61 - Holy Centres Yamatirtha and others

Brahma said: 

1. The holy centre Yamatirtha is well known as the increaser of pleasure to the Manes. It subdues sins entirely. Listen to what happened there. 

2. Here is the story. It is an ancient legend. There was a divine bitch, O sage, famous by the name Saramā. 

3. She had two extremely excellent dogs as sons. They always followed people. They had four eyes. They had only the air for their food and they were the favourites of Yama. 

4. She used to keep watch over the cows of Devas as well as the animals set apart for Yajñas. The Räkşhasas, Daityas and Dänavas followed her while she was watching. 

5-6. The highly intelligent Rākşhasas tempted that bitch, the mother of the dogs, who was guarding (the cows), by means of agreeable words and gifts. The splendid cows kept as the sacrificial animals were taken away by the sinful Räkshasas. Then the bitch gradually came to Devas and said.

Saramā said: 

7-11. The Räkşhasas bound ine with nooses and hit me with blows. The cows and the animals kept apart for the completion of Yajñas, O Devas, were taken away by them. 

Brahmā said: 

Inmediately after hearing her words, Bruhaspati said to Devas.

Bruhaspati said: 

This (bitch) has deformed features. I see her sin. Those cows have been taken away only with her connivance and not otherwise. This sinful bitch appears like a virtuous one by her bodily movements. 

Brahmā said: 

At the words of his preceptor, Indra hit the bitch with his foot. On account of that kick milk flowed out of her mouth.

Indra said: 

O bitch, milk has been drunk by you. It has been given to you by Rakshasas. Therefore, our cows have been taken away by them.

Saramā said: 

12-13. It is not my fault, O lord. Nor is it the fault of anyone. O Iord of Devas, there is neither guilt nor negligence on my part. It is on your arrival that the cows were taken away by them. Are you then to be blamed, O lord? Your enemics are very powerful. Brahmā said: 

14-17. Then the preceptor of Devas meditated and understood her misconduct. (He said) "O Indra, it is true that she is to be blamed. She has sided with our enemies". 

Then Indra cursed her: “O sinful woman, become a bitch in the mortal world; you have become a sinner but you committed this sin out of ignorance." 

Then on account of the curse of Indra she was born in the mortal world due to her sin. As cursed by Indra she became very terrible. 

The lord of Devas attempted to bring back those cows which were taken away by the Rākşhasas. He intimated this to Vişhnu. 

18-21. Vişhnu got ready to kill Daityas, Danujas and Rákşhasas who had taken away the cows. He took up his great bow 

Såranga which is famous in the thrce worlds and which is the destroyer of Daityas. 

Lord Vişhnu who had conquered his enemies and who is worshipped by Deras and who is the lord of the universe stood in the Dandaka forest with the bow Säranga in his hand. Vişhnu killed the powerful Daityas, Danujas and Rākşhasas who were there and by whom the cows had been taken away. There the lord is well krown as Sarangapāņi. 

22. Then Vişhnu fought with the sons of Diti and the Rák- şhasas. Frightened of Vişhnu they went to the southern quarter, O great sage. 

23-26. Then Vişhņu the great lord followed them. He over- took them by Garuda, his vehicle. With the arrows as swift as mind discharged from the Saranga, Vişhnu killed them on the northern bank of Ganga. The enemies of Devas were annihilated by the powerful Vişhņu. By the arrows of great velocity, having good sound and well-inspired by means of magical and mystical words, discharged from the Säranga those enemies of Devas were annihilated. The place where the cows were recover ed is called Bāņatīrtha. It is well known in the worlds as Vaisnava and Gotirtha. 

27. In the southern bank of Ganga the cows were set apart as the sacrificial animals. These cows had fled and the Devas herded them together on Gangā. 

28. In its middie they caused an island to be made as the place of rest for the cows. Through those cows the Yajña of Devas was celebrated on Ganga. 

29. The island of cows in the middle of Ganga is called Yajñatirtha. That spot of sacrifice of Devas is the splendid bestower of all cherished desires. 

30. The (Divine power) of Ganga assumes an embodied form, O sage of great splendour. It is a raft that takes one across the ocean of worldly existence which is worthless but boundless. 

