श्रीज्ञानसम्बन्धगुरुभ्यो नमः
Śrī Jñānasambandha Gurubhyo Namaḥ
Viṣṇu Takes Daśāvatāra by the Orders of Lord Śiva
Bhṛguśāpavimocanam from Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa
A Śaiva śāstric refutation of the Vaiṣṇava claim that Viṣṇu’s incarnations happen merely by his own independent will.
Bhṛgu’s curse, Viṣṇu’s fear, Śiva’s command, and the limitation of the curse into Daśāvatāra.
Introduction
Nowadays, many people, influenced by Vaisnavas, say that Lord Visnu takes incarnations on Earth out of His own will. However, this is not so-He takes incarnations due to the curse of Sage Bhrgu and by the orders of Śiva. This is beautifully explained in the Śankarasamhita of the Skanda Mahāpurāņa:
This single pramāṇa is enough to break the childish Vaiṣṇava fantasy that Viṣṇu’s avatāras are independent and supreme manifestations above all authority. The text shows Viṣṇu terrified, seeking release from a curse, worshipping Śiva, bowing to Śiva, and finally receiving the arrangement of ten births only by Śiva’s command.
Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāņa, Śankarasamhitā, Śivarahasyakhanda, Upadeśakhanda, Adhyāya-64 quoted by श्रीनीलकण्ठशिवाचार्य in his Kriyāsāra's चतुर्दशोपदेशः
भृगुशापविमोचनम् -
पुनश्चाप्यकारोद्विष्णुरेकदासुरनिग्रहम् । पराजये तु देवानां देवासुरमहाहवे ॥ १६ तदानीं तुमुले युद्धे विष्णुना सूदिता भृशम् ।
Once again, Vişņu undertook the suppression of demons. In the great battle between gods and demons, when the gods were defeated. Then, in that fierce battle, the demons were severely slain by Vişņu.
भृग्वाश्रमं समासाद्य भृगुपत्नीं तपस्विनीम् ॥ १७ ख्यातिं च शरणं प्रापुरसुरा हरितर्जिताः । तदाश्रममपि प्राप विष्णुश्चक्रधरः स्वयम् ॥ १८
Reaching Bhrgu's āśram and his ascetic wife, The demons, threatened by Hari (Vișņu), sought refuge with Khyāti (Bhrgu's wife). Then Vişnu himself, bearing his discus, reached that āśrama.
संहरन्नसुरांस्तत्र भृगुपत्न्या निवारितः । नैवाश्रमः प्रवेष्टव्यस्त्वयाऽसन्निहिते मुनौ ॥ १९ न हन्तव्या न हन्तव्या दितिजा मदुपासकाः । मया दत्ताभयाः सर्वे मा मा हिंसीर्जनार्दन ॥ २०
As he was destroying the demons there, he was stopped by Bhrgu's wife: "You should not enter the āśrama in the sage's absence. Do not kill, do not kill the sons of Diti who are my devotees. I have given them all protection. Do not harm them, O Janārdana.
दृष्ट्वैनां संभ्रमाविष्टो जगतामिति हि क्रुधा । चक्रेण संहरन् दैत्यांश्चिच्छेद च शिरस्तदा ॥ २१ तेषामभयदात्र्याश्च भृगुपत्न्या जनार्दनः ।
Seeing her, confused and enraged, thinking of the worlds, He cut off her head with his discus while slaying the demons. Janārdana (Vişnu) did this to Bhrgu's wife, who had given protection to the demons.
Here the story itself crushes the exaggerated Vaiṣṇava glorification. The so-called independent lord is shown committing an act that leads to a curse. This is not the picture of an untouched supreme controller above all consequence.
Bhr̥gu Recognizes Mādhava and Curses Viṣṇu
निर्गते च ततस्तस्मादाश्रमान्मधुसूदने ॥ २२ ददर्श भृगुरभ्येत्य दैत्यैः सह निजां प्रियाम् । निकृत्तशिरसं ज्ञानदृष्ट्या विज्ञाय माधवम् ॥ २३
When Madhusūdana had left that āśrama, Bhrgu, upon returning, saw his beloved wife along with the demons, With her head cut off. Through his divine vision, he recognized Mādhava (Vişņu) as the culprit.
चुक्रोध हरयेऽत्यर्थं हन्त्रे दैत्यैः स्त्रिया अपि । अशपद्विष्णुमवनौ जन्मान्यस्यास्तु कोटिशः ॥ २४
He became extremely angry at Hari (Vișņu) for killing his wife along with the demons. He cursed Vişnu to take crores of births on earth.
तत्र तत्र स्त्रिया चापि वियोगोऽस्त्वतिदुःखदः । जगत्यस्यैव ये भक्ताः सन्तु पाषण्डिनस्तु ते ॥ २५
After cursing thus, he revived his wife by joining her head using the knowledge Of the life-restoring science, obtained from the Supreme Lord (Śiva).
The curse is not some minor event. It is the direct cause that drives Viṣṇu into fear and makes him approach Śiva. If Vaiṣṇavas still boast that these births are merely independent līlā, they are simply hiding the śāstric narrative.
Viṣṇu Becomes Frightened and Goes to Kāñcī
ततो विष्णुः समाकर्ण्य भीतभीतोऽसुरार्दनः । तच्छापविन्निवृत्त्यर्थं काञ्चीमभ्येत्य कामदाम् ॥ २७
Then Vişnu, the tormentor of demons, hearing this, became very frightened. To be released from that curse, he went to Kāñcī, the fulfiller of desires.
