Markandeya Samasya Parva — The evil spirits

Markandeya said : Those six ladies, the wives of the seven Rishis, when they learnt that Mahasena had been blessed with good fortune and he had been made the generallissimo of the celestial army, all came to him.

Those virtuous and vow-observing ones, having been abandoned by the Rishis, came to the celestial and exalted generallisimo and spoke to him thus.

“O son, we have been abandoned by our celestial like husbands without any cause. Some spread the remour that we gave birth to you. Believing this story, they beacme angry and they banished us from our holy places. You should save us from this infamy.

We desire to adopt you as our son, so that, O lord, everlasting bliss might be secured to us through your favour. Repay thus the obligation you owe to us.

Skanda said: Ofurltless ones, become my mothers. I am your son. You will obtain all the desires of your mind.

Markandeya said : Thereupon Shakra (Indra), having expressed his desire to say something to Skanda, the latter said, "What is it? Tell it to me.” Being thus told by Skanda, Vasava thus spoke.

"The lady Abhijit, the younger sister of Rohini, being jealous and desirous of becoming the eldest, has gone to the forest to perform asceticism.

I amn at a loss to find out one to replace that fallen star. O Skanda, be blessed. Consult with Brahma about this matter.

Dhanishtha and other constellations were created by Brahma. Rohini was one of them and with her their number was full."

Having been thus addressed (by Indra), Skanda sent Kritika. She was placed in heavens. That star, presided over by Agni, shone as if with seven heads.

Vinata also said to Skanda, “You are my son entitled to offer me oblations. O son, I desire to live with you always."

Skanda said: "So be it. I bow my head to you. Guide me with a mother's affection. Respected by your daughter-in-law, you will always live with me.

Markandeya said : Thereupon the great mothers thus spoke to Skanda, “We are called by the learned as the mothers of all creatures. But we desire to be your mother; therefore honour and respect us.

Skanda said: Become mothers to me and let me be your son. Tell me what I can do to please you.

The mothers said: in the days of your, the ladies were appointed as the mothers of creatures. O foremost of deities, we desire that they are disposed of that dignity. Let us be installed in their place. Let us be worshipped instead of them by all the worlds. Restore us our those progeny whom we have been deprived of by thein.

Skanda said: You shall not get back those offsprings that have been once given away. But if you like, I can give you (new) progeny.

The mothers said : We desire that while living with you we may be able to eat up the progeny of those mothers and their grandsons by assuming different shapes. Grant us this favour.

Skanda said: I can grant you progeny. But what you ask is very painful. Be blessed. O mothers, I bow my head to you, do give them your protection and care.

The mothers said: O Skanda, we shall protect them as you desire. Be blessed, O lord Skanda, we desire to live with you always.

Skanda said: So long the children of the human race do not attain the youthful state in their sixteenth year, you will afflict them inyour various forms. I shall bestow on you a fearful and inexhaustible spirit; with this you shall live happily and you shall also be worshipped by all.

Markandeya said : Then a mighty fiery-being sprang up from the body of Skanda to devour the progeny of the human beings.

He fell down upon the ground senseless and hungry. At the command of Skanda, that evil spirit assumed a fearful form.

Skandapasmara is the name by which it is known amongst the excellent Brahmanas, Vinata is called the fearful Sukani Graha.

She, who is known as Putana Rakshashi by the learned, is the Graha called Putana. That fearful and terrible Rakshashi of a hideous form is called the Pishachi Shita Putana. That fearful spirit causes abortion in women.

Aditi is also known by the name of Revati; her spirits are called Raivata. That Graha also afflicts children.

O descendant of Kuru, Diti, the mother of the Daityas, is also called Mukhamandika. That fearful spirit is very fond of little children's flesh. Those male and female children, who are said to have been begotten by Skanda, are also evil spirits; and they all destroy the fetus in the womb.

They are known as the husbands of these female spirits. Children are unawares attacked by these female creatures.

O king, Surabhi, who is called the mother of all animals of the bovine species, is ridden by Shakuni who along with her devours children on earth.

O ruler of men, Sarama the mother of gods, also habitually kills all children when they remain in the womb.

She, who is the mother of all trees, dwells in a Karanja tree. She is a giver of boons, she has a placid countenance and she is always favourably disposed towards all creatures.

Those who desire to have children bow down to her who seats on Karanja tree. Those eighteen evil spirits, fond of meat and wine and also other food of the same kind, live for ten days in the lyings in room. Kadru assuming a subtle form enters into the womb of a woman. And she there destroys the fetus. The mother is thus made to give birth to a Naga.

She who is the mother of the Gandharvas takes away the fetus. And thus the woman is seen on the earth to have an abhortive conception.

She who is the mother of the Apsaras removes the fetus from the womb. And then the learned men say that the conception has become stationary.

The daughter of the deity of blood is said to be the nurse of Skanda. She is therefore worshipped under the name of Lohitayani on Kadamba trees.

This revered goddess acts the same part among the females as does Rudra among the males. She is the mother of all children; she is specially worshipped for their welfare. I have thus described to you all the evil spirits that preside over the destiny of children. Until children attain their sixteenth year, these spirits exercise their influence for evil and after that for good.

The male and female spirits that I have described to you are always called by men as the spirits of Skanda.

They are propitiated with burnt offerings, ablutions, unguents, sacrifices and other offerings and particularly by the worship of Skanda.

O king of kings, when they are respected and honoured in due form, they bestow on men whatever is good for them and also valour and long life. Having made due salutation to the great god, I shall now describe to you the nature of those spirits that influence the destinies of men after they have attained their sixteenth year.

The man who sees the celestials while sleeping or while he is awake soon turn mad. The spirits under whose influence this happens, are called the celestial spirits.

When a man sees his deceased ancestors while he is comfortably seated or while he is lying in his bed, he turns mad. The spirit who causes this is called ancestral spirit.

The man who shows disrespect to the Siddhas and who is cursed by them in return soon turns mad. The evil spirit who causes this is called the Siddha spirit.

The spirit by whose influence a man smells sweet fragrance and becomes cognisant of various tastes and thus turns mad is called the Rakshasha spirit.

The spirit by whose influence a man is possessed by the celestial musicians (Gandharvas) is thus made mad is called the Gandharva spirit.

The evil spirit by whose influence men are always persiented by the Pishachas and thus turn mad is called the Pishacha spirit.

When a Yaksha spirit by some means or other enters the body of a human being, he immediately turns mad. Such a spirit is called the Yaksha spirit.

The illness of the man who goes mad, his mind being demoralised with vices, must be cured according to the methods prescribed in the Shastras.

Men also turn mad from perplexity, from fear, as also on seeing hideous sights. Their remedy is in quieting their minds.

There are three classes of evil spirits, some frolicsome, some gluttonous and some sensual.

Until men attain the age of one hundred years these evil spirits continue to persecute them. Afterwards fever becomes the only evil spirit that affects human beings.

Those evil spirits always avoid those who are self-controlled and self-restrained, who are of cleanly habits, who are god-fearing and free from laziness and contamination.

O king, I have thus described to you all the evil spirits that influence the destiny of man. You who are devoted to the great god (Siva) will never be troubled.