Shiva's Avataras as Yogacharyas

Krishna said

Illustrious one, tell me in the cycle of yugas about the avataras that Sharva, the wielder of the trident, had as Yogacharya, and about their disciples.

Upamanyu replied

In the Varaha kalpa, in the seventh manvantara, following the order of the yugas, there are these twenty-eight: Shveta, Sutara, Madana, Suhotra, Kanka, Lougakshi, Mahamaya, Jaigishivya, Dadhivaha, Rishabha, the sage Ugra, Atri, Supalaka, Goutama, the sage Vedashira, Gokarna, Shikhandi who lived in a cave, Jatamali, Attahasa, Daruka, Languli, Mahakala, Shuli, Dandi, Mundisha, Vishnu, Somasharma and Lakulishvara. Each of them had four disciples of calm mind. I will list them in order from Shveta to Rushya: (1) Shveta; (2) Shvetashikha; (3) Shvetashva; (4) Shvetalohita; (5) Dundubhi; (6) Shatarupa; (7) Richika; (8) Ketuman; (9) Vikosha; (10) Vikesha; (11) Vipasha; (12) Pashanashana; (13) Sumukha; (14) Durmukha; (15) Durgama; (16) Duratikrama; (17) Sanatkumara; (18) Sanaka; (19) Sananda; (20) Sanatana; (21) Sudhama; (22) Viraja; (23) Shankha; (24) Andaja; (25) Sarasvata; (26) Megha; (27) Meghavaha; (28) Suvahaka; (29) Kapila; (30) Asuri; (31) Panchashikha; (32) Vashkala; (33) Parashara; (34) Garga; (35) Bhargava; (36) Angiras; (37) Bala; (38) Bandhu; (39) Niramitra; (40) Ketushringa; (41) Tapodhana; (42) Lambodara; (43) Lamba; (44) Lambatma; (45) Lambakeshaka; (46) Sarvajna; (47) Samabuddhi; (48) Sadhya; (49) Siddhi; (50) Sudhama; (51) Kashyapa; (52) Vasishtha; (53) Viraja; (54) Atri; (55) Ugra; (56) Gurushreshtha; (57) Shravana; (58) Shravishtaka; (59) Kuni; (60) Kunibahu; (61) Kusharira; (62) Kunetraka; (63) Kasyapa; (64) Ushanas; (65) Chyavana; (66) Brihaspati; (67) Utathya; (68) Vamadeva; (69) Mahakala; (70) Mahanila; (71) Vachahshrava; (72) Suvira; (73) Shyavaka; (74) Yatishvara; (75) Hiranyanabha; (76) Koushalya; (77) Lokakshi; (78) Kuthumi; (79) Sumantu; (80) Jaimini; (81) Kubandha; (82) Kushakandhara; (83) Plaksha; (84) Darbhayani; (85) Ketuman; (86) Goutama; (87) Bhallavi; (88) Madhu; (89) Pinga; (90) Shvetaketu; (91) Ushija; (92) Brihadashva; (93) Devala; (94) Kavi; (95) Shalihotra; (96) Suvesha; (97) Yuvanashva; (98) Sharadvasu; (99) Akshapada; (100) Kanada; (101) Uluka; (102) Vatsa; (103) Kulika; (104) Garga; (105) Mitraka and (106) Rushya.

These were the disciples of Mahesha when he took the form of Yogacharya. All were siddhas in the Pashupata vow and all smeared their bodies with ash. They knew the truths of all the sacred texts and were skilled in the Vedas and Vedangas. All were devoted to knowledge of Shiva and followed Shiva's order. With minds devoted to Shiva, all were free of attachment. They were patient and bore all the opposite pairs of feelings. They worked for the welfare of all beings. They were upright, mild and healthy, masters of anger and the senses. All wore strings of rudraksha beads as ornaments and had Tripundra marks on their foreheads. Some had tufts of matted hair, some matted hair all over, some none and shaved heads. They generally ate roots and fruits and were devoted to pranayama. They were proud of Shiva and devoted to meditating on him. Destroying the sprouts of the poisonous tree of samsara, they readied themselves to go to Shiva's supreme city. A person who accepts them as virtuous and constantly worships Shiva goes to sayujya with Shiva. There is no need to think about this.