An account of the Shiva Purana and how the Jyotirlingas came to be

Sitting in their golden chariots with soft cushions, the devaEveryone felt fear take over their hearts. Terror filled his eyes as he witnessed the cataclysmic conflict. The two Lords of the Holy Trinity of the Universe, locked in relentless struggle, remained oblivious to the widespread destruction unfolding in the worlds around them, which one meticulously created and the other ardently preserves.

Concerned for the safety of their domain as well as the rest of the Universe, a congregation of the devaHe approached Lord Shiva. They intended to tell him about the matter at hand, begging him to intervene and put an end to the ongoing tumultuous battle. Mahadeva, ever omniscient and omnipresent, was aware of the unfolding events. In fact, He could also feel the tremors in His icy abode, Kailasha..

His body adorned with ash, a snake around His neck, a crescent moon in His tangled hair, the sacred Ganges flowing from His wild tangled hair to the depths of the world, Mahadeva held His trident, the trishulin one hand, the other resting on His lap, with the palm open upward. He slowly opened His all-seeing eyes, as if awakening from a peaceful sleep, choosing to keep His third eye on His forehead closed, as the ongoing pandemonium required no destruction of any kind. Still.

Feigning ignorance, with a slight smile on His lips, Mahadeva looked at the devas questioningly as they ran towards Him with anguish etched on their faces. “What’s wrong, dear? devayes? Is there anything bothering your happy and luxurious existence in swarga?” He asked, mischief shining in His eyes.

“pranam, Mahadeva! They cried as they fell at his feet. One deva He hinted at the fierce battle between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, a conflict born of a minor disagreement, which now threatens the entire Universe.

Another added, shivering, if not from the cold, then at least from the thought of the possible outcome of the confrontation without the intervention of a higher power: “They are so consumed by their growing fury at each other that they have become completely oblivious to the catastrophic repercussions of their discord in the Universe.”

“If they continue for even a little longer, all three worlds will be completely annihilated in the form of collateral damage.”

“Please, oh Lord! We humbly beg you to intervene and protect not only us, but the three worlds and the Universe itself.”

“Your Dear Holiness is the only existing being that can save us from total annihilation!’”

“Please intervene now, oh Mahadeva! Please be so kind as to save us all.”

Mahadeva listened patiently as each deva They took turns begging and imploring him to save the three worlds, a serene and shrewd smile playing on their faces, glowing with a warm ethereal light. He chuckled as he let out a ketaki blossom from His thick knotted locks of tangled hair…

Once he devaOnce each had said his part, Mahadeva sat silently in quiet contemplation amidst the icy splendor of Kailasha. As if he still didn’t know what he had planned to do to calm his companions’ fury, he nodded to indicate that their desperate pleas had reached his ears.

Mahadeva said, “Don’t worry, oh devas. The Universe and all the beings that make it up are as valuable to me as they are to you. I will not allow everything to be destroyed just because of a dispute between my dear Vishnu and Brahma. Please return to your homes and rest assured that I will address your concerns and resolve the dispute between the two.”

Pacified by Mahadeva’s reassuring words, the devaThey bowed deeply in veneration before the Destroyer and returned to their abodes.

Aware of the seriousness of the situation, Lord Shiva decided to visit the scene of the transversal conflict.

Nandi, your vahanaHe stood majestically at the gates of Kailasha, waiting patiently for his Lord to avail his services. His pure, lustrous white robe shone in the sunlight, in keeping with the snow-laden mountains surrounding him.

With His consort, Parvati, at His side, Mahadeva rode Nandi to the battlefield, where the clash between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu was about to reach its zenith. The winds of the Universe carried whispers of concern. The heavens themselves seemed to hold their breath as the Lord of Destruction prepared to restore intergalactic peace and harmony.

Upon reaching there, he saw that both Lord Brahma and Vishnu were ready to unleash their most powerful weapons against each other, the Maheshwarastra and Pashupatastra respectively. The two deities faced each other with faces contorted with rage, their seraphic expressions clouded by the intensity of their wrath. After having inflicted and suffered multiple aggressive blows, the two were about to unleash their final weapons.

Aware of the extreme destruction such an action could cause, Lord Shiva finally decided to intervene. Just when the two warring gods released their astras, He manifested himself as a antalstambha (pillar of fire) between them. The deadly weapons were devoured by the antalstambha after their release and were consequently destroyed. None of the warring celestials had noticed their arrival or intervention.

He antalstambha It stood upright and you couldn’t see where the column of fire began or ended. As the inferno burned, sparks danced in all directions, a mesmerizing display of searing heat that had engulfed the deadliest of weapons. He devaThe witnesses were bewitched by the apotheotic phenomenon that was unfolding before their eyes.

The Creator and the Preserver were taken aback by the sudden appearance of a towering flagpole of fire before them. Momentarily forgetting their animosity, they exchanged questioning glances as they began to realize that neither of them had caused this sudden occurrence.

“What’s that?” Brahma asked, dumbfounded.

“I have no idea, this is not something I have witnessed before!” Vishnu replied, equally perplexed.

“I have never seen any object or being that had the power to resist any of my weapons,” Brahma exclaimed, surprise and amazement evident in his voice. “And this flaming pillar has simultaneously engulfed our two devastating weapons like it was nothing!”

“We have to discover the origin of this column of fire!”

Vishnu declared with a sense of urgency. “I am going to look for its head in heaven, you look for its base in the earth.”

The mysterious plume of fire demanded an immediate investigation. A temporary and tacit truce was established, as quickly as the battle had begun.

Extracted with permission from The Jyotirlingas: Tales from the Twelve ShrinesSamhitha Reddy, Hachette India.