Meaning and elaboration
Meaning: Salutations To The one who knocked out the teeth of the god Pushan.
Elaboration
Pūṣadantaghne is a name that stems from a significant myth in Shaiva tradition, particularly the Puranas, which illustrates Lord Shiva's fierce power and cosmic justice. It is a compound of Pūṣan, danta (dant in compounds), and ghna.
The Sacrifice of Daksha The story originates from the Daksha Yajna (sacrifice) where Daksha Prajapati, Shiva's father-in-law, insulted Shiva by not inviting him or offering him a share of the sacrificial oblations. Enraged by this slight, and particularly by the self-immolation of his consort Sati (Daksha's daughter), Shiva created the formidable Virabhadra, a terrifying emanation, to destroy Daksha's sacrifice.
The Role of Pūṣan During the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, the various gods who had participated or stood by passively received their share of punishment. Pūṣan (also spelled Pushan) is a Vedic solar deity, associated with journeys, prosperity, nourishment, finding lost things, and guarding flocks. In some versions of the myth, Pūṣan either laughed at Shiva's humiliation or ate the sacrificial oblations with his teeth, an act considered particularly sacrilegious as sacrificial food is usually swallowed without chewing by gods. As a consequence, Virabhadra violently knocked out Pūṣan's teeth, leaving him toothless. From that day on, Pūṣan was destined to eat soft, ground food.
Symbolism and Cosmic Justice This act is symbolic on multiple levels: 1. Punishment for Arrogance: It underscores the consequences of disrespecting the Divine, particularly Shiva, who represents the embodiment of cosmic order and austerity. 2. Destruction of Ego: The loss of teeth can symbolize the stripping away of Pūṣan's pride and his inability to "consume" or partake in the arrogance of the sacrifice without consequence. It signifies the humbling of even powerful deities when they transgress cosmic dharma. 3. Impartial Justice: Shiva, in his fierce form as Bhairava (or through Virabhadra, an aspect of his wrath), displays impartial justice, ensuring that no one, not even other gods, is exempt from the laws of karma and cosmic balance.
Thus, Salutations To The one who knocked out the teeth of the god Pūṣan acknowledges Bhairava's ultimate authority, his role as a dispenser of justice, and his terrifying might that ensures cosmic order is maintained through severe and decisive action.
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