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पाञ्चालिकेश (pAJcAlikeza)

 
पुराणम्
English
पाञ्चालिक / PĀÑCĀLIKA (pāñcālikeśa). A yakṣa who was a son of kubera. In some parts of bhārata this yakṣa is worshipped as a deity. It is believed that śiva had given Pāñcālīka a boon that he who worships him whether he be man or woman, young or old, would become intoxicated with vigour. There is a story behind pāñcālika obtaining this boon:--
When satī who was insulted at the Dakṣayāga was cousumed by fire a bereaved śiva sat inactive and moody at a lonely place. When this continued for a long time kāmadeva (god of love) at the request of the other devas sent arrows against him and made him lustful. śiva then started running passionately calling the name of his wife and finding her nowhere jumped into the river kālindī to commit suicide. (The waters of kālindī became black from that time onwards). kālindī was unable to bear the burden of the soul of śiva and so he had to get out to the shore and run again. At this time kāmadeva sent another arrow, unmādāstra (arrow of intoxication) also against śiva. śiva could not bear the impact of the two arrows together and he laboured under great strain. Just then he saw pāñcālika son of kubera coming that way. śiva then made him understand his difficulties and requested him to take charge of the force of the arrows from him. pāñcālika did so and saved śiva from his toil. Pleased at this śiva blessed him. He said that pāñcālika will be worshipped by people in the month of Caitra and all those who do so will be invigorated. He added that henceforth he would be known as pāñcālikeśa also.