98 - Bhānu-Tirtha and other Holy Centres

Brahma said: 

1. The holy centres well known as Bhānutirtha, Tvāşțra, Māheśhvara, Aindra, Yamya and Agneya are destroyers of all sins. 

2. There was a king of very pleasing appearance well known as Abhiştuta. He began to worship Devas by performing a holy horse-sacrifice. 

3-6. There were sixteen Rutviks there the leaders whereof were Vasishtha and Atri. A doubt arose among them. 

“When a Kshatriya is the sponsor of a sacrifice, how shall the altar of sacrifice be made ready? When a brahmin gets himself initiated it is the king who has to arrange for the sacrificial ground. But when a king gets himself initiated who is the person to make an altar. If a Brahmin were to do that, it would be sinful. It could cause all unhappiness. Therefore, the Kshatriya king should not employ Brahmins for that job." 

When the brahmins were discussing this among themselves the highly intelligent Vasişhtha, the most excellent among the knowers of Dharma, spoke: 

Vasishtha said: 

7-9. When the king gets himself initiated the sun should be requested for the job. 

The sun should be requested by the king thus-"O lord Savitri, prepare on my behalf the sacrificial ground befitting the deities. You are the divine Kshatriya, O (supreme) lord of living beings. Obeisance be to you." 

Savitri; thus requested by the king will certainly grant the splendid sacrificial ground for Devas. Hence, o king, pray to Sun-god.

Brahmā said: 

10. Saying "So be it" Abhistuta faithfully prayed to Sun-god, lord of Devas, Ravi who is identical with Hari, Siva and Brahma.

The king said: 

11-14. O Savitri, obeisance be to you. Grant us the sacrificial ground of Devas. 

Brahma said: 

Since the sun is a divine Kshatriya the ground was given to the lord of the Earth. Savitri, the lord of the chiefs of Devas, spoke-"I shall give".

He who performs a sacrifice thus will never have misfortune. When the holy Satra, the horse-sacrifice was begun by brahmins, the masters of the Vedas, the sun was eulogized by the king. 

The placs where the Sun-god came to grant the divine sacrificial ground is called Bhānutīrtha. 

15-18. The Daityas, Danujas and other destroyers of sacrifice assumed the guise of brahmins and came to that divine sacrifice, the excellent horse sacrifice presided over by Devas. Since they were reciting hymns like the highly intelligent Säman singers they could enter without being stopped at the entrance). Some of the Asuras (in disguise) began to ridicule the sacrificial ladle and other vessels, the wooden ring on the top of the sacrificial post, Saman, the drinking of Soma juice, Havis offerings, the priests and the king. Others began to throw sacrificial articles helter-skelter. Still others began to laugh. Excepting Viśhvarūpa none else knew about these activities of theirs. 

19. Viśhvarūpa said to his father-"These are the Daityas'. On hearing his son's words Tvastr said thus to Devas. 

Tvaştr said: 

20-21. Take water and Kusa grass and sprinkle all round. Saying "All those who censure the holy sacrifice, the ladle, vessel and the Soma juice have been removed by me" you sprinkle water. 

Brahmā said: 

22-24. Devas did so. Tvastr also did the same. The demons were reduced to ashes. Then they fled. 

Saying "The sinners have been killed by me" he sprinkled the water. There upon Daityas whose lives had been crippled became angry and started from that place. The place where Tvastr, the Prajapati of worlds sprinkled water is reputed as Tvästra Tirtha. It is the destroyer of all sins. 

25-28. Then Yama killed Daityas who had fallen as a result of the (rebuking) words of Tvastr. Angrily he killed them with Kāladanda (Black Staff), Kāla Pāśha (Black Noose) and discus. The holy centre where Daityas were killed is called Yamya. 

The place where the sacrifice was completed after offering Amruta into the fire, the place where the Fire-god became satisfied with the incessant flow (of ghee) in the manner of a flight of arrows in that great sacrifice and became pleased with Abhistuta is known as Agnitirtha. It yields the same benefit as the horse sacrifice. 

Indra accompanied by Maruts said auspicious words to the king. 

29. "O king, you will become the Emperor of both worlds. You will undoubtedly become my perpetual dear friend." 

30. He who performs the holy rite of water libation in the Indratīrtha is the most blessed in the mortal world. For the propitiation of manes he must perform Tarpana particularly in the Yamatirtha. 

31. That holy centre where Siva was eulogized and worshipped with devout mind by the brahmins who were experts in all holy rites is called Mäheśhvaratirtha. 

32-35. The king worshipped with a concentrated mind Maheśhvara who is worthy of worship. He worshipped him in various ways such as by Vedic Mantras and non-Vedic prayers, dances and songs, musical intruments, Panchāmrutas (the five sweet articles-honcy, ghee, jaggery, curd, milk), prostrations, circumambulations, incenses, lights, flowers scents and Naivedyas (food offerings). Thereupon, the delighted lords of Devas granted him boons along with great power. They granted the great king Abhistuta both worldly pleasures and liberation. Similarly, they granted the holy centre excellent efficacy. 

36-38. Thereafter, that holy centre is called Shaiva and Vaishnava (pertaining to Siva and vişhņu). They know that a holy plunge and monetary gifts performed there are the bestowers of all cherished desires. He who remembers or reads about all these holy centres shall be rid of all sins and shall go to the cities of Siva and Vişhnu. Especially having a holy bath in the Bhānutīrtha bestows all riches. In this holy spot there are a hundred holy centres.