LORD Shiva, while residing on Mount Kailash, decided to do penance as he felt somehow uncomfortable at seeing the misery and corruption on earth. He thought that by doing penance, he may be able to focus everybody’s attention on the corruption rampant everywhere.
As we all know, Lord Shiva is famous for possessing the third eye which he keeps closed generally, unless the occasion demands that he use it which he does only when some evil befalls. He had become so angry at the wrongdoings continuing on the earth that he opened his third eye and let out a stream of raging fire on Earth.
Goddess Saraswati was passing by and noticed what was happening. Fearing that the world would get destroyed this way, she transformed herself into a river and absorbed the raging flames of fire. Then as a flowing river, she got merged into the ocean and it was here that a fire-breathing monster called Badavagni lived. As a warning to mankind to desist from evil deeds, Saraswati announced, “So long as human beings remain true and faithful to the righteous path, no harm shall come. But if man keeps on indulging in wrongdoings, then this monster Badavagni will be forced to destroy the world.”
