Story of Adi-Gadadhara

Gaya: Story of Adi-Gadadhara:

(Vayu Purana - 109)

• Meditation: I meditate on Lord Adi-Gadadhara abiding in Gaya.

Lord Vishnu

• About the creation of Gada: There was a demon named Gada. His body was stronger than Vajra. Requested by Lord Brahma, the demon offered the bones of his body. Lord Brahma told Vishwakarma to create a Gada (Mace) out of those bones. The Gada was so strong that it could crush even the Vajra. That Gada was kept in heaven.

• Penance of demon Heti: In Swayambhuva Manvantara, there was a demon named Heti who performed severe penance for several thousand divine years. Lord Brahma and others were pleased by his penance. The demon asked the boon that he would become very strong and cannot be killed by devas, daityas and human beings with any kind of weapons. He could not be killed by Sri Krishna or Lord Shiva with weapons like Chakra etc.

• Demon Heti defeating the devas: Getting the boon, the demon defeated the devas and assumed the position of Indra.

• Lord Vishnu killing demon Heti and becoming Gadadhara: When the devas approached Lord Vishnu for protection, the Lord told that the demon cannot be killed by devas or daityas. The devas should therefore give him a maha-astra (great weapon) by which he can kill the demon. The demons gave him the Gada (Mace) kept in heaven. Hari held the Gada and became known as Gadadhara (holder of Gada). By that Gada, Hari killed demon Heti and then returned to his abode.

• Lord Vishnu steadying Gayasura and becoming Adi-Gadadhara: When Gayasura was moving, to make him steady, Hari stood on the Shila with the Gada, and became known as Adi-Gadadhara.

• Adi-Gadadhara giving boons to devas: When Gayasura became steady, Brahma and other devas eulogized Lord Adi-Gadadhara. The told them to ask for a boon. They asked the boon that they will stay on the Shila perenially only with Lord Adi-Gadadhara. Adi-Gadadhara stays in Gaya in manifest and unmanifest forms as mountains, rivers, padas, lingas etc.

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