संपूज्य देवदेवेशं दृष्ट्वा देवं वृषोपरि । प्रणम्य प्रार्थयच्छापमोक्ष भीतेन चेतसा ॥ २८
Worshipping the Lord of lords, seeing the god on his bull, He bowed and prayed for release from the curse with a fearful heart.
This is the open collapse of Vaiṣṇava self-made supremacy claims. Viṣṇu is not described as casually ignoring the curse. He is described as frightened, worshipping the Lord of lords, seeing the bull-mounted Śiva, bowing, and praying for release with a fearful heart.
Śiva’s Command Decides Viṣṇu’s Births
मद्भक्तैर्यत्कृतं विष्णो तैः कर्तव्यं तदन्यथा । अहं न पारयाम्येव प्रतिज्ञैषा मया कृता ॥ २९
O Vişnu, what is done by my devotees cannot be undone (viz. it must be undone by them alone). I cannot undo it. This is my vow.
इति केशवमाभाष्य हरिकेशः स्मयन्निव । भृगुमाह महादेवः स्मृतिमात्रागतं मुनिम् ॥ ३०
Saying this to Keśava (Vişņu), Harikeśa (Śiva) smiled and The great god spoke to Bhrgu, the sage who had come there by (his) mere thought
विमोचय हरिं शापाद्भगो बहुजनिप्रदात् । मदर्चनारतं विद्धि भक्तं च मुनिसत्तम ॥ ३१
O Bhrgu, release Hari from the curse of many births. Know him to be devoted to my worship, O best of sages.
दशास्तु जन्म तद्विष्णोरेकस्मिंस्तत्र जन्मनि । स्त्रिया वियुक्तोऽतिचिरं दुःखी भवतु नान्यतः ॥ ३२
Let Vişnu have ten births, and in one of those births, May he be separated from his wife for a long time and be sorrowful, but not in others.
मदाज्ञया कुरुष्वैवं मद्भक्तानां त्वमग्रणीः ।
Do this by my command, for you are foremost among my devotees.
This is the most important blow against the Vaiṣṇava claim. The reduction of the curse into ten births happens by Śiva’s command. Therefore Daśāvatāra is not independent Vaiṣṇava sovereignty. It is a Śiva-ordered limitation of Bhṛgu’s curse.
Bhr̥gu Obeys Parameśvara and Viṣṇu Bows to Umākānta
तथास्त्त्विति मुनिः प्राह प्रणम्य परमेश्वरम् ॥ ३३
तदा पुनरुमाकान्तं रमाकान्तः प्रणम्य तम् ।
So be it," said the sage, bowing to the Supreme Lord. Then again, the lord of Ramā (Vişnu) bowed to the lord of Uma (Śiva).
प्रार्थयामास भगवन् दशस्वपि च जन्मसु ॥ ३४
ममाज्ञाननिवृत्यर्थं निग्रहानुग्रहौ कुरु ।
त्वमेव देवदेवेश दयालो भक्तवत्सल ॥ ३५
And prayed, "O Lord, in all ten births, For the removal of my ignorance, please bestow both punishment and grace. You alone, O Lord of lords, are compassionate and devoted to your devotees.
तदुपश्रुत्य भगवानस्त्वित्यन्तर्धिमाययौ । नारायणोऽपि भगवान् स्वमेवाश्रममाश्रयत् ॥ ३६
Hearing this, the Lord said "So be it" and disappeared. And Lord Nārāyaņa also returned to his own āśrama.
The śāstra leaves no room for Vaiṣṇava arrogance here. Ramākānta bows to Umākānta. Viṣṇu prays to Śiva for punishment and grace in all ten births. Viṣṇu himself says, “You alone, O Lord of lords.” The Vaiṣṇava attempt to invert this relationship is nothing but sectarian distortion.
Key Points
- Viṣṇu’s incarnations are connected to Bhṛgu’s curse.
- Viṣṇu becomes frightened and approaches Kāñcī for release.
- Viṣṇu worships Śiva, the Lord of lords, seated on the bull.
- Śiva commands Bhṛgu to reduce the curse into ten births.
- Viṣṇu bows to Umākānta and asks for nigraha and anugraha in all ten births.
- The Vaiṣṇava claim of fully independent Daśāvatāra collapses before this Śaiva pramāṇa.
Conclusion
Thus, Lord Vişnu takes Daśāvatāra by the orders of Lord Śiva!
The text does not show Viṣṇu as an untouched supreme ruler who takes births by his own independent will. It shows Viṣṇu as cursed, frightened, praying to Śiva, and receiving the limitation of the curse through Śiva’s command. This is not Vaiṣṇava supremacy. This is Śiva’s supremacy standing openly in the śāstra.
Therefore, the childish Vaiṣṇava propaganda that Daśāvatāra is proof of Viṣṇu’s independent supremacy is shattered. The actual śāstric account says that Viṣṇu’s ten births are fixed under Śiva’s order, and Viṣṇu himself bows to Umākānta, the true Devadeveśa.
Thus, Lord Vişnu takes Daśāvatāra by the orders of Lord Śiva!
I didn't know this. Thanks for enlightening us with this truth. 🙏
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