|
Page4
Shiva was greatly infuri ated at this turn of events and aimed his great trishula at the three puras of Tripura. That missile destroyed them in a single hit, clearing the way for the death of Tripurasur. The asur was slain by the flames that emanated from the third eye of Shiva. The battle was stiff and the issue long in suspense. Tripura fell and great was the relief and joy felt by the gods and sages.
Shankar, exhausted from the tussle, sat down, streams of sweat running down the body. The devas and rishis gathered around their hero and there ensued an unending hymn of praise and prayer. The god was greatly pleased at the destruction of the evil and offered to grant what ever boons the devas desired. The gods requested that he should permanently stay where he sat in his Bhima form and that the streams of sweat should turn into an eternal river. The river should be a giver of good-punya.
The god kept his promise and agreed to have his abode at the spot as Bhimashankar. And the river was to be known as Bhimarathi. A dip in the holy waters of this river would wash away all sin and evil and bestow great good. Situated on a bill of the Sahyadris from which deep gorges descend towards the Konkan strip, the temple of Bhimashankar and the kunds from which the river rises immortalise the great struggle and the triumph of good over evil.
|