31. She is the Yogamaya, the goddess of the universe, the bestower of freedom from fear on devotees. Beyond that, on the southern bank of Ganga is the holy centre of Goraksha. 

32-33. The two dogs, the sons of Sarama and the favourites of Yama, with four eyes each described to Yama the details of their mother's guilt and the (subscquent) curse. 

After intimating this duly they asked Yama as to what they should do to bring about happiness and the removal of the curse. 

34-36. The son of Sun (Yama) went to his father accompanied by them and related to him (everything). On hearing it the Sun said to his son: "Dear son, O excellent Deva, take your bath duly in the Gautami Gangā, the sole sanctifier of the three worlds in the Dandaka forest. Take your bath with full faith, due concentration and mental purity. With great devotional feelings eulogize Brahma, Vişhnu, me and Isha in due order. Your servants will attain satisfaction." 

37-38. On hearing the words of his father, Yama was delighted in his mind. For plcasing him, Yama delighted in his mind, went to Gautamī for propitiating the two gods. With mental purity and concentration, he propitiated the excellent Devas in Gautami Ganga, the dispeller of sins. 

39-40. Accompanied by the dogs the glorious lord of the southern quarters propitiated Sun-god and Brahmä on the southern bank. By himself the valorous Dharma propitiated Isana and Vişhnu on the northern bank. He prayed to them for many boons which would do good to the worlds. They granted the excellent boon removing the curse of Saramā.

Yama said: 

41. O Brahma, Visņu and Maheśvara, those who take their holy dip in these holy centres shall obtain their splendid desires for their own good as well as for others' good. 

42. Those who take their holy bath in the Banatirtha and remember Sārangapāņi Vişhnu will never experience the miseries of proverty for ages. 

43-45. If anyone with self-control and holy observances takes his holy bath in the Gotirtha or Brahmatirtha, bows down to Brahma and circumambulates the island, it is as fruitful as the circumambulation of the Earth consisting of seven continents and holding rich resources within its bowels. If he gives a little sun to a brahmin and if he performs Homa with anything in the holy fire after reaching Devayajana, he shall attain plenty of benefit of horse sacrifice and other Yajñas. 

46. If a man recites but once Gayatrī, the mother of Vedas, it is as much fruitful as though all the Vedas have been read by him. The person who has no desire (while performing all these holy rites) becomes worthy of liberation. 

47. By taking holy bath in the southern bank and by worshipping goddess Sakti devoutly and duly one shall attain all cherished desires. 

48. The Sakti of Brahmă, Vişhnu and Mahesa is the mother in the form of the three Vedas. (One who worship her) attains all cherished desires. He shall be endowed with sons and riches. 

49. If a man with self-control takes bath in the southern bank and sees Sun-god it is as fruitful as performing Yajñas with various monetary gifts. 

50. He who takes his holy bath in the northern bank of Gangā, bows down and sees Vişhnu, attains the great region of Visnu. 

51-52. A man of self-control shall take bath in the Yamatirtha and see the honoured Yameśvara. He shall then make the merit of Pitrus everlasting, yielding benefits and conducive to the increase of their fame. By means of holy dip, charitable gift, Japas and eulogy even thc manes of evil actions shall attain liberation.

Brahma said: 

53-58. There are eight thousand and three holy centres such as these, O Nārada. A performance of holy bath and charitable gift there yields everlasting merit. 

The remembrance of these (holy centres) is meritorious and conducive to the destruction of sins of many births. By listening to their glory one's liberation shall be achieved along with that of the Pitrus, and a reading of their narrative shall liberate one along with all the members of one's family. Their awful sins too will be destroyed at my behest. 

The devotee shall perform holy bath and other rites there. He shall offer as charitable gift something with the soul under control. Then he shall perform the rites offering balls of rice to the ancestors. He shall bow down to these Devas. He shall obtain wealth, grains, fame, valour, longevity, health, riches, sons, grandsons, and a beloved wife, He shall obtain other desired objects also. He shall never be separated from his relatives. He shall be delighted in his mind. He will be honoured by his kinsmen. He shall redeem even the Pitrus staying in hells. He will sanctify his family members. Accompanied by his beloved ones he shall remember Vişhnu and Shiva at the time of death. Then he shall attain the blessed state of liberation as stated by those lords.