Chapter summary
श्रीशोणशैलमाहात्म्यम् Śrī Śoṇa Śaila Māhātmyam
The Greatness of Śrī Śoṇaśaila
**The revered Sadguru said:**
In the city of Śoṇaśaila, on the banks of the sacred Śaṅkha Tīrtha, resides Lord Hari, an ocean of mercy, who is devoutly worshipped by Śiva Himself. I shall now recount the profound greatness of this place, a greatness that eradicates even the gravest sins, and by the mere hearing of which, one becomes victorious in all endeavors (v.1-2).
In a former age, there lived a mighty demon king named Andhaka. He undertook a supreme and dreadful penance, one so arduous that it was exceedingly difficult even for the gods to perform. Subdued by the intensity of this asceticism, Brahmā granted him a boon: invincibility and invulnerability in battle against the weapons of the gods. This protection extended to the thunderbolt of Sureśa (Indra), the staff of Yama, the noose of Varuṇa, and the mace of Vāyu. Likewise, he was safeguarded from the axe of Rudra, the discus of Viṣṇu, the śakti-weapon of the Commander (Kārttikeya), and indeed, from the excellent weapons of all other deities. This vilest of demons thus chose invulnerability and invincibility, and Brahmā, witnessing his immense penance, bestowed upon him this great boon (v.3-7).
Naturally mighty and inflated with arrogance from the boon he had received, that evil-minded demon then waged a terrible war against the gods. All the gods, led by Śakra (Indra), were struck down by him and sought refuge with Śiva, the refuge-giver and agent of dissolution. Rudra, the three-eyed Lord, mounting his bull and surrounded by all the hosts of gods, engaged Andhaka in a fierce battle. Taking up his dreadful axe, Śiva severed the demon's head. Yet, Andhaka, through his illusory power, deceived Śaṅkara. Śiva's axe was broken, and his power diminished. Dismissing the gods, Śaṅkara suddenly vanished from the battlefield (v.8-12).
Coming to the land of Kerala, a region covered with dense forests and towering mountains, Śiva performed a very great penance near the Śaṅkha Tīrtha. Pleased by his devotion, the lotus-eyed Lord, an ocean of mercy, manifested Himself, holding His divine conch, discus, and mace. He was attended upon by Durgā, Sarasvatī, and Lakṣmī. The Lord of the Universe, who is difficult to propitiate, then spoke these true words (v.13-15).
**The Supreme Lord said:**
"O Mahādeva, I am pleased with the penance you have performed. I know that all the gods have been tormented by Andhaka. In a previous cosmic age, there was a villain named Hayagrīva. He deluded Brahmā through his penance and stole all the Vedas. Entreated by Brahmā, I assumed the form of Hayagrīva. Slaying that demon in battle, I brought back all the sacred scriptures [Śrutis]. At that time, that vilest of demons was slain with a śūla [spear]. I shall give that very same śūla to you, O crescent-moon-crested one (v.16-19).
There was a renowned sage of great asceticism named Ambhṛṇa. His daughter was this Sarasvatī, who also became known as Lakṣmī [a form of fortune]. She chose Me alone, the Lord of the worlds, as her husband, O Jaṭādhara [Śiva]. And I became the husband of this Vāgdevī [Sarasvatī], O Śiva. This Andhaka is the very embodiment of the *tamas-guṇa* [the quality of darkness, ignorance, and inertia] and is unconquerable by the gods. With the śūla made of pure consciousness, you shall slay him in battle with ease. It is by this very power that the demon Mahiṣāsura, a villain composed of the *tamas-guṇa*, was previously slain by Durgā, who is the embodiment of Brahma-vidyā [knowledge of the Absolute]" (v.20-23).
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Having spoken thus, Lord Viṣṇu then addressed Sarasvatī and Durgā, who is Viṣṇu's *māyā* [divine illusory power], saying, "Give the śūla to Śambhu [Śiva]." Then Vāgdevī Sarasvatī, the wife of Hayagrīva, bestowed the knowledge-spear, which destroys the *tamas-guṇa* (v.24-25).
With that very śūla, the bull-bannered one (Śiva), accompanied by the hosts of gods, slew Andhaka, the lord of the demons, in battle. Then, the sages and gods praised the God of gods, Mahādeva, Śaṅkara, the bull-bannered one, with cries of "Jaya! Jaya!" (Victory! Victory!) (v.26-27).
This sacred place is the supreme abode of Hayagrīva, who is Kṛṣṇa, along with Vāgdevī, of Mahādeva, and of the goddess Durgā. This highly meritorious site is a destroyer of the darkness of ignorance. It bestows longevity and health upon men and is the cause of the destruction of enemies (v.28-29).
Thus, in the work "Divya Desa Vaibhavam" composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu, in the Fifth Part, the twenty-seventh chapter, titled "The Greatness of Śrī Śoṇaśaila".
