The Legend of Daamaruka Ganaas turning into Pigeons

Kapotaah ke Ganastatraa katham kritasthitaah Prabho, Vadame kripayaa Shambho lokaanaam hita kaamyayaa/ (Devi Parvati enquired of doves and Ganas as to why and how were there in the cave). Shrunu Sushroti vakshyaami kapotaame bhavatkila, Yacchrutwaa muchyate jantu jeevaa hatyaati paapakaat/ ( Sushroni! Let me explain about the pigeons and Ganas  and on hearing about this account human beings woud be freed from their blemishes) Yadaaptrabhuti Deveshi Mahaa Daamaruko Ganaah, Tadaaprabhuti tatraiva sthaapite Ganaamayaa/ (Devi, do recall that I installed Maha Daamaruka Ganaas) Taandavaa vedanaardham cha Sandhyaaklaalasya Sundari, Ekadaa nritya maanasya Sandyaayaam chaiva Dhurjateh, Spardhayaa ‘kuru kurvtya’ chunstremaravindate/ (Sundari, when Shiva was performing Tandava Nritya at the Sandhyaa time, he kept on hearing the sounds of appreciation saying ‘Kuru Kuru’ or ‘do so, do so’; Maha Deva got disturbed and gave a shaap to the ‘Daamaruka Ganas’ to become pigeons) Yasmat kuru shabdam kurvaanah spardhayaamuhuh, Tasmaat kuru shabam kurvaanah stha chiram Ganaah,Kapota rupaa teerthesmin Vighna sanghaapa haarinaah/ Ityam shaptaasato Devi harena Paramatmanaa, Kritwaa rupaastaam Tirtha Vighnaapa haarinaa/ (Maha Deva cursed those Daamaruka Ganas who kept on exclaiming ‘Kuru Kuru’ had ever-since taken the form of pigeons and continue the sounds as such till date; thus Bhagavan blesses to the Yatris by way of conveying the message of destroying their sins through the sounds) Yodrushtwaatu uhaantastaan Kapotaan gaganaat Priye, Avaaroohed Girisharastasmaa teertha drohi smrito buddhaaih/ (Priye! Those who do not vision the pigeon couple inside the cave are expected to be ‘teertha drohis’ not having fulfilled their aspirations) Tasmaattatra darshaneeyaah Kapotaa Ganasattamaah, Maha paapaharaah proktaah Yaatribhih Paara- maardhikaih) (That is why these pigeons must be seen and heard as a mark of the fulfillment of their wishes) Snaatwaa drushtaa shruaachaapi sprushtaa Devi samantatah, Amaraishwaryataam yaati tatah proktaamaraavati/ Amaraatwam naraah snaatwaa sadyamuchyat sankataat/ (Devi! Performance of ‘Snaana Darshana Spursha’ of Amareshwara Linga is a unique experience possible only for a limited Yatris and bestows Amaratwa and that is why this pilgrimage is noted as Amara yatra) Kali kalmasha ghora naashanam Rasa Lingam samuderitam Priye, Pashupaasha vinaasha kaarakam amareshwara -naakamam param/(This ‘Parama Rasaramareshwara Linga’ is stated thus to be Ghora Paaapanaashaka and Pashu paasha vimochana kaaraka) Yah karoti Mahaa Pujaam Swadhaa Lingasya Sundari, Sa yaati Shiva saayujyamiti satyam vadaamite/ (Sundari, it is a unique Truth that is assured by Maha Deva that whosoever performs dedicated worship to this Swadha Linga would be blessed with Shiva saayujya) Siddhi Lingamidam Devi Buddhi Lingamidam Priya, Shuddhi Lingamudam proktam Vriddhi Lingamidam param/( Devi, This indeed is acclaimed as Siddhi Linga, Buddhi Linga, Shuddhi Linga and Parama Vriddhi Linga!)Idam pumavanam Lingam Mahattejobhivardhanam, Kanyaa pradam paavanam cha Paramam yogadam Kalou/ (This Pumsavya Linga is an instant enhancer of Tejas or Brightness, Kanya prada, Paavana prada and supreme yoga kaaraka in these days of kali yuga)Vinaa dhyaanam vina daanam vinaa yogam yadeechasi, Tadaa shrayasya Dveshi Linga mamara sanjnakam/ (Devi, one might approach Amara Linga if desirous of returns even without dhyana,daana, yoga pre-requirements) Shariram youvanam dravyam daaraan putraan griham tathaa,Chanchalam sarvato jnaataa Amaresham samaashrayet/ (One should approach Amareshwara without considerations of age, physical well being, monetary considerations or of wife/ husband, children and household) Yaavanna grasato mrityuryavannendriya viplavah, yaavaddehed jaraa vyaadhih sheerayate Jagadambike/Taava Devaamareshaakhyaam Lingam Rasamaya Priye/ (One can after all reach Amaresha Linga only before Mrityu does not devour, physical limbs create no havoc, old age and disease do not overcome) Trilokye yaani Teerthaani sthaanaani Jagadambike, Amareshaakhya Lingasyasam Lingam Rasamaya Priye/ (Jagadamba! There is no parallel in the Tirthas, Sthaanaas and so on in the Trilokas comparable with Amaresha Rasamaya Linga!) Bhuyo bhuyah vimuktena Narah paatakan vaaskalou, Amaresham samaashritya muktiyeva na samshayah/ (What indeed is the use of repeated references! There is no doubt at all that worship to Amareshwara and his total protection assures mukti) Ityam Mahaatmyaameeshani punyam Amara bnaadhagam, Shrutwaa pathitwaamuccheta Brahma hatyaadi kotibhih/ (Devi! Those who hear, read about and absorb the acount of Amaranatha would be redeemed from crores of sins) Apeya paanaana muchyeta tathaa bhakshasya  bhakshanaat, Bandhaa pramuchyate baddho rogaadrogi pramutchyate/ (Persons who are victims of prohibited drinking, consumption of prohibited food, or imprisoned for offfences or subjected with diseases are redeemed forth with) Idam prajanaam soumyam shrotrunam pushti vardhanam, Pathitwaa paathayitwaavaa muchate sarv kilbishaat/ (From this Amare -shwara Linga Mahatmya, readers would improve their physical well being and excellent health; learning about Him by themselves or hearing from others shall demolish all ailments and sins of both the parties). Ayushpradam Kaantidam cha keertidam Jagadeeshwari,Dhanadam paputram chaapi Kanyaa pradamuttamam/ (Devi! This Legend would bestow longevity, brightness, reputation, prosperity, and disciplined sons and daughters to those who hear or recite) Ityedhapatalo guhyaa gopaniyah Kale Priye, Shrutaanudhyaatah pathito Maha Patakahaa Kale/ (This narration is confidential and worthy of keeping confidential too; during these times of kaliyuga, mere studying and absorbing the essence of this Sacred Story shall certainly terminate all indiscretions)

