Arjuna and Shiva – Applied Indology

After having lost their kingdom and all their wealth to their cousins Kauravas in a manipulated game of dice, the five Pandava brothers, with their wife Draupadi, went into 12 years of exile, followed by a year of Agnyatha Vasa / Concealed existence. During the fifth year, Arjuna took leave of his brothers and wife in order to seek and obtain the knowledge of the Divya Asthras, or celestial missiles that would be important in the battle between the Pandavas, and the Kauravas.

Mount Indrakila, in the mighty Himalayas, was abode to many Rishis who conducted prayers and performed severe Tapasya for the gods. One day, the Rishis saw a stranger walking towards their abode. They noticed that even though the stranger was wearing rishi’s saffron clothes, he looked nothing like a Rishi. He was tall, well-built and was carrying weapons. On seeing the golden hilt of the sword, they recognized the stranger to being the Pandava prince, Arjuna.

Arjuna set up his penance spot in a harsh, mountainous region in the middle of a forest. He wished to observe austerities and obtain from them the knowledge of the Divya Asthras. He began with observing Tapasya to please Lord Shiva and gain from Him the Mantra to invoke the Pashupata-asthra, Shiva’s most destructive personal weapon, which can be discharged by the mind, the eyes, words, or a bow. The Pashupatasthra was capable of destroying creation and was meant to be used only against an equal or more worthy opponent. It was the Asthra, Shiva employed to annihilate asuras Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali and Kamalaksha’s satellite cities of Tripura.

Arjuna made a linga and spent all his time chanting the Satarudriya mantra taught by Sri Krishna. He chanted the Satarudriya mantra for days on end and composing hymns in praise of the lord Shiva. He didn’t stop his Tapasya / penance for anything. After a few months, the earth around him was unable to bear the heat of his penance and started releasing black smoke around him. The smoke spread throughout Mount Indrakila, and the Rishis fled to Mount Kailasa.

They approached Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and pleaded them to intervene. Lord Shiva assured them the problem will be resolved.

Shiva and Parvati observed Arjuna’s devotion and they felt compelled to grant him his desire. However, Shiva was not about to impart the knowledge of His potent Asthra / missile to the human without first testing him for his worthiness. Lord Shiva disguised himself as a Kirata Chief ( Kirata is a clan of mountain dwellers), and asked Goddess Parvati and some of his Ganas to dress up as Kirata women.

Meanwhile, Duryodhana had sent Mookasura in the guise of a wild boar to disturb Arjuna’s Tapas. The wild boar Asura entered Arjuna’s penance place at Mount Indrakila. The Asura charged at the unarmed Rishi, who first tried to defend himself with his bare hands. The Wild boar overpowered him and Arjuna was forced to stop his Tapasya and take up his Gandeeva.

He strung his Gandeeva and notched an arrow. He drew the string to his ear, waiting patiently as the boar ran around, destroying the ashrama and Creating destruction. Just when the boar came within his range, he released his dart and the devilish beast fell dead. However, where there should have been only Arjuna’s arrow piercing its body, but there were two arrows.

It was not clear whose arrow had struck the boar. This surprised Arjuna, who looked up to see a tribesman standing some distance away, with a bow in his hand. He was a kirata, a mountain hunter, by the look of him seemed like a chieftain. He was Shabby in appearance, wearing garments of flesh and fur, his head decorated with Feathers and seeds. The kirata was accompanied by several tribal women. The Kirata women watching the Asura fall down to his death, started dancing and celebrating.

Neither of the party was ready to concede defeat. The Kirata women argued, “Our chief killed the boar before you.” Arjuna did not like to be insulted so challenged the Kirata chief for a duel.The Kirata proclaimed that he shot the boar first and that Arjuna shot a dead animal. His companions sneered and mocked Arjuna.
Arjuna, wielder of the mighty Gandeeva, acclaimed to be the best bowman in all the worlds, son of Indra, disciple of Drona, felt insulted by the mockery being sent his way by the tribal women. He wished to establish his superiority over his rustic rival and challenged the Kirata Chieftain to a duel. The Kirata chief gladly obliged and the two bowmen drew their arms. Soon, arrows started flying between Arjuna and Lord Shiva. They hurled their best arrows at each other, but neither of them was hurt. The arrow Arjuna directed at the Kirata transformed into flowers as it struck the hunter. Everyone was surprised to see this, the Kirata women cheered their chief. But Arjuna was consumed by his rage failed to notice this.

Suddenly, Arjuna realised that his quiver of arrows was over. Lord Shiva as Kirata smiled at him and offered, “You can borrow some arrows from me.” Hearing this, the Kirata women started mocking Arjuna. Arjuna angrily threw his Gandeeva at the hunter, who caught it, tore the string and flung it away. Unable to control his anger, Arjuna took his sword, and charged him with all his might.

Refusing to lose, Arjuna picked up a tree with his bare hands and hurled it at the hunter, who dodged it easily. The Kirata stripped Arjuna of all his weapons and his ego. The brave prince continued to fight with his bare hands.

Unable to concede defeat, he decided to pray to Lord Shiva for strength. He felt weak and drained of all energy. He turned to the Shiva linga and drew three lines i.e Tripundra on the Linga with his hand. He placed a fresh garland of flowers around it.
The Kirata chief stood in front of him with Tripundra on his forehead and the same garland around his neck that Arjuna had just adorned the linga with. Arjuna fell at the hunter Kirata’s feet.

Shiva assumed His own form, as did Parvati and His attendants who had all assumed the guise of the women accompanying the hunter. “Rise Dhananjaya, You have proven that you are a worthy archer / Dhanurdari indeed. A befitting Shisya to the great Guru Drona. I know what it is you seek and I now grant it to you. Keep in mind, though, that the Pashupatasthra is never to be used on a weaker opponent. Nor should it ever be mounted in vain or used for any purpose other than the protection of righteousness / Dharma. Any violation on your part may lead to the asthra being lost forever from your system. “

So saying, Lord Shiva imparted the technique of invoking and employing the Pashupatasthra to Arjuna. The Arjuna later proceeded to Heaven to meet his father Indra and serve the gods in return for knowledge of how to invoke each of their personal Asthras.

This manifestation of Shiva is known as Kirata Murthy. In the course of this (mock) fight, Arjuna’s encounter with Shiva is celebrated at Tiruvetkalam near Chidambaram – Tamilnadu. Kirata Murthy is also revered at Kumbhakonam (Tamilnadu) , where it is believed that an arrow from Shiva’s Arrow pierced the pot containing the celestial nectar amritha, and spilled it into the Mahamagam tank.

Katampuzha Bhagavathy is worshipped as Parvati in the form of Kirata. An offering called Pumutal is performed here in which the installation is covered with chethi flowers in memory of Arjuna’s arrows becoming flowers as they fell on Shiva’s body.

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About Author:
Subhasini BA, is a Screenplay writer, Director, creative director, costume designer and producer, whose work has featured in some of the most prestigious film festivals in the country and internationally. She has collaborated on several film projects juggling different roles. 

In beginning of her career, she worked as Associate director and Costume Designer with the acclaimed director Girish Kasaravalli. She’s written and directed a documentary film on the famed Krishna Temple in Udupi, and also written plays, screenplays for films and short form content for some of the leading technology companies in India, including Microsoft, Akamai Technologies, LAM Research, and SAP. 

With Knowledge in Sanskrit, Subhasini is a seeker of the Eternal Truth / Santana Dharma, writes on dharma. She is passionate about History, Mythology, Philosophy and Spirituality. She believes Dharma is the manifestation of the natural strength of every living soul.
She lives in Cincinnati.

Image Courtesy: Quora

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