Linga Purana

अनुगृह्य गणत्वं च प्रापयामास लीलया एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं कथासर्वस्वमादरात्

And, by his play, bestowed upon him the status of a gaṇa. All this, the essence of the story, has been told to you with respect.

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् सर्वक्षेत्रेषु यत्पुण्यं तत्सर्वं सहसा लभेत्

Whoever recites or hears this supreme glory of the sacred field, immediately obtains all the merit that is gained in all holy places.

श्रावयेद्वा द्विजान्सर्वान् कृतशौचान् जितेन्द्रियान् स एव सर्वयज्ञस्य फलं प्राप्नोति मानवः

Or, if he causes all the twice-born, who are pure and self-controlled, to hear it, that man attains the fruit of all sacrifices.

अन्धको नाम दैत्येन्द्रो मन्दरे चारुकन्दरे दमितस्तु कथं लेभे गाणपत्यं महेश्वरात्

How did Andhaka, the lord of the demons, who was subdued in the beautiful cave at Mandara, obtain the status of a gaṇa from Maheśvara?

वक्तुमर्हसि चास्माकं यथावृत्तं यथाश्रुतम् अन्धकानुग्रहं चैव मन्दरे शोषणं तथा

You should tell us, as it happened and as you have heard, about the favor shown to Andhaka at Mandara and also about the drying up there.

वरलाभमशेषं च प्रवदामि समासतः हिरण्याक्षस्य तनयो हिरण्यनयनोपमः

I shall briefly tell of all the boons he obtained: Hiraṇyākṣa’s son, who was equal to gold in appearance,

पुरान्धक इति ख्यातस् तपसा लब्धविक्रमः प्रसादाद्ब्रह्मणः साक्षाद् अवध्यत्वमवाप्य च

He was formerly known as Andhaka, who gained strength through austerity; by the direct favor of Brahmā, he obtained invulnerability.

त्रैलोक्यमखिलं भुक्त्वा जित्वा चेन्द्रपुरं पुरा लीलया चाप्रयत्नेन त्रासयामास वासवम्

Having enjoyed the entire three worlds and conquered Indra’s city in the past, he, with ease and playfulness, terrified Vāsava.

बाधितास्ताडिता बद्धाः पातितास्तेन ते सुराः विविशुर्मन्दरं भीता नारायणपुरोगमाः

The gods were oppressed, struck, bound, and cast down by him; frightened, they entered Mandara, led by Nārāyaṇa.

एवं संपीड्य वै देवान् अन्धको ऽपि महासुरः यदृच्छया गिरिं प्राप्तो मन्दरं चारुकन्दरम्

Thus, after tormenting the gods, Andhaka, the great demon, by chance arrived at the mountain Mandara, the beautiful cave.

ततस्ते समस्ताः सुरेन्द्राः ससाध्याः सुरेशं महेशं पुरेत्याहुरेवम् द्रुतं चाल्पवीर्यप्रभिन्नाङ्गभिन्ना वयं दैत्यराजस्य शस्त्रैर्निकृत्ताः

Then all the lords of the gods, along with the Sādhyas, approached the great lord Maheśa in the city and said: 'We, whose limbs are broken and weakened in strength, have been cut down by the weapons of the king of the demons.'

इतीदमखिलं श्रुत्वा दैत्यागमम् अनौपमम् गणेश्वरैश् च भगवान् अन्धकाभिमुखं ययौ

Having heard all this—the unparalleled arrival of the demon—the Blessed Lord, along with the lords of the hosts, went forth to confront Andhaka.

जयेति वाचा भगवन्तम् ऊचुः किरीटबद्धाञ्जलयः समन्तात्

With voices raised in victory, those crowned ones, palms joined in reverence, addressed the Blessed Lord from all sides.

अथाशेषासुरांस्तस्य कोटिकोटिशतैस् ततः भस्मीकृत्य महादेवो निर्बिभेदान्धकं तदा

Then, Mahadeva destroyed all those countless millions of demons, and at that moment pierced Andhaka.

शूलेन शूलिना प्रोतं दग्धकल्मषकञ्चुकम् दृष्ट्वान्धकं ननादेशं प्रणम्य स पितामहः

Seeing Andhaka impaled by the trident-bearer, his cloak of sin burned away, the grandsire bowed and roared aloud.

