Birth of Andhakasura and meeting of the Rishis for his destruction

Janamejaya said — О Vaishampayana, the best of the sages, I have listened to the pleasent story of Satpura’s killing. Now I would like to listen to the story of Andhakasura, who had been mentioned by you earlier.

О best of the speakers, you kindly narrate to me the story of the kidnapping of Bhanumati and the killing of Nikumbha at that time, because I am quite anxious about it.

Vaishampayana said — When all the powerful sons of Diti were killed by lord Visnu, then she adored Kasyapa — the son of Marichi.

О son of Bharata’s race, Kasyapa, the great sage, was immensely delighted with her service, tapas, pleasent conduct and the sweetness, and he said to her.

О auspicious one, performer of the suceed vrata, I am pleased with you. Therefore you ask for a boon.”

Diti said — О lord, О best of the noble people, the gods have killed all my sons. Therefore, I am desirous of such a powerful son, who could be invincible from the gods.

Kasyapa said — О goddess — the daughter of Daksa, О lotus eyed one, your son would be invincible from the gods, there is no doubt about it.

But barring lord Rudra, (no one else would be able to kill him, because he is not under my command. Therefore, your son should always protect himself from him.”

Thus speaking, the truthful Kasyapa touched the belly of Diti with his finger, as a result of which she gave birth to a son.

О son of the Kuru race, he had a thousand arms, and had the same number of heads, two thousand eyes and had the same number of feet.

О Bharata, he was not blind but walked like a blind person. Therefore the people of the place named him as Andhaka.

О son of Bharata race, Andhaka, the realising that he was invincible, he started troubling all the people. With the enormous strength possessed by him, he usurped germs from all the places.

The Daitya who frightened all the people, because of his being immensely powerful, kidnapped the apsaras and kept them in his home.

Andhaka, having sinful ideas, started kidnapping the wives of others and to loot the riches of others, making it as his profession.

Once Andhaka, in the company of the other asuras got ready to overpower all the three lokas.

On hearing the news, Indra, said to his father Kasyapa, Andhakasura has started such deeds.

О great sage, what is our duty (under these circumstances) О sage, how can I tolerate the misconduct of my own younger brother? You kindly tell me.

О lord, he is the loving son of my mother’s sister, then how can I attack him. When the son of my aunt is killed at my hands, she would surely get annoyed with

On hearing the words of Indra — the king of gods, the sage Kasyapa said, “O Devendra, I shall totally stop Andhaka. Let you meet with welfare.”

О son of Bharata’s race, then Kasyapa went with Diti dissuaded Andhaka with great difficulty from overpowering the three worlds.

Inspite of the advice of his parents, the evil minded Andhaka, continued to trouble and churn the gods.

The evil minded Andhaka destroyed the trees of the Nandhanavana and other garlands. He forcibly drove the horses of the breed of Uccaisvara from the heaven.

О Bharata, the Daitya, having been filled with arrogance, forcibly drove away the elephants of the breed of Airavata from the heaven.

The evil minded Daitya became a thorn for the gods besides those performing the yajnas, which were desecrated by him. He obstructed the performance of the yajnas.

О king, because of the terror of Andhakasura, the people of all the three varnas were unable to perform the yajnas, nor could they perform the tapas.

The wind blowed as per his wishes. The moon with constellations also appeared or disappeared as per his command.

О lord, because of the arrogance of his prowess, Andhakasura with evil wisdom, the planes could not move in the sky.

О excellent one of the race of Kuru, the immensely horrible Andhakasura, the entire world was deprived of the sound of omkara and Vasatkara.

O Bharata, the sinful Andhaka used to attack the countries of Uttarakuru, Bhartrasva, ketumala and other regions of the Jambudvlpa.

The invincible gods as well as the Daityas were unable to face him, while other bhutas inspite to their being valorous, respected him.

O king — the best of the auspicious rulers, the Brahama-vadi, Rishis, who had been tortured by him, once collected and thought of the ways for the killing of Andhakasura.

Brhaspati — the intelligent one, was also among those Rishis, who spoke, “This asura cannot be killed by anyone else except Mahadeva. This fact had been highlighted by Kasyapa, while granting boon to Diti that he was unable to protect him from lord Siva. These are the words of the wise Kasyapa.

