58 - Holy Centre Tapovanatirtha etc.

Brahmā said: 

1-2. The holy centres on the southern bank of Gautani well known as Tapovana, Nandini Sangama, Siddheśvara and Sārdūla are very holy. Listen to their details by merely listening to which one is rid of all sins. 

3. Agni (Fire-god), HotỊ was formerly the carrier of Havyas unto Devas. He got as his wife the beautiful daughter of Dakhsa named Svāhā, 

4. She was childless in the beginning. She performed penance for a son. The Fire-god said to his wife Svähā, the uncensured lady who performed elaborate penance and delighted the Fire-god. 

Agni said: 

5-8. Children will be born, O splendid lady; do not perform penance.

Brahmā said: 

On hearing the words of her husband she desisted from penance. Excepting the words of husband nothing else fulfils the cherished desires of women anywhere. 

Some time passed by. Terror from Tāraka increased. Kāruttikeya was as yet unborn, although Maheśvara and Bhavani had been indulging in amorous dalliance in secrct for a long time. Devas became frightened and approached Agni. The heaven dwellers spoke to him thus for realizing the task of Devas. 

Devas said: 

9. O highly fortunate one, go to lord Shambhu worshipped by the three worlds. Inform Shiva that there is danger from Taraka.¹ 

1. A powerful demon who by the performance of severe pcnance had secured a boon from Shiva and had later became a great terror to gods; kilica by Skanda who as a result of a divinc planning was born to Shiva and Parvati. 

Agni said: 

10. One should not go to that place where a couple remain in secrct communion. This is a general rule. What then with regard to the trident bearing lord? 

11. There is no deliverance from hell to that person who overhears the conversation of a passionate couple who remain in an isolated place indulging in frank carefree talk. 

12. He is the master of all the worlds. He is Mahākāla wielding trident. By whom can he be looked at while he is staying in a secret place along with Bhavani.

Devas said: 

13. This is justifiable when a great danger is overshadowing us. What is the rule to be followed and mentioned elsewhere? (i.e. This is an extraordinary situation) when there is great danger from Täraka you are the Taraka (rcdeemer). 

14. The life of good men is meant for others especially (when they are immersed) in the ocean of great danger and terror. 

Or you can go in another form (in disguise) and speak the words befitting (the role). 

15. After intimating to Shambhu the words of Devas come back quickly. Then, Fire-god, we shall offer you worship (on behalf of the two worlds. 

Brahma said: 

16-18. At the instance of Devas the Fire-god assumed the form of a parrot and went to the place where the lord of the worlds was sporting with Uma. Then the Fire-god went ahead timidly in the form of a parrot. The carrier of the Havyas (Fire - god) could not go through the doorway. Then he went to the window sill and remained there with face turned down and trembling. On seeing him Shambhu in that secret place laughingly said to Umā.

Shambhu said: 

19-22. See, O gentle lady, the parrot that is the Fire-god himself who has come here at the instance of Devas. 

Brahmā said: 

Parvati bashfully said to the lord, "O lord, enough". The lord of Devas called the Fire-god moving about in front of him. in the form of a bird and said, "O Agni, you have been recognised through various ways. Do not speak anything. Open your mouth, Take this in and carry it with you." After saying this lord Shambhu discharged a great deal of semen into the mouth of Fire-god. 

With this semen within him Agni could not at all go. 

23-27. Utterly tired, Agni sat down on the bank of Gangă. He then discharged a greater portion of that semen into Kruttikas wherefrom Kāruttika was born. 

The remaining portion of the semen of Shambhu that had been within his body, Agni split into two and deposited into his beloved wife Svähā who was particularly eager to have a child. Formerly, she had been assured by saying "You will have children." Agni remembered this now and deposited the semen of Sambhu. Excellent twins were born of that semen discharged by Agni. They were Suvarna and Suvarnā, unrivalled in the world in handsome features and beauty. It was pleasing to Agni and it perpetually increased the pleasures of the worlds. 