तन्नादश्रवणान्नेदुर् देवा देवं प्रणम्य तम् ननृतुर्मुनयः सर्वे मुमुदुर्गणपुङ्गवाः

Hearing that roar, the gods resounded in joy, bowing to that god; all the sages danced, and the leaders of the hosts rejoiced.

ससृजुः पुष्पवर्षाणि देवाः शंभोस्तदोपरि त्रैलोक्यमखिलं हर्षान् ननन्द च ननाद च

The gods showered flowers upon Shambhu, and the entire three worlds, out of joy, exulted and resounded.

दग्धो ऽग्निना च शूलेन प्रोतः प्रेत इवान्धकः सात्त्विकं भावमास्थाय चिन्तयामास चेतसा

Andhaka, burned by fire and impaled on the trident, like a corpse, assumed a sattvic state and reflected in his mind.

जन्मान्तरे ऽपि देवेन दग्धो यस्माच्छिवेन वै आराधितो मया शंभुः पुरा साक्षान्महेश्वरः

Even in a previous birth, I was burned by Shiva, the god, whom I had worshipped directly as Maheshvara.

तस्मादेतन्मया लब्धम् अन्यथा नोपपद्यते यः स्मरेन्मनसा रुद्रं प्राणान्ते सकृदेव वा

Therefore, this has come to me; otherwise, it could not be. Whoever remembers Rudra in mind, even once at the end of life—

स याति शिवसायुज्यं किं पुनर्बहुशः स्मरन् ब्रह्मा च भगवान्विष्णुः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः

He attains union with Shiva—how much more so if he remembers him many times! Brahma, the Blessed Vishnu, and all the gods with Indra—

शरणं प्राप्य तिष्ठन्ति तमेव शरणं व्रजेत् एवं संचिन्त्य तुष्टात्मा सो ऽन्धकश् चान्धकार्दनम्

Having taken refuge, they remain in him alone; one should seek refuge in him. Thus reflecting, Andhaka, destroyer of the Andhakas, became content in heart.

सगणं शिवमीशानम् अस्तुवत्पुण्यगौरवात् प्रार्थितस्तेन भगवान् परमार्तिहरो हरः

With his followers, he praised Shiva, the Lord, out of reverence for his merit. Requested by him, the Blessed Hara, remover of supreme distress, was pleased.

हिरण्यनेत्रतनयं शूलाग्रस्थं सुरेश्वरः प्रोवाच दानवं प्रेक्ष्य घृणया नीललोहितः

The Lord of the gods, seeing the son of Hiraṇyanetra impaled on the tip of the trident, addressed the demon with compassion, he who is blue and red.

तुष्टो ऽस्मि वत्स भद्रं ते कामं किं करवाणि ते वरान्वरय दैत्येन्द्र वरदो ऽहं तवान्धक

I am pleased, child; blessings to you. What boon shall I grant you? Choose your wish, O lord of demons, for I am the giver of boons to you, Andhaka.

श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तदा शंभोर् हिरण्यनयनात्मजः हर्षगद्गदया वाचा प्रोवाचेदं महेश्वरम्

Hearing these words of Shambhu, the son of Hiraṇyanetra, his voice choked with joy, spoke to Maheshvara:

भगवन्देवदेवेश भक्तार्तिहर शङ्कर त्वयि भक्तिः प्रसीदेश यदि देयो वरश् च मे

O Blessed One, Lord of gods, remover of devotees' distress, Shankara—if you are pleased, Lord, and a boon is to be given to me, may I have devotion to you.

श्रुत्वा भवो ऽपि वचनम् अन्धकस्य महात्मनः प्रददौ दुर्लभां श्रद्धां दैत्येन्द्राय महाद्युतिः

Hearing the words of the great-souled Andhaka, Bhava, the resplendent one, granted to the lord of demons a rare faith.

गाणपत्यं च दैत्याय प्रददौ चावरोप्य तम् प्रणेमुस्तं सुरेन्द्राद्या गाणपत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्

He also granted Gāṇapatya to the demon, installing him; the lords of the gods and others bowed to him, established in Gāṇapatya.