Tale of Goddess Kshemankari

 The tale of Goddess Kṣemaṅkarī 

कुंकुमारक्तसर्वाङ्गि कुन्देन्दुधवलानने । सर्वमङ्गलदे देवि क्षेमङ्करि नमोस्तुते ॥

Introduction:—

Kṣemaṅkarī Devī (क्षेमङ्करी देवी), also known as Vṛddhāgaurī (वृद्धागौरी), is a manifestation of Goddess Pārvatī, in which she becomes an old woman. Padma Purāṇa (Sṛṣṭi khaṇḍa : 56) and Agni Purāṇa ( Chapter 50) depict her different aspects. 

The Aparājitapṛcchā mentions her as the third among the Navadurgās. 

धरं त्रिशूलं पद्मञ्चपानपात्रं करेषु च । 

क्षेमङ्करीति तन्नाम क्षेमारोग्यप्रदायिनी ॥ 

Meaning:— Goddess Kṣemaṅkarī is holding head, Triśūla, Lotus and wine-pot . She bestows welfare and cures diseases. 

Here is the appearance story of Devī Kṣemaṅkarī from Devī Purāṇa (देवीपुराण) :— 

—: Devī Purāṇa: Chapter 39 (Ekonacatvāriṃśo’dhyāyaḥ) :— 

Once upon a time, there was a demon named Balāsura (बलासुर) or Gayāsura (गयासुर). He was torturing on the animals. So, Lord Viṣṇu killed him. As a result, Balāsura's son Subalāsura (सुबलासुर) became vengeful. He gathered numerous Asuras. Jayāsura became his driver, Sumāyāsura became his Pādarakṣaka and Rukmāsura was selected as commander. They had crores of soldiers. Those soldiers were carrying numerous weapons like — Daṇḍa, Bow, Arrows, Disc, Śataghnī, Paṭṭīśa, Śatacakra, Sahasrāghna, Śūla etc. They attacked Svargaloka. Seeing them, the Devatās went to defend the Svarga. But they couldn't win in that battle. The Devatās called Lord Viṣṇu to help them. Seeing the numerous Asura-sena, Bhagavān Viṣṇu said to them that only Ādyāśakti could save them. 

He said, 

"या सा आद्यापराशक्तिः शङ्करी मन्त्रसम्भवा। 

पदवर्णविभागेन सा ते क्षेमाय वासव ! ॥

भविष्यति न सन्देहो महातत्त्वा महाम्बरा। 

शङ्करं तोषयित्वा तु सा मया पदमालिनी ॥" 

[[ Reference:— Devī Purāṇa : Chapter 39: 122-123]]

So, they started to call Śiva, the husband of Ādyāśakti. Lord Śiva appeared in front of them and asked Śrīviṣṇu for boon. After praising Lord Śaṅkara, Śrī Nārāyaṇa asked to call Śiva's wife Ādyāśakti to help them. So, Lord Śiva called up Goddess Pārvatī with her Aṣṭakavidyās (8 Vidyā Goddesses). At a glance, she appeared in front of them and asked Śiva,

"O Lord! O Devadeveśa! O Husband! What should I do now?" 

Lord Śiva replied, "Please destroy Subalāsura my dear!" 

Therefore, she changed her form into an old lady . 

Iconography:— 

शिवाजालेन सन्नद्धा निर्मांसा कोटरेक्षणा। प्रविवेशैव देव्योष्ठविकाशे नागवन्धन॥ 

अर्द्धालङ्कृतकणौ च वामोरुकरसंस्थिता। पीठसंस्थेन याम्येन विषादे परमे स्थिता॥विकृतास्या सङ्कम्पन्ती शतायुतसमासमा॥

At that moment, her body appeared covered with a network of veins and devoid of flesh. Her three eyes were sunken into their sockets, lips discolored, and a serpent was coiled around her head. Her ears were half-adorned with ornaments. Her left hand rested on her left thigh, and her right hand was placed behind her back. Her mouth was wide open, and all her limbs were trembling. To look at her, one would think she was in deep sorrow and appeared to be a hundred thousand years old.

The battle between Kṣemaṅkarī and Asuras :— 

Thereafter, Goddess Kṣemaṅkarī or Vṛddhāgaurī went to the Droṇa mountain of Krauñca peninsula with her 8 manifestations ( Aṣṭavidyās). Those 8 Vidyā Goddesses were riding on various mounts like, ox, lion, elephant, peacock, Garuḍa, bear etc. They fulfill all desires by worshipping them through the left path ( Vāmamārga) .

"लोकान्तरेण मार्गेण वामाचारेण सिद्धिदा" 

Those Goddesses specially reside in their each and own sacred seats (Śaktipīṭhas) — Himavat (हिमवत्) or Nandā, Jālandhara (जालन्धर), Vaidiśa (वैदिश), Mahodara (महोदर), Vārendra (वारेन्द्र), Rāḍha (राढ़), Kośala (कोशल), Bhoṭṭadeśa (भोट्टदेश) or Bhutan, Kāmākhya (कामाख्य), Malaya (मलय), Kolhāpura (कोल्हापुर), Kāñcīpura (काञ्चीपुर), Hastināpura (हस्तिनापुर), Ujjayinī (उज्जयिनी) etc. 

At that time, Subalāsura, along with his entire army, was passing along that path to Indra's palace to kill Devarāja. They saw a group of women standing in the middle of that path. By observing Kṣemaṅkarī, Śarabhāsura (Subala's commander-general) said, "O old woman! Leave the path, or else you will be trampled to death by chariots and elephants. Hearing this, Ādyāśakti in the form of an old woman said by tricks, "O handsome demon! I want to have copulation with you. Please grant my desire. Don't reject me for being old. It will not be auspicious." 

Śarabhāsura tried to throw her by catching her hand. But suddenly he fell lifeless on the ground. Seeing this, Śaṅkhāsura attacked Pārvatī. He was also killed by her. Thereafter, Subalāsura became angry and tried to beat her. By touching her hand, Subala also turned into dead. She destroyed the entire force at a glance. 

After that, Kṣemaṅkarī collected blood from the asuras in her Kapāla-pātra and started to drink. The Devatās came to her and praised for saving them. By zapping Asuras, she did Kṣema or welfare to Devarāja Indra. Hence, Lord Śiva named Pārvatī as Kṣemaṅkarī. 

"क्षेमं देवेषु सा देवी कृत्वा दैत्यपतेः क्षयम्। 

क्षेमङ्करी शिवोनोक्ता पूज्या लोके भविष्यति॥" 

Pūjā Description given by Lord Śiva :— 

Therefore, Paramaśiva declared the details of the worship of Goddess Kṣemaṅkarī. She can be established inside a temple in a town or city. She can also be worshipped through image, book, water, fire and sword. 

"विशेषवलिपूजादिवेत्ता देवीनिवेशकः। 

धातुत्तमेन वर्णेन मद्यमांससुरादिभिः ॥" 

She must be worshipped by giving sacrifice or offering wine, meat,  liquor in the golden pots. 

The proper installation and worship of the Goddess can only be performed by a Kaula sādhaka who follows the Kaula tradition. A strict celibate (naiṣṭhika brahmacārī), Smārta, or Vedic adherent does not hold this right. She must be worshipped through Vidyāpīṭha mantras (the doctrine of Yāmala, Bhairava etc Āgamas). 

By recalling the goddess, anyone can get her Grace. 

Jaya Mā Himavānatanyā Kṣemaṅkarī.