35 - Description of various Tirthas: The glory of Varanasi concluded 

There are a number of sacred places and lingas at Varanasi. In the SK.P. IV (Käshi Khanda) 10.86-97. Chs. 33. 53. 55. 58 we meet with numerous such shrines and tirthas. L.P. and Pd. P.I are mentioned in previos chapters. It is not possible here to deal with each of the sacred place mentioned herein for want of space. Modern works like Altekar’s History of x. or a handbook for visitors to Varanasi is recommended for further details. It may, however, be noted that every sacred place tries to show that all holy places in the world are concentrated in it. Hence the claim of the KP. To have Gaya or Prayaga at Varanasi.

Suta said: 

1. Thereafter, the holy sage Vyāsa, accompanied by his disciples, the chief of whom was Jaimini, went to all these secret holy places and shrines (as mentioned below). 

2. The highly sacred place Prayaga, Višhvarūpa (which is) more auspicious than Prayaga, the unsurpassable sacred pond Kalatirtha. 

3. The extremely holy place called Akāśha and the excellent sacred pond Aņusa (v.l. Ruşhabha), the great Tirtha. Svarlīna and Gauri Tirtha that surpasses all. 

4. The excellent sacred places Präjāpatya as well as Svargadvāra and what is called Jambukeśhvara and the excellent Tīrtha known as Charma (Dharma?). 

5. The great Tirtha Gaya and the Mahanadi Tirtha, the highly sacred Nārāyana Tīrtha and the unsurpassable Vāyu Tirtha. 

6. Supremely sacred but hidden Jñanatīrtha and the excellent Tirtha Varaha; the highly meritorious Yama Tirtha and the great Samvartaka Tirtha. 

7. O excellent Brāhmaṇas! He visited Agni Tirtha and the excellent Kalakeśhvara Tirtha, Naga Tirtha, Soma Tirtha and Sūrya Tirtha. 

8. The excellent meritorious Tīrtha Parvata, the excellent Manikarna, the prominent sacred place Ghatotkacha Tīrtha, Shri Tīrtha and Pitamaha Tirtha. 

9. (Vyāsa visited) Ganga Tirtha, the excellent sacred place Devesha, Käpila, Somesha as well as the unsurpassable Brahma Tīrtha. 

9A. (Verses in brackets) 

The Linga (at Brahmatīrtha) should be worshipped. Vişhnu installed that Linga of Ishvara while Brahmā had gone to take his bath. 

9B. When Brahma returned after his bath, he asked Hari-"This Linga had been brought by me. Wherefore did you instal it?" 

9C. Vişhņu replied to him -"Since my devotion to Rudra is greater than yours, the Linga has been installed by me. But it will be known after your name (i.e. Brahma Tirtha)." 

10. (Vyāsa visited the following sacred places): The sacred place. Bhūteśhvara, and the Dharma-samudbhava (born of Dharma) Tirtha, extremely auspicious Gandharva Tīrtha and excellent Vähneya Tīrtha (pertaining to the Fire-God). 

11. O excellent Brāhmaṇas! (He then visited) the holy centre pertaining to sage Durvāsas, Homa Tirtha (v.l. vyoma tirtha), Chandra-Tīrtha, the holy Chiträngadeśhvara and the sacred Vidyadhareśhvara. 

12. Kedara, known as the most prominent holy place. the unsurpassable Kālañjara, Sarasvata, Prabhāsa, Khețakarna and the auspicious Hara Tīrtha. 

13. The great Tirtha called Laukika and the sacred Himālaya, Hiranyagarbha, the sacred place famous as Go (or Goprekşhya) and Vruşhadhvaja. 

14. (He visited Tīrthas called) Upaśhānta, Shiva, the excellent Vyāghreśhvara, the great Tirtha Trilochana, Lolārka and the one called Uttara. 

15. Kapăla-mochana, the sacred place destroying the sin of murdering Brahmaņas, the highly meritorious Shukreśhvara and the excellent Anandapura. 

16. These holy centres have been mentioned in view of their importance. It is impossible to enumerate all these Tirthas in detail, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. 

17-18. The great sage, son of Paraśhara took his bath in these different holy centres and worshipped the eternal deity. He observed fasts (and other observances) there, performed Tarpana rites to the Pitrus, and Devas, offered balls of rice (Pindas) and went again to the shrine where Viśhveśhvara Shiva was stationed. 

19. The great sage took holy bath and worshipped Mahālinga along with his disciples and told them— “You may go as you please." 

20. After bowing down to the noble soul, Paila and other Brāhmaṇas went away. But he (Vyása) made his permanent abode at Varanasi. 

21. He was quiescent, self-controlled. He took bath three times a day and worshipped the Pinaka-bearing deity. He maintained his livelihood on alms. He remained a purified soul devoted to the vow of celibacy. 

22. O excellent Brāhmanas, on one occasion while he stayed there, Vyāsa, of unmeasured splendour wandered for the sake of alms but he did not get anything.¹ 

1. The story of Vyasa's stay at Varanasi, his curse to the town and expulsion from the place and permission for entry on the 8th and the 14th tithi described in vv 22-29, is repeated in Mt. P. 185.17-45 and SK. P. iv.96 the only difference being that there Shiva gives him the alms while here in KP. it is his consort Mahādevi. 

23. Then the sage was overwhelmed by great anger. He said "I shall create obstacles for all men staying here whereby their achievement will become deficient." 

24. At the very same instant, the grcat goddess, the sharer of half the body of Shankara, assumed human form and appeared there out of affection. 

25. "O Vyāsa, of great intellect, the city should not be cursed by you. You take the alms from me." After saying this, Shiva gave him the alms.

26. Then the great goddess told him again—"O sage, since you are irascible, you must not stay here as you are always ungrateful." 

27. Thus addressed, the holy lord realised the great goddess Shivå through meditation. With humility he bowed down, eulogised her with excellent hymns and said: 

28. O Shankarī, be pleased to permit me to enter the city on the Ashtami and Chaturdaśhī (eighth and the fourteenth) day." saying 'so be it', the goddess permitted him and disappeared. 

29. Thus the holy sage Vyasa, the ancient great Yogi realised the good points of the holy centre, and stayed near it. 

30. It is after knowing that Vyāsa was stationed in the holy centre, that the learned men resorted to it. Hence a man should by all means, reside in Varanasi. 

Sūta said: 

31. He who reads the greatness of Avimukta, listens to it or narrates it to the quiescent Brāhmaṇas, attains the Supreme goal. 

32-33. One who reads or narrates this in the course of a Shrāddha or a rite pertaining to Devas, at the time of day or night, on the bank of a river or in the temple of gods (attains the same). The devotee, after taking bath and with mental concentration and remaining free from passion and anger should perform the Japa of Isha and make obeisance to him. He then attains the greatest goal.