Greatness of Bhimeshvara Jyotirlingam

Suta said

Next I will tell you of Bhimashankara. Just hearing it gives a man whatever he desires. In the land of Kamarupa, for the good of the worlds and to give people fortune and happiness, Shankara himself took an avatara. Lords among sages, hear why he did so.

Long ago there was a mighty rakshasa named Bhima, who tormented all beings and always worked against dharma. He was the very strong son of Kumbhakarna and Karkati. Kumbhakarna, the terror of the worlds, was killed by Rama, and Karkati and her son lived on Mount Sahya. Bhima grew up crooked and fierce. While still a boy he asked his mother: "Mother, who is my father? Where is he? Why are you alone here? Tell me the truth." The wicked rakshasi told him. "Your father was Kumbhakarna, Ravana's younger brother. Rama killed him and his brother. Once Kumbhakarna came here, and in those days he took me by force. Then he left me here and went to Lanka. I have never seen Lanka; I have lived here. My father was Karkata and my mother Pushkashi. My husband was Viradha, whom Rama had killed earlier. When he died I stayed with my parents, and now they are dead too. A sage burnt them to ashes: Sutikshna, a disciple of Agastya, destroyed them with his austerities when they came to devour him. Since then I have lived on this mountain, miserable and alone, grieving, without support or refuge. Then Ravana's younger brother came and had me, and left. After that you were born, strong and brave, and I found a support again."

Bhima, terrible in valour, was enraged. "What can I do against Hari? He killed my father and my mother's father, killed Viradha, and brought many sorrows on us. If I am a true son, I will make Hari suffer." Resolved, he left to torment himself with great austerities aimed at Brahma. With his mind in meditation he practised for a thousand years, standing on one foot with arms raised and eyes on the sun. A terrible energy rose from his head. Scorched by it, the gods went to Brahma, bowed and praised him, and Vasava and the others told him their troubles: "Brahma, the rakshasa's energy is about to scorch the worlds. Vidhatri, give the wicked one his boon, or his fierce energy will burn us all. Grant what he wishes and save us from destruction." The grandfather of the worlds went to him to grant a boon. "I am pleased," he said. "Ask what is in your mind." Bhima answered: "Lord of the gods, seated on the lotus, if you will grant me a boon, give me unmatched strength." He bowed, Brahma granted it and went home, and the rakshasa went back to his house with unmatched strength.

Bowing to his mother, Bhima said proudly: "See my strength now, mother. I will bring great slaughter on the gods led by Shakra, even if Hari helps them." First he defeated the gods with Vasava, drove them from their posts and took their places. When the immortals appealed to Hari, he defeated Hari too in battle. Delighted, the daitya then set out to conquer the earth. First he went against Sudakshina, king of Kamarupa. A fearsome battle followed, and because of Brahma's gift the asura defeated the great and valiant king, though the king's refuge was Shiva. Bhima bound and beat him and seized his whole kingdom and all its allies. The king was Shiva's servant, loved dharma and was loved by Hara, yet the wicked Bhima chained him and shut him in a prison. There the king made a fine earthen image and began to worship Shiva for his welfare. In his mind he called Ganga by many means for the bathing and other rites. He followed the rules for earthen images, with meditation and other rites, prostrations, mudras, posture and hymns. He did everything needed to worship Shankara, and repeated the five-syllable mantra with Pranava in front of it with understanding. He found no time for anything else. His wife Dakshina, a virtuous woman, also worshipped an earthen image gladly. The couple were single-minded in worshipping Shankara, giver of welfare to devotees.

Meanwhile the rakshasa, deluded by his boon and his arrogance, wrecked sacrifices and rites and said, "Give everything to me." With many evil rakshasa soldiers he brought the whole earth under his rule. He destroyed the dharma of the Vedas, the sacred texts, the smritis and the Puranas, and took and enjoyed everything himself. The gods with Shakra suffered, and the rishis. Brahmanas were driven out of the world in misery. With Brahma and Vishnu in front, the gods and sages, all disabled, went and took refuge with Shankara. They praised him with many hymns, and on the pleasant banks of the river Mahakoshi they made an earthen image and worshipped it by the rules. Shambhu, pleased with their hymns, said: "Hari, Vidhatri, gods, rishis, I am pleased. Ask a boon. What must I do for you?" With joined hands the gods bowed and said: "Lord of the gods, you know everything. You live in everyone's mind, and nothing is hidden from you. Still, at your command we will tell you our troubles. Look on us with compassion. There is a powerful rakshasa, son of Karkati and Kumbhakarna, who by Brahma's boon torments the gods always. Kill this Bhima who causes our misery. Mahesha, show us mercy and do not delay." Shambhu, who is kind to devotees, said, "I will kill him. The king of Kamarupa is my great devotee. Go and tell him this will be done soon. Sudakshina is especially my devotee, so let him keep worshipping me. The wicked daitya Bhima has Brahma's boon, but I will certainly kill the one who has made you suffer." Delighted, the gods left, told the great king what Shambhu had said, and returned quickly with the great sages to their abodes.