Chapter 4 of 7 · The Skanda Purana Segment · Overall chapter 4 of 464
Chanchula's Emancipation
The brahmana teaches Chanchula that repentance is the greatest atonement, and that hearing the Shiva Purana purifies the mind like a mirror being cleaned. She takes up a life of dhyana on Shiva under his guidance, and after a long period of devoted practice gives up her body and is carried by a divine vimana to Shiva's city, where she sees Shiva and Parvati directly and is made a companion of the Goddess.
The brahmana said
Hearing accounts from the Shiva Purana leads to non-attachment. It is good fortune that by Shiva's great favour your understanding has awoken at the right time. Wife of a brahmana, do not be afraid. Go and take refuge with Shiva. By his favour all your sins will be destroyed at once. I will tell you something more, full of Shiva's deeds, which will lead you to a destination of every kind of happiness. Such understanding grows only from hearing virtuous accounts. You are full of repentance. Thus purified, you are no longer attached to material objects. The greatest atonement for sinners is repentance for the sins committed. All virtuous people have called this the means of cleansing all sins. If a person does the atonement taught by the virtuous, purified by repentance, all his sins are cleansed. A man who resolves to do atonement no longer has any fear. Repentance, doubtless, generally carries a person toward a desirable destination. Hearing the account of the Shiva Purana purifies the mind in a way nothing else can. It is like cleaning a mirror until it shines, and this account purifies the mind like that, doubtless. Shiva and Amba stay in the minds of people who have purified themselves, and with selves so purified they reach a supreme destination with Shiva and Amba. So for every class of person, this account is held to be the best mode. That is why Mahadeva himself devised it. It leads the mind to sink in meditation on Girija's husband. Knowledge is born from meditation, and after that comes sure kaivalya. If a person hears this account but does not succeed in meditating on Shankara, he accomplishes that meditation in a later birth and goes to a supreme destination with Shambhu. Many sinners have heard this account and meditated on Uma's husband, and after tormenting themselves have succeeded. Hearing this account is the most beneficial seed for people. If one follows this path properly, the bonds of worldly existence are destroyed. Hearing the account, fixing Shambhu in the mind and in the seat of the heart, and purifying consciousness are enough. That devotion to Mahesha and his two sons certainly leads to divine favour, so there is no doubt about liberation. Without it a person's mind is bound to maya and he should be known as an animal, who can never be freed from the bondage of samsara. Wife of a brahmana, so withdraw your mind from material objects. With a mind full of devotion, listen to Shambhu's account. It is supremely purifying. Listen to this virtuous account of Shankara, the supreme self. With your consciousness so purified, you will gain liberation. Meditate on Shiva's lotus feet and your mind will become bright. I tell you the truth. You will gain liberation in a single birth. This is true.
Suta continued
Having spoken so, the excellent brahmana turned his mind toward winning Shiva's favour. He fell silent and, his self purified, absorbed himself in meditation on Shiva. Binduga's wife Chanchula was glad. Addressed so by the brahmana, her eyes filled with tears. With a delighted mind she fell at the feet of that lord among brahmanas, joined her hands and said, "I have reached my aim." Rising, she joined her hands and spoke, her syllables faltering. With a mind full of non-attachment, she spoke to the brahmana, a great devotee of Shiva.
Chanchula said
Brahmana, great devotee of Shiva, lord, you are blessed. You have seen the supreme destination. You work for the welfare of others and are called a very virtuous person. Please save me. Virtuous one, I am sinking into an ocean that is hell. I wish to hear you speak of the Shiva Purana. In my mind there is non-attachment toward all material objects, and now I have great devotion in my mind for hearing this Purana.
Suta continued
Saying this, she joined her hands, won his favour, and stayed there serving him, wishing to hear the Purana. In that spot the very wise brahmana, supreme among Shiva's devotees, had the woman hear the virtuous account of the Purana. In that great sacred field she heard the excellent account of the Shiva Purana from the excellent brahmana. The account increases devotion, knowledge and non-attachment and gives liberation. Hearing this virtuous, supreme account, she achieved an excellent aim. Favoured by the compassion of a good guru, she quickly gained purity of consciousness. By Shiva's favour she meditated on Shambhu's form. So, taking refuge with a good guru, her mind turned to Shiva. She repeatedly meditated on Shambhu's form, being, consciousness and bliss. She bathed always in the water of the holy place. She wore matted hair and a bark garment, smeared her limbs with ash and wore a garland of rudraksha beads. She did japa of Shiva's name and kept excessive speech and food in check. Following the path her guru showed, she pleased Shiva. Shounaka, so Chanchula meditated excellently on Shambhu and a long time passed. She did this full of the three kinds of devotion. When the appointed time was over, Chanchula gave up her body of her own will. Sent by Tripurari, a celestial car quickly arrived, adorned in many ways and full of his many divine ganas. Accompanied by Mahesha's excellent attendants, she climbed into it. Bright and cleansed of all dirt, she was carried at once to Shiva's city. She took a divine form with divine limbs. She was resplendent with celestial ornaments, with the half-moon on her crest and a fair complexion. Having gone there, she saw the three-eyed Mahadeva, the eternal one, served by Vishnu, Brahma and the other gods. Full of devotion, Ganesha, Bhringi, Nandishvara, Virabhadra and others worshipped him. His radiance was like ten million suns. His throat was blue, he had five faces and three eyes, and the moon on his crest. Gouri, bright as lightning, shone at his left. He was as fair as camphor. Gouri's lord wore every ornament, his body smeared with white ash, extremely resplendent in a white garment. Seeing Shankara, the woman Chanchula was filled with delight. Full of supreme joy she bowed to him again and again with respect. Delighted, she joined her hands, humble, content and full of love. The hair stood on her body and tears of joy flowed. Full of compassion, Parvati and Shankara allowed her to approach. By her good fortune she was able to see them. Parvati lovingly made her a divine companion. So Binduga's beloved Chanchula gained heavenly happiness. That eternal world is dazzling and full of supreme bliss. She gained a permanent home there and her mind was full of joy.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.