Avadhuteshvara Avatara

Nandishvara said

Brahma's son, hear of Paramesha's original avatara, Avadhuteshvara, who took away Shakra's pride. In earlier times Shakra with his guru Brihaspati and all the gods went to Kailasa to see Isha. Shankara learned that Indra and his guru had come to see him and wished to test their feelings. The lord engages in many kinds of play, and he took the form of an avadhuta, naked, very terrible, bright as a blazing fire, and the refuge of the good blocked their path in that form, standing radiant with his mass of matted hair hanging down. As they passed, the guru and Shakra, going toward Shiva, saw this terrible being of extraordinary form in the middle of the path before them. Because of his own position Shakra was very insolent and, not knowing it was Shankara, asked the one in his way: naked avadhuta, who are you, where have you come from, by what name are you known, tell me the truth at once; is Shambhu at home or has he gone elsewhere? I am going to meet him with the guru of the gods. Asked so, the being said nothing in reply. To remove insolence, Lord Shankara had taken this form in play. Shakra asked again, but the naked one said nothing. Shambhu engages in great play and his ways cannot be known. Purandara, lord of the three worlds and king of heaven, asked again, but the great yogi, in his great play, stayed silent. So Shakra asked the naked one again and again, and Bhagavan, wishing to destroy Shakra's insolence, said nothing. Insolent from his prosperity, the lord of the gods and of the three worlds grew angry, scolded the matted-haired one and said in rage: foolish one, though I asked you did not reply, so I will now slay you with the vajra; evil-minded one, who will save you? Saying this, the vajra-wielder looked at him in anger, raised his vajra and prepared to kill the naked one. Sadashiva quickly looked at Shakra with the vajra in his hand. Before he could bring it down, Shankara paralysed him. The being grew angry, terrible and cruel-eyed, and blazed swiftly in his energy as if to burn them. With his hand paralysed, Shachi's consort burned inwardly with rage, like a valiant serpent checked by a mantra.

Seeing the being blaze, Brihaspati used his understanding to know this was Hara and quickly bowed. The pervasive-minded guru folded his hands, again lay like a rod and devotedly praised the lord: lord of the gods, Mahadeva, kind to those who take refuge, Gourisha, Sarveshvara, I bow to you; be pleased. Everyone is deluded by your maya, Brahma, Vishnu and the others too, who do not know your true nature, and if they know it, it is by your favour. After praising lord Shankara, Brihaspati made Purandara fall at Isha's feet and, folding his hands, spoke humbly: lord of the distressed, Mahadeva, I have bowed at your feet; save me from your rage and be kind to me; be pleased and save Indra, who has taken refuge in you; fire is coming from the eye in your forehead. The lord, an ocean of compassion at play, heard the guru and, in the avadhuta form, smiled and asked how he could withdraw the energy coming from his eye in rage, and how a snake could put on the skin it had cast off. Hearing Shankara, Brihaspati folded his hands and, his mind overwhelmed by fear, said: Bhagavan, compassion must always be shown to devotees; Shankara, you are kind to yours, please make that true; lord of the gods, fling that energy somewhere else; you save all your devotees, please save Purandara. So the guru spoke to Rudra, who is known to be kind to devotees. Pleased, Rudra answered the guru of the gods, who had bowed in his grief: I am pleased with you and will give you an excellent boon. Since you have given Indra his life, you will be famous under the name Jiva. The fire that came from the eye in my forehead is impossible for the gods to bear, so I will fling it far away so Indra does not suffer. Saying this, he took the energy that arose from the fire of his forehead eye in his hand and flung it into the waters of the salt ocean.

Shiva's energy, flung into the salt ocean, at once became a boy named Jalandhara, son of the ocean, who became lord of the asuras. At the gods' entreaty the lord Mahesha slew him. Such was the conduct of Shankara, who brings welfare to the worlds. In the avadhuta form he then vanished. All the gods were happy and freed from fear, and the guru and Shakra, freed from fear, gained supreme happiness. Nandi said he had told of the avatara called Avadhuteshvara. Paramesha gives supreme bliss and also punishes the crooked. This unsullied account gives fame, heaven, enjoyment and liberation, is divine and yields every desired fruit. A person who controls himself and constantly listens enjoys every happiness in this world and at the end gains a destination with Shiva.