Shrutwaa shrutwaaMaheshaana smaaram smaara manuttamam, Punyamamara naadhasya rasa lingasya sambhavat, Kritaardhaasi kritaardhaasi kritaardhaasi na samshayah/ Kreetasmi Jagadeshaa taaritasmi bhavaranavat(Maheshwara! This highly Sacred Account of the Origin of Amarnatha Rasa Linga has been heard from you and am most grateful as you have so patiently and interestingly narrated that I shall indeed cherish always the proceedings and seek to absorb the contents. Maha Deva! I am ever grateful, thankful and indebted to you once again and again! I am your humble servant having relieved me of the ills and woes of the ocean of ‘Samsaara’) Devi Parvati further eulogized Maha Deva as follows: Jaya Shambho Trineratwam Jaya Bhaktam kripaambudhey,Jaya Shiva Jayeshyaa Tripuraasura sudana/ Jaya Kapardinbhangavam Jaya Shula Dharaachyuta, Pinaaka paane Varada Jayaanshaka Madardaka/ Jaya Bhakta Janodaama Kaamanaa Varadeshwara!Jaya bhakti rasaaswaadakhilo Vishwapa/ Jaya ghoraatighoresha Jaya Paapa nivruttana, Jaya Bhairava Bheemesha Jaya Shri Para Bhairava/

Sri V.D.N.Rao and Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham

Kamakoti.org presents the Essence of Puranas in English, condensed by Sri. V.D.N.Rao, devotee of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Compiled, Composed and Interpreted by V.D.N.Rao, Former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India The author can be contacted at [email protected]