Yaksheshvara Avatara

Nandishvara said

Lord among sages, hear of Shambhu's Yaksheshvara avatara, which destroys the pride of the insolent and increases devotion among the virtuous. In earlier times, for their own motives, the strong gods and daityas churned the ocean of milk to get the nectar. Then the fire of poison arose, bright as the fire of destruction, and all the gods and daityas were agitated by fear, fled swiftly and sought refuge with Shambhu. They all saw Shankara, crest of the gods, and with Achyuta bowed their heads and praised him devotedly. Bhagavan Shankara, kind to devotees, was pleased and drank that terrible poison that had made so many gods and asuras suffer. When he drank it the fierce poison stuck in his throat, so the lord shone as Nilakantha. The gods and asuras began to churn again, freed by Shiva's favour from being burned by the poison. Many jewels came out, but the gods and danavas really sought amrita, and by Hari's favour only the gods drank it, not the asuras. Many great jewels arose too, and there was a great duel between gods and danavas. Afraid of Rahu, Chandra fled to Shambhu's abode, agitated, took refuge, praised and bowed, crying "Save me, protect me." Shankara, kind to devotees, freed him from fear. Since Chandra had taken refuge, the lord wore him on his head. Rahu also came there, lovingly praised Shankara, lord of everything, in eloquent words and bowed. Shambhu understood his wish and fixed on the neck the head earlier cut off by Achyuta, and that came to be called Ketu. In the battle all the asuras were beaten by the gods, who, having drunk amrita, had become very strong and were victorious.

Vishnu and the others became very proud. Their strength had sprouted and Shiva's maya deluded them. The divinity Shankara, lord of all, removes pride. He took the form of a Yaksha and went quickly to where the gods were. Yakshapati saw that all of them, with Achyuta in front, were full of great arrogance. Mahesha, remover of pride, asked why they all stood there as though they were pieces of wood, and told them to say why. The gods replied that a terrible battle had been fought, all the asuras destroyed and the rest fled; all of them were extremely brave, had grown stronger and were slayers of daityas, so how could weaker daityas stand before them? Hearing the haughty, proud gods, Mahadeva, destroyer of insolence, spoke in Yaksha form. He said to listen lovingly to his words, which were true, would destroy all their pride, and that they should not be proud so. They had forgotten great Lord Mahesha, creator and destroyer, and should not boast of their strength in vain. They were insolent and boasting as if their strength were great. He had placed this blade of grass here, and they should cut it with their weapons. Saying this, to destroy every kind of insolence, Ishvara, refuge of the good, threw a blade of grass before them. All the gods, Vishnu foremost, prided themselves on bravery, showed their manliness and hurled their own weapons, but all those weapons of the heaven-dwellers were quickly made useless by the powers of Shiva, who takes away the foolish's pride.

Then a voice from the sky dispelled the gods' surprise. It said this Yaksha was Shankara, who takes away everyone's pride, Parameshvara, creator, preserver and destroyer. Living beings are strong by his strength and for no other reason. By the powers of their own lord Shiva's maya they had been deluded. They were intoxicated and had not recognised the lord even now. Hearing the voice the gods were no longer surprised, bowed to Yaksheshvara and praised Isha. They said: lord of the gods, Mahadeva, remover of every pride, Yaksheshvara, your play is great and your maya wonderful; in the form of a Yaksha we were deluded by your maya even now. Though you stood in front of us, separated from you we spoke words full of insolence. Through your favour we have regained knowledge. Shankara, you are creator, preserver and destroyer and no one else, you start every power and withdraw it, Sarvesha, the undecaying supreme self without a second. In the form of Yaksheshvara you have taken away all our pride, and we think you have shown us favour and compassion. Yakshanatha then favoured all the gods and made them understand with many words, and vanished. Shambhu's avatara bringing happiness has thus been described, known as Yaksheshvara. It gives joy, satisfaction and freedom from fear. This account is unsullied and removes every kind of pride, always gives the virtuous supreme calm, and grants enjoyment and liberation. An intelligent man who devotedly hears it or has it heard gets all he desires and reaches the desired end.