Therefore all of us should think of the way out accordingly, by which lord Siva — the destroyed of the wicked people should come to know that the people were suffering at the hands of Andhakasura.

Rudradeva is the lord of the universe besides being the refuge of the noble people. When he comes to know about the factual position, then he would surely wipe out the tears of all the people and relieve them of their sufferings by destroying Andhakasura.'

It is the vrata of lord Siva, the god of gods, that the noble people and the Brahmanas should always be protected from the wicked people.

Therefore, let us all now take refuge of Narada, who would be aware of the remedy for the same because, he happens to be the friend of lord Siva.”

On hearing the words of Brhaspati — the prceptor of the gods, when collectively looked towards the sky, (to their surprise) they found Narada present there.

All of them, then adored the sage Narada appropriately, welcomed him and said, «O divine sage, О auspicious one, you at once move to the kailasa mountain and persuade lord Siva for the killing of Andhaka. Only you shall be able to perform this task.

Then the Rishis prayed to Narada, “You be prepared for the protection of the universe.” The sage Narada then said, “Be it so”, and accepted their request. After the departure of the JRsis, the wise Narada, thought about the task entrusted to him and peacefully thought about the future course of action.

Thereafter, the sage Narada, in order to have an audience with lord Siva, went to the Mandaravana — the usual abode of lord Siva.

Narada, the intemate friend of the trident bearing lord, stayed for as night the at Mandara and then returned to the heaven with the permission of lord Siva.

O son of Bharata’s race, he was wearing the beautifully made garland of Mandara flowers around his neck, the excellent fragrance of which was spreading everywhere.

O Naresvara, he was also wearing the santanamala, with its strings, which was made of santana flowers. Wearing those garlands, Narada arrived at the place where the arrogant and wicked Andhakasura was lodged.

On meeting Narada, feeling the touch of the excellent fragrance, of the santana flowers, he cast his glance at the flower garland and asked Narada,“o great sage, “O great tapas, where from did you get the garland of the fragrent flowers.

It chages its colours and the fragrances repeatedly. This is far better than the flowers of the kalpavrksas of the heaven.

О sage, О guest of the gods, who is the owner of that tree? Can this flower be brought from that place. In case I enjoy you grace, you please tell me about it.

О son of Bharata’s race, then Narada the treasure of the tapas holding (one of the) right hand of Andhakasura spoke with a smile.

О valorous one, there is a tree which moves at will at Mandarachala. Such flowers blossom over the same. The forest is the creation of the trident bearer Siva.

In that forest, no one can enter without the appoval of lord Siva, because the same is protected by the best of his warriors.

Those warriors are clad in different types of costumes and carry with them various weapons. There are of terrific form and it is quite difficult to defeat them. Because of their protection by lord Mahadeva, they are invincible from all.

In the gardens of the Mandara trees, the eternal lord Siva, enjoys sports with the goddess Uma. He is always accompanied by the ganas.

О son of Kasyapa, by performing special type of adoration of Siva, the lord of the three worlds, one can receive these Mandara flowers.

All the trees are dear to Siva and they produce, the best of damsels, gems, and other desired things.

O immensely valorous Daitya, in the Manddravana, there is no solar heat, nor is there the light of the moon. The forest filled with the Mandara trees, illuminates with its own lustre. The grief and miseries can not enter there.

О valorous Andhaka, there are some trees, which issue the best of fragrance, other vast tree issue the water. Several of the trees issue the frangrant costumes.

Not only this, those trees also yield the desired eatables, beverages, things which could be suck (like mango) and the things which could be licked.

О sinless warrior, you should understand that a person remains there unconcerned with hunger, thirst, remorse and warriors.

There are virtues, which keep on increasing daily, the details of which cannot be spoken out in hundreds of years. О excellent Daitya, one, if could stay there even for a day, he would be victorious over all the lokas including Mahendra. There is no doubt about it.

It is the heaven for the heaven and the delight of all the delights. I, however, believe that the place is the essence of the entire universe.

Here ends chapter — 86, of Visnu Parva of the Harivamsa Purana, a supplementary to the epic of Mahabharata, relating to the birth of Andhakasura, and the meeting of the Rishis for his destruction. (Vrs. 1-63, P.T. = 7974)

Chapter 87

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