Goddess Shivaa cursed (Lord Bhairava under the influence of Maya)

महेशावतारवर्णनं नाम नामैकविम्शोऽध्यायः

Mahesha incarnation description Chapter 21

शिवोवाच |

Goddess Shivaa cursed (Lord Bhairava under the influence of Maya)

नारीदृष्ट्या पश्यसि त्वं यतो मां पुरुषाधम |

अतो भव धरायां हि मानुषस्त्वं च भैरव || 8 ||

Bhairava, lowest of men, since you see me as a woman, become a human really on the earth.

Hanuman incarnation's character description Chapter 20

हनुमदावतारचरित्रवर्णनं नाम विम्शोऽध्यायः

Hanuman incarnation's character description Chapter 20

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

स्थापयामास भूलोके रामभक्तिं कपीश्वरः |

स्वयं भक्तवरो भूत्वा सीतारामसुखप्रदः || 36 ||

God in the form of a monkey established devotion to Rama in the mortal world, by himself becoming a great devotee, giver of happiness to Sita and Rama.

Lord Vishnu became the son of Vasudeva in order to reduce the burden of the earth

दुर्वासश्चरित्रवर्णनं नामैकोन्विम्शोऽध्यायः

Durvasa character description Chapter 19

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

ब्रह्मप्रार्थनया विष्णुर्वसुदेवसुतोऽभवत् |
धराभारावतारार्थं साधूनां रक्षणाय च || 57 ||
हत्वा दुष्टान्महापापान्ब्रह्मद्रोहकरान्खलान् |
ररक्ष निखिलान्साधून्ब्राह्मणान्कृष्णनामभाक् || 58 ||

By the prayer of Brahma, Lord Vishnu became the son of Vasudeva in order to reduce the burden of the earth and to protect the good people.
Having killed evil people, people with large sins, bad people who hate Brahmins, (he) bearing the name Krishna protected all the good people and Brahmins.

11 incarnations born to Sage Kashyapa

एकादशावतारवर्णनं नामाष्टादशोऽध्यायः

Eleven incarnation description Chapter 18

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

कपाली पिङ्गलो भीमो विरूपाक्षो विलोहितः |
शास्ताऽजपादहिर्बुध्न्यः शम्भुश्चन्डो भवस्तथा || 26 ||

Kapali, Pingala, Bhima, Virupaksha, Vilohita, Shasta, Ajapada, Ahirbudhnya, Shambhu, Chanda and Bhava (are the 11 Rudra incarnations born to sage Kashyapa).

This is Yaksheshwara incarnation

अथासित्तु नभोवाणी देवविस्मयहारिणी |
यक्षोऽयं शङ्करो देवाः सर्वगर्वापाहारकः || 30 ||

Then a voice from the sky removing the perplexity of the Devas said "Devas, this Yaksha is Lord Shiva, who takes away everyone's pride.

Devas could not even cut a blade of grass in front of Yaksheshwara

तत्रासन् विफलान्याशु तान्यस्त्राणि दिवौकसाम् |
शिवप्रभावतस्तेषां मूढगर्वापहारिणः || 29 ||

The weapons of the Devas who were there failed (to cut the blade of grass) quickly because of the influence of Shiva, which was to take away the foolish pride (which the Devas got after defeating the demons and drinking the nectar which came out as a result of churning the ocean).

God becomes a Yaksha to destroy the pride of the Devas

यक्षेश्वरावतरवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः

 

Yaksheshwara incarnation description Chapter 16

 

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

 

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

 

ततः स शङ्करो देवः सर्वाधीशोऽथ गर्वहा |

यक्षो भूत्वा जगामाशु यत्र देवाः स्थिता मुने || 18 ||

Sage, then that Lord Shankara, the lord of everything and destroyer of pride, after becoming a Yaksha went where the Devas were.

Why fire is called Paavaka

अपावनानि सर्वाणि वह्निसंसर्गतः क्षणात् |

पावनानि भवन्त्येव तस्माद्यः पावकः स्मृतः || 65 ||

 

Everything impure/unholy in contact with fire for an instant becomes pure/holy. That is why (it is) called Paavaka.

Cremation of orphans

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

 

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

 

अनाथस्याग्निसंस्कारं यः कुर्याच्छ्रद्धयान्वितः |

अशक्तः प्रेरयेदन्यं सोऽग्निलोके महीयते || 63 ||

 

One who cremates an orphan with faith, or makes someone else do so if himself incapable, (goes to and) lives in Agniloka.

Agnishwara tirtha in Kashi

शिव उवाच |

 

Lord Shiva said (to Grihapati)

 

त्वयेदं स्थापितं लिङ्गं तव नाम्ना भविष्यति |

अग्नीश्वर इति ख्यातं सर्वतेजोविबृंहणम् || 54 ||

अग्नीश्वरस्य भक्तानां न भयं विद्युदग्निभिः |

अग्निमाद्यभयं नैव नाकालमरणं क्वचित् || 55 ||

 

This Linga established by you will bear your name. It will be known as Agnishwara, which will increase all brilliance.
The devotees of Agnishwara will have no fear of electricity or fire. (They will have) fearlessness from fire, etc. and neither (will they encounter) death at a wrong time (like in childhood) ever.