28. Out of love Agni gave Suvarna (in marriage) to the intelligent Dharma. He made Samkalpă the beloved wife of his son Suvarna. Thus Fire-god performed the marriages of his son and daughter. 

29-34. Due to the fault of the mutual intermixture of the semen both the children of Agni (became lax in sexual behaviour). The son Suvarna who could assume many forms, assumed the forms of the excellent Devas and indulged in sexual intercourse with the wives of Indra, Väyu, Kubera, Varuņa and the leading sages. If any lady was fond of any particular person he assumed the form of that person and indulged in amorous dalliance with that lady. In some places the son of Agni who had splendid form assumed the forms of husbands of chaste ladies and sported about with them fully satisfying (Cupid). On account of his action Suvarna became contented. 

Although she was the wife of Dharma, the daughter of Svaha named Suvarņā became an adulteress. If any person had a beautiful wife pleasing to his mind, Suvarnă assumed that form and sported about with those husbands whether human beings, Asuras, Devas or sages. She indulgcd in sexual sports with these and others endowed with beauty, munificence, stability and majesty and having the brilliance of her father (Agni). If any wife of any Deva gained his approbation, she used to assume the form of that lady and sport with him. By means of diverse ways and activities she used to attract his mind and achieve the fulfilment of her love. 

35. On seeing these (amorous) activities of Suvarna and Şuvarnā, the son of Agni as well as the daughter of Agni, Devas and Asuras became angry and they cursed the son and daughter of Agni at that time.

Devas and Asuras said: 

36-37. Since this act involving transgression of moral laws) has been committed, since this sinful decd marked by deceitful bchaviour has been done, O Havyavāha (the carrier of Havyas), your son shall become one of infidels and one going everywhere. 

Similarly, Suvarņā too shall not be steadfast to any single person. She shall not be satisfied with any one person. She will resort to many ignoble embodied beings of different species. This shall be the defect of your daughter.

 Brahma said: 

38. On hearing these words of imprecation Agni approached me with great fright and spoke, “Tell me the mode of expiation for the children". 

39-41. Then I said: "O Agni, go to Gautamī, After eulogizing Sarkara, O large-armed one, intimate to the lord of universe (everything). 

O Agni, such a child as this has been born to you due to the semen of Maheśvara deposited in your body. Hence intimate to the lord these imprecations of Devas. For the protection of his own progeny Shambhu will do something conducive to their welfare, 

42. Eulogize the lord and the goddess, Shiva will be pleased with your devotion. Then you will get the fulfilment of cherished desires in regard to your children. 

43. Then at my instance, Agni went to Ganga, and eulogized Maheśvara by means of laudatory statements equal to the Vedas in importance.

 Agni said: 

44-47. He is the creator of the universe. He has the cosmic form. He is unsullied. He is the primordial maker and the self-born. I bow down to that lord of the universe. 

I bow down to that three-eyed lord who becomes fire and annihilates; who is the creator in the form of water and who protects in the form of the Sun. 

(Obeisance) to the lord who is the cause of satisfaction to Devas in the form of the (sponsor of sacrifice) and to the living beings by making ncat arrangement in the form of Väyu (wind); who protects in the form of Siva; who is conducive to perpetual happiness (in the form of) Vişhnu, and who accords space to the living beings in the form of firmament.

Brahma said: 

48. Then the delighted lord Siva, the unchanging and the endless, asked Agni, worshipped by Devas to choose any boon he liked. 

49. Humbly he said to Siva, “Your semen is stationed in me. Due to that the handsome son Suvarna well known throughout the worlds was born. 

50-51. Similarly, the daughter Suvarņã was also born from it, O lord of the universe. On account of the defect of mutual interchange of semen, O Siva, both the children have become defective due to the transgression of moral laws. Devas have cursed them. O lord, quell it." 

On hcaring these words of Agni Shiva said the following that is conducive to the outcome of auspiciousness.

