(P) Shiva and Vrikasura
Vrikasura, a powerful demon, could never be satisfied. He wanted power over everyone, and would do anything to get it.
In order to obtain the blessings of Lord Shiva he went to snowy Kedarnath high in the Himalayas Mountains. He lit a sacrificial fire. Calling on the name of Shiva, he began to cut the flesh from his own body and throw it in the flames.
Unable to attract Lord Shiva’s attention, he finally prepared to chop of his own head. Just then Lord Shiva appeared saying. “Please stop Vrika; I don’t require your head. What is it you want?”
“I want to be able to touch anyone’s head and make it shatter into a hundred pieces,” the demon replied, without hesitation. Lord Shiva shook his head in disbelief. But he had promised to grant whatever the demon wished. Reluctantly he said, “So be it.”
But Vrikasura was not satisfied just receiving this wish. He wanted to immediately test it out. So he reached out to touch Lord Shiva’s head hoping to kill him and then take his beautiful wife, Gauri.
Lord Shiva, fearing for his life, used his magical powers to fly away. But wherever he went in the universe, the powerful demon was close behind. Approaching the gods in heaven, Lord Shiva urgently begged them for protection. Alas, they could do nothing. Their answer was silence.
In great desperation Lord Shiva finally approached the planet of Lord Vishnu, the pole star. To greet Lord Shiva the Lord Vishnu, who knows everything, took the form of a young brahmachari (a student of the spiritual science). He had a radiant smiling face and wore a deerskin with a belt and carrying beads in his hand. Standing before Lord Shiva and completely understanding the whole situation, the brahmachari assured him: “Don’t worry; I will deal with this sinful demon.”
Just then Vrikasura arrived. The smiling brahmachari immediately approached him saying, “My dear Vrikasura, you appear very tired. Your body is very important, so please give it some rest. Tell me you purpose in coming here. Perhaps I can help you in you mission.
Charmed by these sweet words, Vrikasura explained, “I want to crack Lord Shiva’s head with the boon he gave me.” In order to fool Vrikasura, the brahmachari spoke as follows: “O King of the demons, you should know Lord Shiva has become mad after his father-in-law, Daksha, cursed him to become a ghost. Lord Shiva’s blessings are simply the words of a madman and are therefore useless. You can prove this to be true by touching your own head and, finding the benediction to be false, you can immediately kill this liar.”
Bewildered by the convincing words of the boy, Vrikasura touched his own head, which cracked into a hundred pieces as if struck by thunder. The demon died immediately.
Lord Vishnu in the form of a brahmachari informed Lord Shiva, “Anyone who acts offensively against a great soul cannot expect to live long. This demon died as a result of his sins.”
Thus Lord Shiva was saved from death by the grace of Lord Vishnu. Furthermore, it is said that anyone who hears this story with faith and devotion will certainly be protected from the hands of their enemies.