Greatness of Mahakala Jyotirlingam Continued

The rishis said

Very intelligent one, tell us again of the greatness of the Mahakala jyotirlinga, who protects devotees.

Suta replied

Brahmanas, hear lovingly the greatness of the Mahakala jyotirlinga, who is there to protect devotees; it increases devotion. There was a great king in Ujjayini named Chandrasena. He knew the truth of all the sacred texts, had conquered his senses and was Shiva's devotee. Brahmanas, the gana Manibhadra was the king's friend. He was foremost among Girisha's ganas and revered by all the worlds. Once Manibhadra, lord of the ganas and generous in understanding, was pleased with him and gave him the great jewel Chintamani. The jewel shone like Koustubha, its brilliance like the sun's. Meditating on it, seeing it or hearing of it was sure to bring auspiciousness. If brass, copper, tin, stone or other objects touched its shining surface, they turned into gold at once. With Shiva as his refuge and the dazzling Chintamani around his neck, King Chandrasena shone like Bhanumat among the gods. Hearing that Chandrasena, supreme among kings, had the Chintamani round his neck, the hearts of all the kings on earth were stirred by greed. All the kings were jealous of Chandrasena and his jewel from a divine source. They used their wits to devise many means of getting it from him. All the kings tried to ask Chandrasena for it, but firm in devotion to Mahakala, he turned the kings away. All those kings were repulsed by Chandrasena and grew angry. The kings of all those countries raised the four kinds of forces. They tried to defeat Chandrasena in battle. All gathered and consulted each other. With many soldiers they laid siege to Ujjayini's four gates. The king saw that all the kings had besieged his city. He went and took refuge with Mahakaleshvara. The king did not eat. He was firm in his resolve that there was no other option. Single-mindedly he worshipped Mahakala day and night. Bhagavan Mahakala Shambhu was pleased and devised a way to protect him. Listen lovingly.

At that time there was a cowherd woman in that excellent city. Brahmanas, taking her child with her, she roamed about and came to Mahakala. Her husband was dead, and she carried her five-year-old child. Full of love, she saw the king's worship of Mahakala. She witnessed that great and wonderful worship of Shiva, bowed, and went back to her own tent. The cowherd woman's son, full of curiosity, saw everything. He decided to worship Shiva too. He brought a stone and set it in an empty spot near the tent, not far from his own tent, and devoutly took it as his own Shiva lingam. He imagined artificial fragrances, ornaments, garments, incense, lamps, unbroken rice and food offerings. Again and again he did the worship with lovely flowers and leaves. He danced in different ways and bowed again and again. At such a time, with the son's mind fixed on Shiva, the cowherd woman called him lovingly to eat. Though called many times, the child's mind was fixed on worshipping Shiva, and he did not wish to eat. She went there and saw him seated before Shiva with eyes closed. She struck him angrily and dragged him by the hand. Though struck and dragged, the child would not leave. So she destroyed the worship and threw the lingam far away. When she did this, her son lamented and scolded her. Full of rage, the cowherd woman went back into her house. Seeing that his mother had destroyed the worship of the god who wields the trident, the child fell to the ground and lamented, "Lord! God!" Overcome by grief, he lost his senses. After a while he regained them and opened his eyes. The child saw that by Shiva's favour the tent had become Mahakala's beautiful temple. There were large doors of gold and broad, excellent gates. There was a costly, radiant altar of sparkling blue diamonds. There were many wonderful pots of molten gold, and shining pillars set with gems. The floor was of crystal slabs. Right in the middle stood a jewelled lingam of Shankara, the ocean of compassion. The cowherd woman's son saw that the things he had used for the worship were there too. Seeing it, the child's mind was amazed and he stood up at once. It was as if he were sunk in an ocean of supreme bliss. He praised Girisha again and again and bowed to him. When the sun set, the child came out of Shiva's temple. He saw that his own tent had come to look like Purandara's city, suddenly turned into gold, wonderful and immensely radiant. He went into his house, which was filled with everything beautiful and strewn with heaps of jewels and gold. He rejoiced. Night was about to begin. He saw his mother there like a heavenly woman with all the divine marks, her limbs radiant and decked with jewelled ornaments. Brahmanas, the son, who had received Shiva's favour, was full of joy and quickly woke his mother. Waking, she saw these wonders, the like of which had never been seen. Immersed in great joy, she embraced her son.

