Lilavai

SR No.: 002796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 500
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 15 MB

Page 84

INTRODUCTION
The association of this locality with Daksa is based upon a traditional story which runs thus : Daksa Prajāpati is said to have performed a Yajña here, near the spot still shown as Daksa-gunda. He invited all his daughters, Asvini to Revati, the twentyseven stars, his son in-law and all the gods and goddesses, but not his 28th daughter.
ksāyani and her lord, Siva. When Daksāyaṇi learnt from Nārada about her father's Yajña, she sought the permission of her beloved to attend the same, but he refused it. When she insisted on going, he consented reluctantly. When she reached Daksa's place along with her child Vināyaka, she was not duly received and looked after : she felt neglected and humiliated. She burst into tears helplessly and threw aside her child in disappointment. From her tear-drops fallen on the ground, when touched by her, there arose flames of fire in which she threw herself (according to another version, she plunged herself into the fire of the sacrifice), and thus became a Sati.
Anticipating some mishap to his beloved in her paternal home. Siva set out to look after her safety; but by the time he reached the place, Daksāyaṇi was no more. He heard all about her on the spot; he was filled with remorse and revenge; and with a view to destroy everything there, he sprinkled the drops of perspiration from his forehead all round. From these drops there arose Virabhadra, the terrific counterpart of Siva himself. Daksa, his sacrificial establishment and all his kith and kin were destroyed, and the invitees fled away for safety. Daksa's head was cut off but that of a ram was fixed instead on his body, and he was given a seat in celestial constellation. The spot where Virabhadra threw his weapon is marked today by a hillock capped with Virabhadra Siva temple, in the stream of Godāvari. At the spot where Daksa's head was cut Siva is said to have grown more fierce, and hence he came to be called Bhima. Siva is more or less a widower here, without Dāksāyaṇi. The
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There are cases of deities named after the founders of the temples : Nilakantheśvaradeva, Laksmaņeśvara and Sankeśvaradeva are the names given to deities consecrated by Nilakanthaniyaka (Šaka 1051), Laksmana and Sankara-Camūnztha. See K. G. Kundangar : Inscriptions in Northern Karnataka and the Kolhapur State, Kolhapur 1939, pp. 18, 65, 40 etc. ( of the text ). On this analogy, it is not surprising if Bhimeśvara temple was founded by some king Bhima by name. A king Bhima has constructed a temple of Chalukya Bhimaśvara at Bhimavaram near Cocanada; and it is different from Drakshärama temple.
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