Banasura Becomes a Ganapati

Narada said

Krishna went to Dvaraka with Aniruddha and his wife. What did Bana do then? Great sage, please tell me.

Sanatkumara replied

After Krishna left with Aniruddha and his wife, Bana's heart was heavy as he remembered his earlier ignorance. His limbs were covered with blood and he was tormented by remorse. Nandi, one of Shiva's ganas, spoke to the unhappy Bana. He told him not to lament, for Shambhu is known to love his devotees and take pity on them, everything happens by his wish, and this had happened by his will too. Tiger among devotees, he should remember Shiva again and again, fix his mind always on the original being and keep up great festivities, for Shankara is compassionate to his devotees. Until then Bana had thought only of hatred, but on hearing Nandi he steadied himself and went quickly to Shiva's place. There he bowed to the lord, agitated, and wept much. His pride gone and his mind full of love, he praised Shiva with many hymns and bowed. Then he threw his legs about in the proper way and danced the tandava, taking many postures, pratyalidha, alidha and sthanaka foremost among them, making thousands of gestures with his mouth and brows and shaking his head in a thousand ways, while thousands of his soldiers came to that place. In due order he showed many such movements, and his flowing blood sprinkled the ground. In trying to please Rudra Chandrashekhara, trident in hand, the great devotee Banasura forgot himself and danced this great dance. Hara loves song and dance, and, delighted, said to Bana that he was pleased with his dance and he should take whatever boon his mind wished.

Hearing Shambhu, the daitya lord asked for boons: healing of his wounds, supremacy in wrestling, the lasting status of ganapati, the installing of Usha's son as king of Shonitapura, freedom from enmity with the gods and with Vishnu in particular, not to be reborn as a daitya tainted by rajas and tamas, special devotion to Shambhu, constant freedom from aberration, affection for Shiva's devotees and compassion towards all beings.

Having asked for these, Bali's son folded his hands and praised Rudra, tears of love in his eyes. He said: lord of the gods, Mahadeva, friend of the distressed and ocean of compassion, I bow to you; pleased with me, you have taken away all my pride. You are brahman, the supreme self, pervading everything, lord of everything, with the entire universe as your body. The sky is your navel, fire your mouth, water your semen, the directions your ears, heaven your head, earth your feet and the moon your mind. The sun is your eyes, the ocean your stomach, Indra your arms and Brahma your intelligence. The Prajapatis are your emissions and Dharma your heart. Herbs are your body hair, clouds your hair, and the three gunas your three eyes. You are the Purusha in all selves. Brahmanas are said to be your mouth, kshatriyas your arms, vaishyas your thighs and shudras your feet. You should always be worshipped by every being, and a man who worships you certainly reaches supreme liberation. You are the beloved self, and a mortal who forsakes you for sense objects drinks poison in place of amrita and brings hardship on himself. Vishnu, Brahma, the gods and the bright sages take refuge in you with all their selves, the beloved Ishvara. Having said this, the asura fell silent, his limbs blossoming with love, and bowed to Maheshvara. Hearing his devotee, Bhagavan Bhava told him he would get everything, and vanished. By Shambhu's favour Bana lived a very long time and, as Rudra's follower, was immensely happy. Sanatkumara added that Shankara is the guru of everyone, even of those who are gurus of men, wielder of the trident, and that these beautiful words, pleasing to the ear, tell of his great account; he sports always among all the worlds.