She heard from her son's mouth that all this was by the favour of Girija's husband. She sent word to her master, who was constantly worshipping Shiva. After finishing the night's rites, the king quickly came. He saw the powers of the cowherd woman's son, won by pleasing Shiva. The lord of the earth, all his advisers and the household priest saw it. They were sunk in an ocean of supreme bliss. King Chandrasena's eyes shed tears of love. Rejoicing, he chanted Shiva's names and embraced the child. Brahmanas, there were great and wonderful festivities. All were overwhelmed with joy and chanted of Mahesha. Seeing Shiva's greatness and this wonderful event, the citizens were filled with respect and the night passed as if in an instant. In the morning the kings who had besieged the city to fight heard from their spies what had happened. All those kings gathered together. Scared at what they had heard, they spoke to one another.

The kings said

This King Chandrasena is Shiva's devotee and impossible to defeat. Lord Mahakala is kindly disposed toward the city of Ujjayini. He is Shiva's devotee, and even the children of the city keep Shiva's vows. King Chandrasena is Shankara's great devotee. Clearly if we oppose him, Shiva will be angry. His rage will bring destruction on us all. So we must make an alliance with the king. If we do, Mahesha will show us his compassion.

Suta continued

Having decided this, the kings gave up their wicked enmity. All of them, delighted, threw down the weapons in their hands. With King Chandrasena's permission they entered the beautiful city protected by Mahakala and gladly worshipped Mahakala. The kings also went to the cowherd woman's house. All of them praised the coming of her divine good fortune. Chandrasena welcomed and honoured them. He sat on a costly seat, and amazed, they honoured him in return. They saw the Shiva lingam and Shiva's temple that had appeared by the favour of the cowherd woman's son. Their minds turned wholly to Shiva. All the kings were delighted with the cowherd woman's son. Wishing Shiva's compassion, they gave him many gifts. All the kings made him king over all the cowherds who lived in their kingdoms.

At that time Hanuman, lord of the monkeys, worshipped by all the dwellers of heaven, appeared there, full of energy. At his arrival the kings were filled with reverence. They stood and bowed, images of humility and devotion. Worshipped, the lord of monkeys sat among them. He embraced the cowherd woman's son. He glanced at the kings and spoke.

Hanuman said

Fortunate kings and all who have bodies, listen. For embodied beings there is no destination other than Shiva. It is good fortune that the cowherd woman's son saw Shiva's worship. Even if one worships Shiva without mantras, Shiva can be reached. He is supreme among Shambhu's devotees and has raised the fame of the line of cowherds. He will enjoy all pleasures in this world. When the time of enjoyment is over he will gain liberation. In the eighth generation of his line there will be a most illustrious one named Nanda. As his son he will gain Krishna, who will be Narayana himself. From now on this cowherd's son will be famous in the worlds and be addressed by the name Shrikara.

Suta concluded

Brahmanas, Hanuman, Anjani's son, lord of monkeys, is Shiva's form. Saying this, he cast a compassionate glance at Chandrasena and all the kings. Cheerfully he taught Shrikara, the cowherd woman's intelligent son, loved by Shiva, the methods of worshipping Shiva. Brahmanas, Hanuman did this gladly. As Chandrasena, Shrikara and everyone looked on, he vanished from the spot. All the lords of the earth rejoiced. Honoured in return by Chandrasena, they took leave of him and went back to wherever they had come from. Shrikara, the very energetic, taught by Hanuman, worshipped Shambhu with the brahmanas who knew dharma. The great King Chandrasena and Shrikara the cowherd's son were both filled with great joy and served Mahakala. After some time spent worshipping Mahakala, King Chandrasena and Shrikara gained the supreme destination. Such is the nature of the Mahakala Shiva lingam, the destination of the virtuous. Shankara, affectionate to his devotees, destroys the wicked in every way. This is a supreme, sacred secret and always brings happiness. I have told an account that ensures heaven and increases devotion to Shiva.