Birth of Andhak

Birth of Andhak

 

Mother Parvati rejoiced in roaming around the earth in association of her rover husband. Once they spent a great time at mount Kailash and then reached at the bank of Ganga and stayed at Kashi for a while. From there they moved to mount Mandarachal and rejoiced in the silent valleys of mother earth. The beauty of mountains laden with fragrant and motley coloured flowers enchanted Parvati a lot. Adorned with precious ornaments, she was in a playful mood. She therefore, put her palms over eyes of Lord Shiv.  The peace loving lord Shiv did not protest a bit and as he closed his eyes, the entire world got enveloped in the darkness. As by touch of mother Parvati the Fire contained in lord Shiv turned into water, droplets of such water began to trickledown the crown of lord Shiv. The water drops were so intoxicating that as soon as they touched the earth, they turned into a grotesque creature that none had seen in the past. Born of a Shiv who was closed eyed, this creature was also blind. The gigantic creature jumped and danced, hopped and leapt here and there and yelled and sang in a hoarse and loud voice. Seeing his despicable form and repugnant gestures mother Parvati began to dread him. She looked anxious and appalled. Turning to lord Shiv she expected him to come to her rescue. The non-chalant husband looked just unconcerned. He looked rather amused at the plight of his wife searing in repentance for having drawn herself in to the mess.

As glances of Parvati put a row of questions before Lord Shiv he smiled and said,-“Dear! You yourself have created this queer being. Why then, do you fear him?”

Realizing her inadvertent action resulting into creation of a bizarre creature, she took her hands off. As soon as she did so lord Shiv opened his eyes and the darkness enveloping the world vanished in no time. The world looked perfectly alright and normal but the creation of mother Parvati created only turbulence here and there.

 “O Lord! Please tell me who is this horrible being? How has this been created?” she asked anxiously.

“O the creator of bizarre scenes! Listen. When you closed my eyes, this valiant issued from my sweat. His name is Andhak. As you have caused his birth, he is by all means your son. So being his mother you take care of him,” Professed the husband.

 Realizing that her thoughtless gesture had resulted into creation of a living calamity, the heart of Parvati began to sink. However convinced of the authenticity of revelation of lord Shiv, she began to tender him as her son.

 The daitya king Hiranyakaksh had no son. Driven by the desire of begetting a son, he reached at the mountains and sat down to obtain a boon. Lord Shiv was soon moved by his penance and devotion. He therefore, appeared before him. Hiranyakaksh praised his lord and prayed to him to bestow a powerful son.’ “King! You are not destined to have a son of your own. I shall give you my son named Andhak. Accept him and be happy thus..” blessed him lord Shiv.

 Thus lord Shiv passed on Andhak to his devotee that pleased Hiranyakaksh for he felt deeply obliged to his lord who had despite his having been not predestined, given his own son to him as a boon. Mother Parvati also felt relieved that she got away from the burden of bringing up a calamity encased in a body. Andhak began to live in the royal palace and was very well looked after and cared for. No dearth could touch him but for the pain of being a butt of ridicule he often received from his royal cousins growing up with him in the palace. Once one of his cousins said,-“Andhak! You were not born of these parents. How shall you inherit their empire then?”

 Deeply hurt and moved to tears for being without his natural parents, he retreated to the forest and cried and cried. He even thought of giving up his life. He therefore, began to starve himself. Lord Brahma, who is the progenitor of all beings took pity on him and appeared before him. “Son Andhak! Do not give up life. One should face the challenges of life with equanimity and never commit suicide under any circumstance. One who does so invariably goes to hell.”

“Lord Brahma! What is the use of this existence when no one actually needs me. My parents gave me away to a king who is not my natural father. I can’t bear this hurt anymore.” The anguish of poor Andhak flowed from his mouth.

“Son, every being is created to perform a predestined role. No being is redundant in my creation, for everyone has a unique role to play which one should realize and discover.” Explained the lord.

 “What for did you create me, lord please let me know.” Hope glowed in the heart of Andhak.

“Son Andhak! You are born of lord Shiv and mother Parvati. How can you be without a role? I invest you with super powers right now. You will remain no more blind. I give you power to be invincible to all other creatures.” Blessing him so, Lord Brahma disappeared. Having been guided and energised immensely by Lord Brahma, Andhak was filled with energy and enthusiasm and began to roar like a tiger ready to take on the entire kingdom of animals.

 His power grew so much that even lord Indra lost his kingdom to Andhak. Andhak was now the single ruler of three spheres. He had three powerful ministers named Duryodhan,Virochan and Hasti. Once the ministers spotted a beautiful goddess and were instantly beguiled by her looks. Having immense honour for their master they decided amongst themselves that she should be the queen of their master.

 Instigated by his ministers, Andhak rushed to have a glimpse of the beauty of the daughter of mountains. As soon as he saw the pretty goddess, he was struck by the desire to woo her. The problem he faced was that she was accompanied by a hermit who looked very powerful and stern. However restless and driven mad by her charm, Andahk decided to either win her heart or end his life. Andhak therefore sent his messenger to the hermit to let him have the goddess as his queen. The hermit was lord Shiv who had beside him goddess Parvati whom Andhak took for a virgin born of mountains. Lord Shiv sent the messenger back with a rebuke that Andhak should not dare even dream of it. The desirous and lustful Andhak began to tremble in wrath and disappointment. How he wished to kill the hermit and take away the virgin for honouring his palace, which he wished so strongly but could not do out of a fear of the hermit.

 Being incessantly enmeshed in the thoughts of the virgin, Andhak rose to fight against the hermit. Taking all his mightiest of soldiers along, he attacked the hermit. The hermit fought all alone and made the army of daitya lick the dust. As neither side was prepared to accept the defeat, Lord Shiv retreated in solitude to awaken his Pashupatastra, leaving mother Parvati behind in the custody of his attendants. As Andhak saw lord Shiv retreating from the battlefield his pride multiplied and he attacked Nandi with a sharp blow. Seeing Nandi succumbing to injuries, Andhak was jubilant and found his dream coming to be true as he attacked goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati was however, no weakling. Endowed with umpteen spiritual energy she issued several powerful yoginies ready to take on the enemies with elation and poise. As the battle went on between ferocious warriors of both sides,, lord Shiv also joined in. He found guru Shukracharya resurrecting the slain daitya army. Showing his full control over enemies lord Shiv immediately swallowed Shukracharya. Having witnessed such a matchless act of lord Shiv, the lustful Andhak still could not come back to his senses and fought to kill lord Shiv only. Lord Shiv, having eliminated the guru of daitya then turnd to the king of army. As trident of lord Shiv beheaded Andhak, every drop of his blood created another Andhak as powerful as the original Andhak was. Lord Vishnu also joined the fight and created a ferocious goddess from the ear of lord Shiv. The ferocious goddess began to devour all daityas with perfect ease. She in no time eliminated the army of enemy leaving only Andhak in the fray. Lord Shiv poked his trident into the grotesque body of Andhak and lifted him up yet he did not die. Rather seeing his army vanished, he began to propitiate lord Shiv by praising him for her mercy and generosity. Pleased by his entreaties and prayers lord Shiv forgave him and appointed him as his attendant. Andhak fell on his feet and begged pardon for having thrown a lustful glance at mother Parvati. Thus the son of Lord Shiv and Parvati played his role and became a member of the family.