Virabhadra
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In Hinduism, Virabhadra(Veerabhadra) (Sanskrit: वीरभद्र, IAST: Vīrabhadra) is a super being created by Shiva. Vīrabhadra was a great warrior who eventually blinded Bhaga, broke Pusha's (Sun) teeth and other gods including Indra fled the battle field unable to sustain his power. Vīrabhadra defeated Vishnu and Brahma in the war against Daksha. He is the head of Pramadas (the followers of Shiva).
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[edit] Creation of Vīrabhadra
Sati was the youngest daughter of Daksha, the chief of the gods. When Sati grew up she set her heart on Shiva, worshipping him in secret. In the Swayamvara of Sati, Daksha invited all gods and princes except Shiva. Sati cast her wreath into air, calling upon Shiva to receive the garland; and behold he stood in midst of the court with the wreath about his neck. Daksha had no choice but to marry Sati with Shiva. [1]
One day Daksha made arrangements for a great horse sacrifice, and invited all the gods omtting only Shiva. Sati, being greatly humiliated, went to the banquet and Sati released the inward consuming fire and fell dead at Daksha's feet. Narada bore this news to Shiva. Shiva burned with anger, and tore from his head a lock of hair, glowing with energy, and cast upon the earth. The terrible demon Vīrabhadra sprang from it, his tall body reached the high heavens, he was dark as the clouds, he had a thousand arms, three burning eyes, and fiery hair; he wore a garland of skulls and carried terrible weapons. Vīrabhadra bowed at Shiva's feet and asked his will. [2]
[edit] Vīrabhadra Destroyed Daksha
Shiva directed Virabhadra: "Lead my army against Daksha and destroy his sacrifice; fear not the Brahmanas, for thou art a portion of my very self". On this direction of Shiva, Virabhadra appeared with Shiva's ganas in the midst of Daksha's assembly like a storm wind and broke the sacrificial vessels, polluted the offerings, insulted the priests and finally cut off Daksha's head, trampled on Indra, broke the staff of Yama, scattered the gods on every side; the he returned to Kailash. [3]
Vīrabhadra takes the form of Sharabha, a giant bird with four legs and two heads. Narasimha an incarnation of lord Vishnu looses control after killing Hiranyakashipu. He becomes furious and starts destroying everything around. All demi gods approach Shiva for help. Shiva sends Vīrabhadra to calm Narasimha. Vīrabhadra takes form of Sharabha, holds Narasimha in his clutches and presents him to Shiva. He cuts Narasimha's head and Shiva wears the skull it in his necklace. Vishnu gets released out of Narasimha's form with this exercise.
However, the version given in the Bhagavata purana states that none of the present demigods were able to calm Narasimha's fury, not Siva, not even the consort of Narayana, Laxmi.
[edit] The compromise with Shiva
After the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, the defeated gods sought Brahma and asked his counsel. Brahma advised the gods to make their peace with Shiva. Brahma himself went with them to Kailash. Brahma prayed Shiva to pardon Daksha and to mend the broken limbs of gods and rishis. Shiva accepted his advice and restored the burnt head of Daksha with that of goat's head, and the broken limbs were made whole. Then the devas thanked Shiva for his gentleness, and invited him to sacrifice. There Daksha looked on him with reverence, the rite was duly performed, and there also Vishnu appeared riding upon Garuda. He spoke to Daksha, saying: "Only the unlearned deem myself and Shiva to be distinct; he, I and Brahma are one, assuming different names for creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe. We as the triune Self, prevade all creatures; the wise therefore regard all others as themselves." Then all the gods and rishis saluted Shiva and Vishnu and Brahma, and departed to their places; but Shiva returned to Kailash and fell once more into his dram. [4]
Vīrabhadra is prominently worshipped today in South India. The famous Lepakshi temple in Andhra Pradesh is dedicated to Lord Vīrabhadra. His is one of the primary Pancha-acharyas (gurus) for Lingayats.
[edit] Consort of Virabhadra - Bhadrakāli
Consort of Virabhadra was Bhadrakali, also known as the gentle Kali, is generally an auspicious form of the goddess Kali, and the legend states that she came into being by Devi’s wrath, when Daksha insulted Shiva. It is believed that Bhadrakāli was a local deity, which was assimilated into the mainstream Hinduism, particularly into Shaiva mythology. Sometimes, she assumes terrible aspect, and is represented with three eyes, and four, twelve or eighteen hands. She carries a number of weapons, with flames flowing from her head, and a small tusk protruding from her mouth. [5]
[edit] Creation of Jats from Virbhadra
There is narration of story of creation of Virbhadra and destruction of Daksha in the book named Deva Samhita consisting of Sanskrit shlokas (verses). It mentions about characteristics of Jats (shloka – 15) and their creation from Virabhadra and Daksha’s daughtergana's. [6]
Deva Samhitā' of Gorakh Sinha from the early medieval period, when Pārvatī asks Shiva about characters of Jats, Shiva tells her like this in sanskrit shloka (verse)-15 as under:
महाबला महावीर्या, महासत्य पराक्रमाः Mahābalā mahāvīryā, Mahāsatya parākramāḥ
सर्वाग्रे क्षत्रिया जट्टा देवकल्पा दृढ़-व्रता: Sarvāgre kshatriyā jattā Devkalpā dridh-vratāḥ
- Meaning - 'They are, like gods, firm of determination and of all the kshatriyās, the Jats are the prime rulers of the earth.'
