Agni Purāṇa

112 - The greatness of Vārāṇasi

Agni said:

1. (Lord) Maheśvara (Siva) said to Gauri (consort of Siva) that Värāṇasi is the sacred place. It confers enjoyment and emancipation on those who reside there and recite (the name of god) Hari (Vishņu).

Rudra (Siva) said:

2. "The sacred place, O Gauri, has never been forsaken (by me) and hence it is called Avimukta¹. The repetition (of god's names), the performance of penance and giving alms at Avimukta indeed (yields) undiminishing benefits.

1. Avimukta is one of the names of Vårånasi.

3-5. After rubbing away dust from the feet with a stone, oneshould stay at Kāśi (Varanasi). Heshould never forsake it. The eight holy spots -Harischandra, Amråtakeśvara, Japyeśvara, Śriparvata, Mahālaya, Bhrugu, Chandeśvara and Kedåra, remain concealed at Avimuktaka (Váránasi). Avimuktaka is the most sacred place among all sacred places.

6. It extends to two yojanas in the east and half a yojana in the opposite direction. The (two) rivers Varaņā and Asi (flow) and Värāṇasi lies between the two.

7. Bathing, muttering (of divine names), oblations (to gods), (one's) death, worship of gods, ancestral rites, almsgiving and stay and whatsoever done here is capable of conferring enjoyment and emancipation.

Summary of chapter 112 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

The second of the garbhādhāna-group saṃskāras, performed in the third month of pregnancy, is detailed. Agni prescribes the preparation of a specific medicinal mixture involving nyagrodha sprouts, dadhi, and ghṛta, administered through the right nostril to invoke a male child. Mantras from the Atharvaveda invoking Prajāpati and Viṣṇu accompany the rite. The chapter notes the proper muhūrta, the role of the husband in the ritual, and the prayer for a son endowed with brahma-tejas.