|
The
Dushana Episode
The advent of Mahakaleswar here has interesting background. Though
this place had acquired eminence as a holy tirtha kshetra, the
worship of Lord Maheswar as Mahakala started with the atrocities
perpetrated by Dushana, a dreadful demon living in the Ratnamala
Hills near Avanti, the old name with which the present Ujjaini was
called then. The asura was of wicked type, who not only killed the
inhabitants for sadistic pleasure, but relished the flesh of the
corpses -- a cannibal first and last. He was appearing unexpectedly
to emptying the dwellings, and disappearing after leaving bones
everywhere. People were mortally afraid of his name, why, many used
to breathe their last, at the mention of his name even -- they
neither enjoyed peace, nor lived with dignity.
|
