35 - The Greatness of Gaya and other sacred places

After the section called Vyasa-Gita (chs. 12-34), KP. describes various holy places and Tirthas. Visit to Tirthas is a way of expiation of sins, hence this section. All these Tirthas belong to North or rather Aryan speaking area in India. In Part I chs. 30-39 KP describes mainly Varanasi and secondarily other holy places like Prayaga.

The sages requested: 

1. O Romaharshana, now please recount to us the great Tirthas (sacred places) that are well-known in the world. 

Romaharshana narrated: 

2. Ye all listen. I shall recount the different kinds of holy centres described in the Puranas by sages, the expounders of Brahman. 

3. O excellent sages, every one of these holy rites, viz. Ablution, Japa, Homa, Shraddha, Dāna (charitable gift) etc. performed (at these places) sanctifies the family upto the seventh generation. 

4. The well-known holy place of Brahma the Supreme god Parameshthin viz Prayaga extends to five Yojanas (1 Yojana = 12 kms). Its greatness has already been described (vide Supra I. chs 36-39). 

5. Another excellent Tirtha is that of the Kurus (i.e., Kurukshetra). It is respected by Devas. It is spotted with the hermitages of the sages and it dispels all sins. 

6. After performing ablution therein, one becomes pure-souled, devoid of arrogance and rivalry. Whatever little he gives as gift, sanctifies both (paternal and maternal) families. 

7. The holy centre of Gaya² is highly mysterious. It is a rare spot for the rites of the Pitrus. A man who offers Pindas there is not born again. 

2. VV. 7-15 describe Gaya. By Gaya, KP. implies the area between Ramashilă hill on the North and Brahmayoni hill on the south and on the bank of the Phalgu. The ancient town of Gaya is on the southern side, Vishnupada (which is called Rudrapada here) is in the ancient part. The present temple was built some two centuries ago by the Maratha queen Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore.

8. All the Pitrus are redeemed by him who goes to Gaya and offers Pindas even once. They will attain the greatest goal. 

9. For the welfare of the worlds, his foot had been imprinted by Rudra¹ the great Atman. One shall propitiate the Pitrus there.

1. KP cannot be charged with Brahmanising an ancient Buddhist locality, as it was already Brahmanised before the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsiang visited it in A.D. 637. But vicinity of Bodh-gaya, Asoka's dedication of caves in Barabar Hill to Ajivakas and the caves in Nagarjuni hills to Shramanic Asoka's grandson Dasharatha show that formerly it was a centre of Ajivakas by religion. 

It is, however, called Vishnupada for the last many centuries.

10. If a person who is competent to go to Gaya does not go there, the Pitrus bewail him because all his efforts will be in vain. 

11. The Pitrus sing songs and the great sages glorify “Whoever goes to Gaya will redeem us." 

12. "Even if he is endowed with sins, even if he is devoid of adherence to his own duties, if anyone goes to Gaya, he will redeem us. 

13. Many sons endowed with good behaviour and virtues should be sought after so that at least one in that group may go to Gaya."*

*The same as Yama quoted in Tristhalisetu, p. 330.

14. Hence one, especially a Brahmana, shall assiduously and duly offer Pindas with great concentration, after going to Gaya. 

15. Blessed are those men who offer Pindas at Gaya. They shall uplift seven generations of both the families i.e., of the father and of the mother) and shall attain the greatest goal. 

16. There is another excellent Tirtha which is called the residence of the Siddhas. It is well known as Prabhasa² and Lord Shiva abides there.

2. Prabhasa (Devapattana, Verwal) in Saurastra (Gujarat) has the famous shrine of Somanatha, one of the twelve jyotir-lingas. The shrine which was demolished by Mahmud of Gazni in A.D. 1025 was reconstructed again after Indian Independence.

17. By performing ablutions there and thereafter Shraddha and the worship of the Brahmanas, a Brahmana attains the ever-lasting and excellent world.

18. There is the holy place named Traiyambaka¹ which is bowed to by all Devas. After worshipping Rudra there, one shall get the fruit of the Jyotishtoma sacrifice.

1. Tryambakeshvara near Nasik at the source of Godavari. This is one of twelve Jyotirlingas in India.

19. After worshipping the golden-eyed Mahadeva, the god with matted hair, and honouring Brahmanas, he will obtain the chieftainship of the attendants of Shiva. 

20. Someshvara is the excellent holy Tirtha of Rudra, the Parameshthin. On seeing Rudra, the ultimate cause, * it shall remove all ailments.

*v.l. rudra-sayujra-karanam 'the cause of giving the identity with god Rudra.) 

The site of Krishna’s death is near here.

21. There is an auspicious sacred place, the holiest among all other holy places, known as Vijaya. There is a famous Linga of the great Lord, known as Vijaya. 

22. O excellent Brahmanas, having stayed there for six months on regulated abstemious diet, observing celibacy and with great concentration of mind, the person goes to the supreme position (viz. liberation). 