Indra poses as God

गृह्पत्यावतारवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः

 

Grihapati avatara description Chapter 15

 

इन्द्र उवाच |

 

Indra said (to Grihapati avatar of Lord Shiva)

 

न मत्तः शङ्करस्त्वन्यो देवदेवोऽस्म्यहं शिशो |

विहाय बालिशत्वं त्वं वरं याचस्व मा चिरं || 39 ||

 

There is no Shiva other than me, child, I am the God of the Gods. Give up your childishness and quickly ask for a boon.

Grihapati said he will take a boon only from Shiva. This was Indra's reply. The response to Indra's profanity is sophisticated abuse from Grihapati avatara.

Why God is called Hara by wise people

शरभावतारवर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः

Sharabha incarnation description Chapter 12

देवा उचुः |

Devas said (to Lord Shiva in the form of Sharabha incarnation)

यतो हरसि संसारं हर इत्युच्यते बुधैः | 26

Since you take away (destroy) the material world, wise people call you Hara.

Doing good only to good people leads to happiness

उपकारो हि साधूनां सुखाय किल संमतः |

उपकारो ह्यसाधूनामपकाराय केवलम् || 45 ||

 

It is generally agreed that doing good to good people leads to happiness. Doing good to bad people (is possible) only by doing harm/offence.

Virabhadra will have to use force if politeness does not work

वीरभद्र उवाच |

Virabhadra said (smiling to Narsimha incarnation)

त्वत्संहारे नियुक्तोऽस्मि विनयेन बलेन च |
देवदेवेन रुद्रेण सकलप्रभुणा हरे || 43 ||

Lord Hari, I have been appointed to destroy you by humility/politeness
and (if necessary, by) force, by the God of the Gods, Rudra, the God
of everything/everyone.

Angry Narsimha incarnation tells Virabhadra to go away

नृसिंह उवाच |

 

Narsimha incarnation said (angrily to Virabhadra, showing frightening teeth)

 

आगतोऽसि यतस्तत्र गच्छ त्वं मा हितं वद |

इदानीं संहरिष्यामि जगदेतच्चराचरम् || 27 ||

 

Go back to where you have come from. Don't tell me what is good for me. Now (itself) I will destroy the universe, living and non-living things.

Lord Narsimha asked to give up his body

अतीव घोरं भगवन्नरसिंह वपुस्तव |

उपसंहर विश्वात्मंस्त्वमेव मम संनिधौ || 24 ||

 

God Narsimha, your body is extremely terrifying. Soul of the world, you yourself destroy (it) near me (in my presence).

Virabhadra talks with Narsimha incarnation

वीरभद्र उवाच |

 

Virabhadra said (to Narsimha incarnation)

 

यदा यदा हि लोकस्य दुःखं किञ्चित्प्रजायते |

तदा तदाऽवतीर्णस्तवं करिष्यसि निरामयम् || 21 ||

 

Whenever any unhappiness arises to the world, you will make it healthy (free of trouble) through (your) incarnation. (However, now you have killed Hiranyakashipu, and Prahlada is safe. This is what you incarnated for. Now your work is done.)

Virabhadra asked to bring the head of Narsimha incarnation

शरभावतारवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः

 

Sharabha incarnation description Chapter 11

 

शिव उवाच |

 

Lord Shiva said (to Virabhadra)

 

सूक्ष्मं संहृत्य सूक्ष्मेण स्थूलं स्थूलेन तेजसा |

वक्त्रमानय कृत्तिं च वीरभद्र ममाज्ञया || 14 ||

 

Subtle should be destroyed by subtle, gross by gross with brilliance. Virabhadra, bring the head and skin (of Narsimha incarnation) by my order.

Once someone takes refuge in God, his unhappiness is finished

शिव उवाच |

 

Lord Shiva said (to the Devas)

 

स्वस्थानं गच्छत सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मादयोऽभयाः |

शमयिष्यामि यद्दुःखं सर्वथा हि व्रतं मम || 39 ||

गतो मच्छरणं यस्तु तस्य दुःखं क्षयं गतम् |

मत्प्रियः शरणापन्नः प्राणेभ्योऽपि न संशयः || 40 ||

 

Go to your own place without fear, Brahma and all Devas. Whatever unhappiness (you have, Lord Vishnu as Narsimha incarnation is still burning with anger even after killing Hiranyakashipu), I will extinguish in all ways. This is my vow.

Once someone comes to me for refuge, his unhappiness disappears. One who takes refuge (in me is) my favourite, no doubt, more (dear to me) than even (my) life.

All unhappiness disappears by the name of God

देवा उचुः |

 

Devas said (to God)

 

प्रसिद्धं च यदा यस्य दुःखं च जायते प्रभो |

तदा त्वन्नाममात्रेण सर्वं दुःखं विलीयते || 36 ||

 

It is well known that when someone gets unhappiness, all unhappiness disappears simply by (chanting) your name.