Shiva said: 

52-56. Due to my semen Suvarna of great expolit was born of you. Complete magnificence and all accomplishments will be bestowed upon this Suvarna by me. O Agni, listen to my words. He will become the sanctifier of the three worlds. He alone is the nectar in the world. He alone is the beloved of Devas. He alone is the enjoyment of worldly pleasures and salvation. He alone is Dakshina (monetary gift) in the sacrifice. He alone is the beautiful feature of everything. He is the preceptor of the preceptors. One should know that the excellent semen from me is the most excellent thing. Especially that which is deposited in you. What worry can there be in regard to that? Without it everything is deficient. Due to it riches are perfect. 

57. Men without Suvarņa are dead though (physically) alive. A rich man though devoid of good qualities is worthy of being honoured, but not so a poor man though endowed with good qualities. 

58. Therefore, there is nothing greater than Suvarna. So also this Suvarná though restless and fickle shall be excellent. 

59-61. Everything deficient, if glanced at by her will become perfect. She is to be attained in the three worlds by means of penance, Japas and Homas. O Agni, her power and excellence is recounted a little. She will stay everywhere. She will wander about after coming there. Suvarņā, Kamala, shall be holy. From now onwards the merit of your children who loiter as they please shall be one like which has neither been nor will ever be 

Brahmā said: 

62. After saying thus Shiva assumed the form of a Linga and remained there manifest with a desire for the welfare of the worlds. 

63-65. After acquiring boons Agni became delighted along with his children, the son and the daughter. Suvarnā, the daughter of Agni, remained joyous along with her husband Dharma. His son also remained jolly along with Sanikalpā. 

In the meantime, O sage, Sardūla, the lord of Dānavas, attacked and defeated Dharma and fraudulently abducted Suvarṇā, the daughter of Agni, the abode of fortune, conjugal felicity and graceful charms. 

66-67. Suvarná well known throughout the world was taken to the nether worlds by him. Agni the carrier of Havyas and Dharma the son-in-law of Agni eulogized again and again Vişhnu, the lord of the worlds, and intimated to him the matter 

on hand. They intimated to the powerful lord the matter on hand. 

68-69. Lord Vişhnu cut off the head of Sardūla with his discus. The divine lady Suvarnā, the most beautiful women in the world, was brought by the lord. She was the daughter of Maheśvara as well as the beloved (daughter) of Agni too. Vişhnu showed her to Maheśvara, O Närada. Maheśvara became pleased and embraced her again and again. 

70-74. The place where the discus that shone brilliantly and cut off Sardūla's head was washed is well known as Sankara Tirtha as well as Vaisnava Tirtha and Siddha Tirtha. 

In the place where Agni and the eternal Dharma attained great delight, in the place, O excellent sage, where tears of delight fell down a river named Ananda and Nandini arose. Its confluence with the Gangă is sacred. Shiva is present there. In the very same confluence, Suvarņā is manifestly present even today. 

75-77. She is also well known as Dākṣhāyani, Sivā, Agneyi, Ambikā, Katyāyani, Isvarī and Jagadadhārā (support of the universe). She is the perpetual bestower of the cherished desire of the devotees. She adorns both banks. The place where Agni performed penance is the holy centre Tapovana. There are these and other holy centres on both sides, O sage! A holy dip and the distribution of charitable gifts in them is auspicious and it bestows all cherished desires. 

78. There are fourteen thousand holy centres on the northern bank and sixteen thousand holy centres on the southern bank. 

79. In different places, the holy centres have special marks of recognition. They have separate names as well. It has been briefly mentioned by me. 

80. Whoever listens to this, reads or remembers this, will be perfect in all desirable respects. 

81. If a man knows this and performs holy dip etc. there, he remains rich always and particularly righteous. 

82-84. The holy centre to the west of Abjaka is known as Särdūla. It is superior to all holy centres such as Vārāṇasī. 

He who takes his holy bath there, salutes Pitrus and Devas and performs libations, becomes rid of all sins. He is honoured in the world of Vişhnu, 

Between Tapovana and Sardūla there are many holy centres. The greatness of each and every one cannot be described by anybody.