23. There is another auspicious excellent Tirtha in the eastern lands. It is the solitary (v.1. Ekamra)² holy centre of the lord of Devas. It bestows the benefit of chieftainship of Shiva's attendants.

2. Ekamra the same as modern. 

Bhuvaneshwar in Orissa. It is a Rudra Tirtha also called Kruttivāsa (Bm. p.34.6). This place, equal to Varanasi in sanctity, came to be called Ekamra(ka) due to a famous mango tree in the previous kalpa, BM. P. 41. 12.

24. By giving some auspicious plot of land to the devotees of Shiva at this place, a king shall become an emperor. One who is desirous of liberation, shall attain salvation. 

25. The waters of Mahanadi are holy and destructive of all sins. By plunging therein at the time of eclipse, one is released from all sins. 

26. There is another river named Viraja.³ It is well known in the three worlds. By taking bath there, a Brahmana or any man, is honoured in the Brahmaloka.

3. A river in Orissa.

27. There is another holy centre of Narayana named Purushottama.¹ It is there that Narayana the glorious and great Purusha resides.

1. Jagannatha Puri in Orissa. Its glory is described in Bm. P. Chs, 45-51, 69, 177.

28. By taking bath there and worshipping the great Vishnu as well as by worshipping Brahmanas, an excellent Brahmana shall attain Vishnu's region. 

29. The holy centre named Gokarna² is the greatest of all holy centres and is well-known. It is destructive of all sins. It is the abode of Shambhu, Parameshthin.

2. A place sacred to Shiva on the West-coast in Kumta Tehsil of North Kanara Dist. (Karnataka). This is the Atma-linga of god Shiva which while being taken away by Ravana, was duped away by Ganesha and established here. 

There are two Gokarnas-Northern and Southern (LP. I. 92-134-135). KP, mentions northern Gokarna in v. 31 below.

30. On seeing the greatest and excellent Linga Gokarna of the lord, one shall attain all cherished desires and shall be a favourite of Rudra. 

31. By worshipping the Linga of the trident-bearing lord Mahadeva in the northern Gokarna, one shall attain Sayujya (identity) with Shiva. 

32. Lord Mahadeva there, is well known as Sthanu. On seeing him, a man is released from all sins instantaneously. 

33. Another holy centre of Vishnu, the great Atman, is Kubjāshrama.³ By worshipping the Purusha, Vishnu, one is honoured in the Shveta Dvipa.

3. The mention of the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice shows that this must be Kanakhala near Haridwar.

34. It was here that Lord Narayana was let off by Rudra, the enemy of the Tripuras, after destroying the Yajna of Daksha. 

35. All around it, within the radius of one Yojana, is a sacred place resorted to by multitudes of Shiddhas and sages. There is a holy shrine of Vishnu where the Supreme Person resides.

36. At Kokāmukha¹ there is another holy centre of Vishnu of miraculous activities. If a person dies here* a man is freed from sins, and he attains the Sarupya (similarity in form) of Vishnu.

1. Varaha-Kshetra in the district of Purnea in Bengal on the Triveņi (the confluence of Tambar, the Arunā and Suna) above Nathpur.

*the v.l. mruto'tra påtakair muktah is preferred here to muktotra martyah /

37. Salagrama² is a great holy centre that increases the pleasure of Vishnu. A man abandoning his life there, observes Hrushikeśha (the lord of sense-organs).

2. A sacred place near the source of the Gandaka river. Sages Bharata and Pulaha practised penance here. The sacred pebbles called Salagrāmas are obtained here.

38. There is an auspicious and beautiful abode of the Siddhas, well-known as Aśhvatirtha. Lord Narayana himself stays there always as Horse-headed deity. 

39. There is a holy centre well known in the three worlds. It is a very auspicious abode of the Siddhas. That merit bestowing holy place of Brahma, the Parameshthin is there. 

40-41a. (the holy centre) Pushkara³ is destructive of all sins. It accords Brahmaloka to persons who die here. The excellent Brahmana who mentally remembers Pushkara is purified of all sins. He rejoices along with god Indra.

3. A lake, sacred to god Brahma. It is six miles from Ajmer (Rajasthan).

41b-42a. There, Devas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, serpents, Rakshasas and Siddhas worship the lotus-born deity viz. Brahma. 

42b-43a. Having performed ablution, one should become pure and after worshipping god Brahma, the highest deity and also an excellent Brahmana, he sees god Brahma. 

43b-44a. Approaching lord of Devas, Indra, the blameless one, a man assumes his (Indra's) form and attains all desires. 

