॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Sunday, 30 October 2022 IV.05 - Lord Shiva creates Veerabhadra who goes and decapitates Daksha and destroys his Yajna.
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When Lord Shiva heard from Sage Narada that Sati, his wife, was now dead because of Prajapati Daksha’s insult to her and that his soldiers had been driven away by the Ribhus, Shiva flew into a terrible rage.
क्रुद्ध: सुदष्टौष्ठपुट: स धूर्जटिर्जटां तडिद्वह्निसटोग्ररोचिषम् ।
उत्कृत्य रुद्र: सहसोत्थितो हसन् गम्भीरनादो विससर्ज तां भुवि ॥
ततोऽतिकायस्तनुवा स्पृशन्दिवं सहस्रबाहुर्घनरुक् त्रिसूर्यदृक् ।
करालदंष्ट्रो ज्वलदग्निमूर्धज: कपालमाली विविधोद्यतायुध: ॥
तं किं करोमीति गृणन्तमाह बद्धाञ्जलिं भगवान् भूतनाथ: ।
दक्षं सयज्ञं जहि मद्भटानां त्वमग्रणी रुद्र भटांशको मे ॥
T: Lord Shiva, spewing rage, bit his lips and suddenly pulled out a strand of his jata which was blazing like lightning. Rising and letting out a macabre laugh, he dashed that strand of hair to the ground.
A fearful black demon as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined was now created, his teeth very fearful and the hairs on his head looking like burning fire. He had thousands of arms, equipped with various weapons, and he wore a garland of human heads.
When that gigantic demon asked with folded hands, “What shall I do, my Lord?” Bhutanatha Lord Shiva, ordered, “You are born from me, and shall lead my Ganas (army). Go kill Daksha and destroy his people at the Yajna.”
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This Veerabhadra was the Lord's anger incarnate. Empowered and ordered by Lord Shiva, he was confident in executing the task. He circumambulated Lord Shiva. He then rushed with all the Ganas in a tumultuous uproar, carrying a huge trident, poised to kill even the God of Death. As he rushed, his ankle bangles clanged terrifyingly.
All those assembled in the Yajna venue, along with their women, were scared to witness darkness loom over them all. Was it a sudden dust storm? Since there was no wind or no cattle moving in large numbers raising dust, it was inexplicable. Were they some marauders creating a dust storm to enable their looting? It couldn't be because this was the well-run kingdom of King Barhi.
Prasuti, the wife of Daksha, along with the other women assembled, became very anxious and said: "This danger has been created by Daksha because he caused the death of the innocent Sati!"
"Is this the Rudra Tandava dance of Shiva, with his matted locks flying around, as he destroys with his trident the guardians of the quarters at the time of the great Dissolution? He then dances and laughs terrifyingly, scattering the guardians like a storm blows away clouds!"
When Veerabhadra arrived, he bared his fearsome teeth, and his eyebrows danced to scatter all the astral bodies in the sky. His piercing effulgence was such that even Brahma was now powerless.
Daksha saw dangerous omens all around, on earth and in the sky. Shiva's army surrounded the Yajna area. They were of all shapes and sizes, carrying deadly weapons. They began to destroy the Yajna arrangements by breaking vessels, tearing down pillars and structures, and even urinating into the sacrificial fire. They entered the kitchen and ravaged it. Some blocked the way of the fleeing sages, some threatened the women assembled there, and some arrested the gods who were fleeing the pandal.
Maniman captured Bhrigu, Veerabhadra caught hold of Daksha, Chandesha caught Pushan and Nandi captured Bhaga. Shiva's army rained stones on all those assembled there. The assembled people ran helter-skelter to save themselves. Veerabhadra tore off Bhrigu's moustache and beard for his laughing at Shiva. He blinded Bhaga for having winked at Daksha when Shiva was insulted. He knocked off Pushan's teeth that he had bared by grinning at Shiva's insult.
Veerabhadra sat on Daksha's chest and slashed at his neck with his sword. But Daksha seemed to be protected by some boon as his neck could not be cut. This angered Veerabhadra even more, and looking around, he swiftly took Daksha to the sacrificial altar and decapitated him in one stroke.
Seeing this, Shiva's army let out a huge roar of celebration. The Brahmins were dismayed that Daksha had been killed. Veerabhadra threw away Daksha's head on the southern side of the Yajna venue. After setting fire to the whole arena, Shiva's army returned to Kailasa.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