Shiva explains Parvati about the origin of Jats in Shloka (verse) –16 of Deva samhita as under:
श्रृष्टेरादौ महामाये वीर भद्रस्य शक्तित: Shrishterādau mahāmāye Virabhadrasya shaktitaḥ
कन्यानां दक्षस्य गर्भे जाता जट्टा महेश्वरी Kanyānām Dakshasya garbhe jātā jatta maheshwarī.
- Meaning – 'In the beginning of the universe with the personification of the illusionary powers of Virabhadra and Daksha’s daughtergana's womb originated the caste of Jats'.
[edit] Historical facts
The story of creation of Virabhadra from the Shiva’s lock and destruction of Daksha by Virabhadra and his ganas is mythical and not scientifically possible but has some historical facts in it. Thakur Deshraj has explained that there was a clan of Jats named Shivi who had a republic ruled by democratic system of administration known as ganatantra. Kshudrakas had formed a sangha with Malavas. Shivis formed a sangha with a big federation or sangha known as Jat, which is clear from Paninis shloka in grammar of Aṣṭādhyāyī given below. [6]
Many books of Sanskrit literature have used ganas and sanghas frequently. The famous Sanskrit scholar Panini of 900 BCE has mentioned in his Sanskrit grammar known as Aṣṭādhyāyī in the form of shloka as जट झट संघाते or Jat Jhat Sanghate. This means that the terms 'Jat' and 'democratic federation' are synonymous.[6]
The historical facts about the mythical creation of Virabhadra have been further clarified by the historian RS Joon. The facts are that Shiva lived in Gangotri Hills which, due to Shiva's popularity, came to be known as Shiva's Jata. The mountain ranges in that area is now known as Shivaliks. Raja Virabhadra of the Puru dynasty was the ruler of 'Talkhapur' near Haridwar, which also formed part of the area known as 'Shiv ki Jata'. [7]
This is the area around Haridwar. King Bhagiratha brought the Ganga to the plains in this region. According to legend the Ganga flows out from Shiva's Jata. Actually this also means that the Ganga flows out from the area known as 'Shiv ki Jata', the birthplace of the Jat Raja Virabhadra who was a follower and admirer of Shiva. On hearing of Sati's tragedy, Shiva went to the durbar of Virabhadra and pulled at his hair in fury while narrating the story. This infuriated Virabhadra and with his army, are invaded Kankhal and killed Daksha. [8]
[edit] Chronoly of Virabhadra
The historian Ram Swarup Joon has given the chronology of Virabhadra, obtained from the records of the Bards of Dholpur, in his book ‘History of the Jats’ (1938, 1967) as under: [9]
In the branch of Puru there was ‘Sanyati’ whose son was Virabhadra. Virabhadra had four sons 1. Pon Bhadra 2. Kalhan bhadra 3. Atisur Bhadra and 4. Jakh Bhadra.
- Pon Bhadra is the originator of Punia gotra.
- Kalhan Bhadra is the originator of Kalhan gotra.
- Atisur Bhadra had Ajanta Jata Shankar and his son Dahi Bhadra in the lineage. Dahi Bhadra is the originator of Dahiya gotra.
- Jakh Bhadra is the originator of Jakhar gotra.
According to Ram Swaroop Joon, the descendants of above spread as under:
(a) Pon Bhadra’s descendants Punias to Haryana, Brij, and Gwalior
(b) Kalhan Bhadra’s descendants Kalhans to Kathiawar and Gujrat.
(c) Atisur Bhadra’s descendants to Malwa
(d) Jakh Bhadra’s descendants Jakhars to Punjab and Kashmir
(e) Dahi Bhadra’s descendants Dahiyas to Punjab and Central Asia
[edit] See also
[edit] Reference
- ^ Sister Nivedita & Ananda K.Coomaraswamy: Myths and Legends of the Hindus and Bhuddhists, Kolkata, 2001 ISBN 81-7505-197-3
- ^ Sister Nivedita & Ananda K.Coomaraswamy: Myths and Legends of the Hindus and Bhuddhists, Kolkata, 2001 ISBN 81-7505-197-3
- ^ Sister Nivedita & Ananda K.Coomaraswamy: Myths and Legends of the Hindus and Bhuddhists, Kolkata, 2001 ISBN 81-7505-197-3
- ^ Sister Nivedita & Ananda K.Coomaraswamy: Myths and Legends of the Hindus and Bhuddhists, Kolkata, 2001 ISBN 81-7505-197-3
- ^ Anna Dallapiccola: Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ISBN 0-500-51088-1
- ^ a b c Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 87-88.
- ^ RS Joon: History of the Jats’ (1938, 1967)
- ^ RS Joon: History of the Jats’ (1938, 1967)
- ^ RS Joon: History of the Jats’ (1938, 1967)
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