44b-45a. The Saptasārasvata⁴ holy centre is the greatest one, resorted to by Brahma and others. By worshipping Rudra there, one derives the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

4. In Kurukshetra, the story of Mankanaka is repeated in Mbh. Vana, 83-115, Shalya 38. 4-13. The collective name seven Sarasvatis is given in Mbh. ibid as follows: Suprabha, Kanchanakshi, Vishāla, Manorama, Oghavati, Sureņu, and Vimalodakā. These are sacred rivers in different parts of the country viz. Pushkar, Naimishăranya, Gaya, Koshala Kurukshetra Haridvāra and the Himalayas respectively but the Sarasvati is supposed to have been there in that river-form.

45b-46. It was here that (sage Mankanaka propitiated the bull-bannered Shiva, Rudra, the Supreme Lord, by means of penance. Thereafter, sage Mankanaka blazed by means of his penance. 

47. On knowing that Rudra had come, he danced due to ecstatic delight. Lord Rudra spoke to him-"Why did you dance?" 

48-49. Even after seeing the god Ishana (Shiva), he danced again and again. On seeing him puffed with pride Lord Isha, in order to subdue his arrogance, slit open his own body and pointed out the heap of Bhasma and said "O excellent Brahmana, see this heap of Bhasma originating from my body." 

50. "O leading sage, this is the greatness of penance, there is also another person like you, wherefore did you dance? 

51-53a. This is not proper in an ascetic. I am even superior to you." After saying this to the excellent sage Rudra, the seer of the entire universe, narrated to him the great reality of the universe. Hara then danced, taking up a form with a thousand (i.e., innumerable) heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet. His face was terrible due to the curved fangs. He appeared ferocious with wreaths of flames. 

53b-54. Then he saw by the side of that Trident-bearing Lord, a gracious-looking, wide-eyed auspicious goddess Shivā with resplendent charming sportfulness, comparable in size (v.l. brilliance) to crores of suns. 

55. On seeing the lord of the Universe smiling and standing there resplendently, the heart of the leading sage became agitated due to fright and he trembled. 

56. He bent down his head before Rudra and with self-control he repeated the verses of Rudradhyaya. The three-eyed lord Isha, favourably disposed towards his devotees, became delighted 

57-59. He assumed his previous form. The goddess disappeared. Embracing the devotee who was bowing to him, Shiva; the lord of Devas himself, said "O dear one, do not be afraid. What shall I give unto you? Then the delighted sage desirous of asking him bowed down his head before god Hara, the Lord of mountains, and the slayer of the Tripuras, and sub mitted "Obeisance be to you O Mahadeva; salutations to you O Maheshvara. 

60-61. What is this lordly form with faces a round, yet very terrible? Who has that lady who stood shining by your side and who vanished very suddenly? I wish to know everything." When this was enquired of, Lord Hara spoke to Mankanaka: 

62. The great Lord, the fire (the destroyer) of the three cities, explained to him (Mankanaka) his own (path of) Yoga and about the goddess: 

"I am the thousand innumerable) -eyed god, the soul of all and have faces on all sides. 

63. I am the scorcher of all bonds. I am Kala (Time, Death), Hara and the cause of Kala. Everything consisting of the sentient and the non-sentient is urged by myself. 

64. I am that Person (soul) who is immanent in all and I am verily the Supreme Person. The deluding Potency (Greatest Maya) is the Prakruti consisting of the three Gunas. 

65. She is described by the sages as Shakti (Potency), the eternal source of origin of the universe. The creator of the universe enchants the universe by means of the Maya. 

66. The Shruti states that the Supreme, unmanifest Narayana is of the form of Maya. In this way, I always establish the entire world. 

67-68. I Unite with Prakruti, the twenty fifth Principle known as - Purusha. That pure, omnipresent, immovable unborn god in union with her Prakruti creates this whole universe from Prakruti which is his own form. 

He is the illustrious god Brahma, of the form of the Universe, the grandsire of the world, 

69. This creatorship of the great Atman has been clearly narrated to you. I am the sole lord, beginningless, the primordial. Kala. the all-pervading lord, the destroyer of the Universe). 

70. (While creating and destroying) I assume the greatest form. I am mentioned as Rudra by the learned men. That supreme Potency (Para Shakti), well-known as goddess Vidya, belongs to me alone. 

71. The person of Vidyā has indeed been visualised by you. So also, these principles the Pradhana, the Purusha and Ishvara. 

72. The Shruti says: Vishnu, Brahma and lord Rudra (are) Kala (?). These three deities are beginningless and endless. They are stabilised in the Brahman alone. 

73. The Shruti says that it is unmanifest, imperishable and everything has that as its soul. The great principle is Ātman and Bliss. It is consciousness alone, the greatest region. 

74-75. It is the entire firmament, the Brahma, nothing is other than it. After realising this and resorting to the path of devotion, I should be honoured and worshipped. Thereafter you will see Ishvara." After saying this much, Lord Hara disappeared. 

76. The sage propitiated Rudra in that very same place by means of the path of devotion. This holy centre is un equalled, sacred and resorted to by Brahmarshis. By resorting to this, a scholarly Brahmana is released from all sins.