshvara himself; it speaks of the divinity Pashupati, who frees the bound creatures. As soon as the speaker invokes him he instantly frees the creature, and so through Pranava the speaker gains siddhi about Shiva. The eternal shruti says "Aum is everything, Aum is brahman," and "brahman is everything." Commander of the gods, lord of the gods, I bow to you; lord of mendicants, I bow to you; complete one, I bow to you. This being so, there is nothing in the universe other than Shiva; Shiva Maheshvara is the lord who takes every form and pervades. I have heard Pranava's meaning stated collectively and individually, Mahasena, but I have not met a guru like you. So be compassionate and tell me its meaning; in due order tell me the rules and good conduct. My lord is the guru who cuts the bonds of all beings; my guru, show me compassion and tell me the meaning. So asked by the sage, Skanda bowed to Sadashiva, whose form is Pranava and who is marked by the thirty-eight supreme parts, eternal and with Uma, with the supreme sages by his side. Then he began to speak of what is beneficial and hidden in the shruti.