Devalok
Legend · 1 telling · West India

The guard at Vijaya's fire

Told by the goddesses to help the Brahmin Vijaya, Barbarika guards his night-long rite at Guptakshetra against a demoness, a mountain and the demon Repalendra, the she-mule Duhadruha and a disguised demon he follows down to the city of Bahuprabha. The Nagas grant Vijaya success, and Vijaya gives Barbarika the ash of his fire.

Who is in it

Places: Guptakshetra (Mahi-sagara-sangama)

The story, beat by beat

  1. The goddesses favour Barbarika after three years and tell him to wait for Vijaya.
  2. Vijaya begins his rite on the dark fourteenth with Barbarika on guard.
  3. Barbarika spares Mahajihva on an oath, shatters the mountain and throws Repalendra away.
  4. He kills the she-mule Duhadruha.
  5. He strikes down a false monk, follows him to Bahuprabha and kills nine crore demons.
  6. Vasuki names the demon Palashi; Barbarika's boon is Vijaya's success.
  7. Vijaya gives him the ash; he refuses, the gods make him take it; Vijaya becomes Siddhasena.

guardian demons gift selflessness

How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Primary text (translation)

Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 61 and 63

West India · Guptakshetra, Gujarat All traditions

After three years of worship the goddesses tell Barbarika to help Vijaya, a Brahmin of Magadha, whom they send in a dream. On the dark fourteenth Vijaya starts his rite before the Siddha Mother. In the first watch the demoness Mahajihva comes and Barbarika lets her go on an oath; at midnight a hundred-peaked mountain rises and he shatters it, then throws the demon Repalendra across the water. In the third watch he kills the she-mule Duhadruha. In the fourth a mendicant tells them to put out the fire; Barbarika strikes him and follows him as a demon into the cave city of Bahuprabha, where he kills nine crore demons. Vasuki and the Nagas name the demon Palashi and grant Barbarika's wish, Vijaya's success. Vijaya gives him the saffron-like ash of the fire; he refuses a reward until the gods tell him the Kauravas must never have it. Vijaya is named Siddhasena.

Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 61, The liturgy of Ganeshvara, tr. G. V. Tagare (Wisdom Library); Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 63, Vijaya's accomplishment of siddhi, tr. G. V. Tagare (Wisdom Library); Barbarika Upakhyana, Skanda Purana 59 to 66, chapter summary (dvaipayana.net)

Sources: Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 61, The liturgy of Ganeshvara, tr. G. V. Tagare (Wisdom Library); Skanda Purana, Kaumarika Khanda 63, Vijaya's accomplishment of siddhi, tr. G. V. Tagare (Wisdom Library); Barbarika Upakhyana, Skanda Purana 59 to 66, chapter summary (dvaipayana.net)

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