Piṇḍāraka
Piṇḍāraka
Piṇḍāraka is a holy kshetra of Bhārata. The Agni Purāṇa, which Agni Deva taught to Vasishṭha Maharshi, names it twice. In the glory of the tīrthas, Piṇḍāraka kshetra stands with Dvārakā and the Gomatī among the tīrthas that grant every siddhi (spiritual attainment). And among the fifty-five names of Śrī Mahāvishṇu, each to be remembered at its own place, it says that at Piṇḍāraka he is to be remembered as Caturbāhu, the four-armed one.
A kshetra that grants every siddhi
Agni Deva tells the glory of the tīrthas, which grant bhukti (enjoyment) and mukti (moksha). Only one whose hands, feet and mind are held in restraint, and who has learning, tapas and good name, gains the full fruit of a tīrtha. The pilgrim who accepts no gifts on the journey, eats measured food, keeps his senses under control and is free of pāpa gains the fruit of all yajñas.
After Pushkara, he names the tīrthas of the west. Kaṇvāśrama, Koṭitīrtha, the Narmadā and Arbuda are excellent tīrthas. The Carmaṇvatī, the Sindhu, Somanātha, Prabhāsa, the meeting of the Sarasvatī and the sea, and Sāgara are excellent tīrthas. Then: Piṇḍāraka kshetra, Dvārakā and the Gomatī, all these are tīrthas that grant every siddhi.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 109
Bhagavān Vishṇu as Caturbāhu
Agni Deva gives fifty-five names of Śrī Mahāvishṇu and the place where each is to be remembered. One who does japa of these names gains the fruit of mantra-japa and the imperishable puṇya of worship at the tīrthas. At Śālagrāma he is remembered as Mahāyogī; on the Govardhana mountain as Hari; at Piṇḍāraka as Caturbāhu, the four-armed; at Śaṅkhoddhāra as Śaṅkhī, the bearer of the conch; and at Kurukshetra as Vāmana.
One who remembers Bhagavān Vishṇu in this way gains bhukti and mukti, and one who does japa of these names gains everything. Śrāddha, dāna (giving), japa and tarpaṇa done at these kshetras are multiplied a crore-fold, and the one who does them becomes one with Brahman after death. One who reads these names, and one who hears them, becomes free of pāpa and attains svarga.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 305
Sources
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 109, 305