Innumerable incarnations of God

नृसिंहचरितवर्णनं नाम दशमोऽध्यायः

 

Narsimh (incarnation of Vishnu) characteristics description Chapter 10

 

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

 

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

 

शिवावतारा अमिताः सद्भक्तहितकारकाः |

संख्या न शक्यते कर्तुं तेषां च मुनिसत्तमाः || 5 ||

 

There are an innumerable Shiva incarnations, which do good to good devotees. And great sages cannot count them.

Greatness of Kapalamochana tirtha

कपालमोचनं काश्यां यः स्मरेत्तिर्थमुत्तमम् |

इहान्यत्रापि यत्पापं क्षिप्रं तस्य प्रणश्यति || 60 ||

 

One who remembers the wonderful tirtha (place of pilgrimage) Kapalamochanam in Varanasi in this world or other worlds, his sins quickly get destroyed.

Kapalamochana tirtha in Varanasi

कपालं ब्रह्मणः सद्यो भैरवस्य करांबुजात् |

पपात भुवि तत्तिर्थमभूत्कापालमोचनम् || 56 ||

 

Brahma's skull then fell to the ground from the lotus like hand of Bhairava. That tirtha (place of pilgrimage) became Kapalamochanam (in Varanasi).

Manorathavati submitted to Lord Kalabhairava

भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनं नाम नवमोऽध्यायः

 

Bhairava incarnation and behaviour description Chapter 9

 

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

 

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

 

इत्थं वदति गोविन्दे विमला पद्मया तया |

मनोरथवती नाम भिक्षा पात्रे समर्पिता || 41 ||

 

On Govinda/Vishnu saying so, by immaculate Lakshmi, (a siddhi) named Manorathavati (desire fulfilling capability) was submitted to the begging bowl (skull carried by Kalabhairava).

Lord Kalabhairava cuts off one head of Lord Brahma with a nail

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

 

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

 

एतान्वरान्प्रगृह्याथ तत्क्षणात्कालभैरवः |

वामाङ्गुलिनखाग्रेण चकर्त च विधेः शिरः || 52 ||

 

Having accepted these boons, Lord Kalabhairava from that moment, cut a head (out of five heads) of Lord Brahma with the front of the nail of a left hand finger.

Lord Brahma's arrogance

भैरवावतारवर्णनं नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः

 

Bhairava incarnation Chapter 8

 

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Lord Brahma said (in arrogance to Lord Rudra)

 

रोदनाद्रुद्रनामापि योजितोऽसि मया पुरा |

मामेव शरणं याहि पुत्र रक्षां करोमि ते || 43 ||

 

In the past, the name Rudra was arranged by me out of (your) crying. Come to my refuge, son, I will protect you.

Nandishwara will avoid death

पुत्र उवाच |

 

The son (Nandishwara) said to (his father Shilada)

 

हे तात तपसा मृत्युं वञ्चयिष्ये न विद्यया |

महादेवस्य भजनान्मृत्युं जेष्यामि नान्यथा || 61 ||

 

Father, I will avert death by penance, not by knowledge. I will win over death by singing praises of Lord Mahadeva, not in any other way.

God to incarnate as Nandi

शिव उवाच |

 

Lord Shiva said (to Shilada)

 

तव पुत्रो भविष्यामि नन्दी नाम्ना त्वयोनिजः |

पिता भविष्यसि मम पितुर्वै जगतां मुने || 34 ||

 

I will become your son with the name Nandi, without a womb. Sage, you will be the father of me, really the father of the universe.

Shilada wants a son which Indra, Lord Vishnu or Lord Brahma cannot give

नन्दीकेश्वरावतारवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः

 

Nandikeshwara incarnation Chapter 6

 

शक्र उवाच |

 

Indra said (to Shilada)

 

अहं च विष्णुर्भगवान्द्रुहिणश्च महामुने |

अयोनिजं मृत्युहिनं पुत्रं दातुं न शक्नुमः || 15 ||

आराधय महादेवं तत्पुत्रविनिकाम्यया |

सर्वेश्वरो महाशक्तः स ते पुत्रं प्रदास्यति || 16 ||

 

Great sage, I and Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Brahma are not capable of giving (you) a son free from death and not born from a womb.

Pray to Lord Mahadeva with your desire for a son. God of everyone/everything is highly powerful; he will give you (such) a son.

Goddess gives incomparable power to Brahma

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

 

Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)

 

दत्त्वैवमतुलां शक्तिं ब्रह्मणे सा शिवा मुने |

विवेश देहं शंभोर्हि शम्भुश्चान्तर्दधे प्रभुः || 28 ||

 

Sage, that Goddess Shivaa having thus given incomparable power to Lord Brahma, (re-)entered Lord Shiva's body only, and (then) Lord Shiva entered into his own state (disappeared).

Supreme Goddess requested to incarnate

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to the supreme Goddess Shivaa)

 

दक्षस्य मम पुत्रस्य पुत्री भव भवाम्बिके || 22 ||

 

Mother of the world, become my son Daksha's daughter.