Vamana Purana — Andhaka's Defeat & Redemption, Shloka 47

Andhaka’s Defeat, the Bhairava Manifestation, and His Redemption as Bhṛṅgī Gaṇapati

Devanagari script

इत्येवमुक्ता वरदेन चर्चिका भूतानुजाता हरिचर्मवासिनी महीं समन्ताद् विचचार सुन्दरी स्थानं गता हैङ्गुलताद्रिमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

ityevamuktā varadena carcikā bhūtānujātā haricarmavāsinī mahīṃ samantād vicacāra sundarī sthānaṃ gatā haiṅgulatādrimuttamam

Translation

ବରଦ ଏପରି କହିବା ପରେ, ଭୂତମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଜନ୍ମିତ ଏବଂ ହରିଙ୍କ ଚର୍ମରେ ବାସ କରୁଥିବା ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚିକା—ସେ ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ—ପୃଥିବୀକୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଦିଗରେ ଭ୍ରମଣ କଲା; ପରେ ସେ ନିଜ ନିବାସ, ଉତ୍ତମ ହୈଙ୍ଗୁଲତା ପର୍ବତ, କୁ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା।

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt; narrative voice reports the result of being addressed by a ‘varada’ (boon-giver).

Primary Deities

• Carccikā Devī

Key Themes

• Sacred geography (mountain as deity-abode)
• Foundation/installation motif (sthāna-prāpti)
• Devi’s roaming and localization
• Bhūta-associated goddess traditions

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the geographical significance of Haiṅgulatā-adri in this passage?

The verse performs a classic ‘localization’ move: a roaming divine power becomes anchored to a named mountain, thereby authorizing it as a sacred destination. In Vāmana Purāṇa’s geography-forward style, such naming is a key mechanism for mapping sanctity onto the landscape.

Who is the ‘varada’ (boon-giver) mentioned here?

The excerpt does not identify the varada. In adjacent narrative contexts, ‘varada’ can refer to a major deity (often Śiva or another grantor of boons) or a powerful sage. Identification requires the surrounding verses of Adhyāya 44.

How should ‘hari-carma-vāsinī’ be understood?

Literally ‘dwelling in Hari’s skin/hide.’ In Purāṇic diction, hari can mean ‘lion’ (suggesting a lion-skin association typical of fierce forms and Śaiva/Bhūta milieus) or ‘Hari’ as a divine epithet. The phrase marks the goddess as formidable and liminal, aligned with protective, battle, and spirit-attendant symbolism.