Ghosha (King)

Ghosha was a mahārāja (great king) of the solar dynasty, the Sūryavaṃśa. The sacred lake Ghoshārkakuṇḍa in Ayodhyā is named after him. He was the sole emperor of the whole earth, and his fame filled the three worlds. Yet his hands were full of worms and festering wounds because of pāpa (sin) from past births. While hunting, he found a holy lake in the forest. He bathed there and was healed at once, and he received a divine body. He then made and spoke a stotra (hymn of praise) to Bhagavān Sūrya. Bhagavān Sūrya appeared, offered him a vara (a boon), and at Ghosha’s request set up a lasting mūrti (sacred image) called Ghoshārka at that spot.

Who he was

Ghosha was a king of the Sūryavaṃśa, the family of Bhagavān Sūrya, the Sun. The Ayodhyā Māhātmya calls him the sole emperor of the entire earth girdled by the ocean. His fame shone so brightly that it lit the spheres of all three worlds. In his own valour he appeared like another Sun. This is the highest comparison for a king of the solar dynasty, for it ties him to the divine line of the Sun himself. He had beaten great hordes of enemies with his mighty arms.

The festering wounds

Despite his imperial glory, Ghosha carried a hidden suffering. His lotus-like hands were full of worms and gave off foul-smelling, festering wounds. The Māhātmya says this was due to the pāpa (sins) of his earlier births. The king bore it calmly. He was free of all pride, though he was the supreme king.

Finding the sacred lake

One day Ghosha left the rule of the kingdom to his ministers and went into the forest to hunt. He went through the thick forest and killed deer, boars and lions. At last his body was tired and thin, and he was faint with thirst. In front of him he saw a beautiful lake. Its waters were full of ṛshis, who were saying their Sandhyā prayers and taking their holy bath.

Ghosha followed them. He did the ācamana (sipping of water) rite properly and took his holy bath in the lake. At that moment everything changed. The worms and the festering wounds vanished at once. He took on a divine body, bright and pure. His mind was full of joy. He asked the ṛshis what place this was, and they told him it was a tīrtha (holy place).

The stotra to Sūrya

Full of wonder and thanks, Ghosha made and spoke a stotra to Bhagavān Sūrya. Bhagavān Sūrya was the founder of his own dynasty. The stotra begins:

“O Bhagavān Sūrya, chief of the devas, I bow to you, to you in the form of consciousness. I bow to Savitṛ, to Sūrya who gives delight to the universe. I bow to you, the abode of radiance. I bow to you, who are one with the three Vedas. I bow to you, to Vivasvān, to you who know Yoga, to you in the form of Sat. I bow to the greatest one, to the great one, to the dispeller of the darkness of the three worlds, to the one beyond thought…”

Ghosha praised Bhagavān Sūrya as fond of Yoga. He called him the embodiment of Oṃkāra, of Vashaṭkāra, of perfect knowledge and of yajña (fire ritual). He called him the destroyer of disease, the one who gives delight to lotuses, and the one who always brightens the worlds.

Bhagavān Sūrya appears and gives the vara

Bhagavān Sūrya was greatly pleased by the stotra and appeared in person before the king. He said:

“O great king, choose a boon. I am pleased with you. I shall grant you the boon that is wished for in your mind.”

Ghosha asked for one pure vara. He asked that a mūrti of Bhagavān Sūrya, named after Ghosha himself, be set up for ever at this spot. Bhagavān Sūrya agreed. He said that he would be pleased with all who read this prayer and would grant their wishes. He said the tīrtha would become famous everywhere in the king’s name.

Ghosha set up a mūrti of Bhagavān Sūrya that had come out of the solar disc itself, and he did pūjā (worship) to it with great devotion. From then on the place was called Ghoshārkakuṇḍa. The name joins Ghosha, the king’s name, and Arka, a name of Sūrya.

The merits of the tīrtha

Ghoshārkakuṇḍa is especially good for people suffering from skin diseases, festering sores, wounds, leprosy, poverty and misery. The yearly festival is held on the sixth day of the bright half of Bhādrapada or Māgha. A holy bath on Sundays is held to be especially good, most of all when a Sunday falls on the seventh day of the lunar fortnight. The bath is also recommended in the month of Pausha. Those who bathe at Ghoshārkakuṇḍa live in the world of the Sun.

Sources

• Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapter 7