37 - The Glory of Mahalaya and other holy centres

Suta said: 

1. This is another holy spot that is very great and very mysterious and full of miracles, pertaining to Lord Mahadeva, It is well known as Mahālaya.¹ 

1. Mahālaya-The same as Omkaranātha. 2 in Varanasi, De (p. 117). 

2. There, on a rocky surface, his footstep was imparted by Rudra, the enemy of the Tripuras, the primordial lord of Devas. It is a proof pointed to the atheists. 

3. The quiescent devotees of Pashupati, with their bodies dusted with holy ashes and engaged in the study of the Vedas, worship Mahadeva there. 

4. One who takes his bath, sees the foot-print of god Shiva with great devotion and makes obeisance with bowing head, shall attain Rudra's proximity (i.e., liberation called Samipata). 

5. There is another abode of Shambhu, the great Atman the lord of Devas. It is very auspicious and is well known as Kedara.¹ It is the home of Siddhas.

1. Kedaranatha, a Jyotir-linga in the district of Garhwal in U. P. and on the southern side of the Mandakini and Dūdhaganga-De. p. 97.

6. One who takes bath there, worships the bull-bannered Mahadeva and drinks the pure water, shall attain the chief-tainship of the Ganas. 

7-8. After performing Shraddha, Dāna (religious gifts) and other rites, one attains everlasting benefit. There is a holy centre called Plakshavataraņa² that destroys all sins. It is resorted to by excellent twice-born ones and the Yogins who have subdued their minds. By performing the worship of god Vishnu, one is worshipped in Vishnu's region.

2. Plakshavataraņa—the source of the river Sarasvati, in Sirmur hills of Sewalik range of the Himalayas. The fountain from which the river takes its rise was at the foot of a Plaksha tree, hence it is called Plakshavataraņa or Plaksha-prasravana.

9. Another holy spot is Magadhāraṇya. It bestows good goal on all the people (v.l. giving access to heavenly region). Ongoing there, an excellent Brahmana attains everlasting heavenly pleasures. 

10. The meritorious holy centre Kanakhala³ is destructive of great sins. It was here that the sacrifice of Daksha was destroyed by Rudra.

3. Kanakhala--the place of Daksha's sacrifice destroyed by Rudra. It is at a distance of two miles to the cast of Hardwar on the confluence of the Ganga and Niladhārā.

11. By bathing in the river Ganga there, a pure man endowed with noble feelings, is freed from all sins and he shall stay in the region of god Brahma. 

12. The holy centre well-known as Mahātīrtha is sacred and a favourite of Narayana. One who worships Hrushikeśha (Vishnu) there goes so Shvetadvipa (the abode of Narayana). 

13. Another excellent holy centre is the auspicious one by the name Shriparvata.¹ On abandoning the vital airs here, one shall become the beloved of Rudra.

1. Shriparvata or Shrishaila-A hill in Karnool district on the southern side of the river Krishna which makes her way through a gorge in Eastern ghats. It is the site of Mallikarjuna, a famous Jyotir-linga. It was once a centre of Tantrikas.

14. Rudra, Maheshvara, is ever present there accompanied by the goddess. Bathing there and offering Pindas etc. shall be excellent and everlasting. 

15-16a. The river Godavari is holy and destructive of all sins. On bathing there and duly performing Tarpana rites to the Pitrus and Devas, one shall purify one's soul of all sins and shall attain the benefit of the gift of a thousand Cows. 

16b-17. The sacred river Kaveri has holy waters and is very large. After observing fast for three days or (at least one day, one should bathe there and offer water libations. One is released from all sins. 

18-19a. The mode of resorting to holy centres by the twice-born is now narrated. He whose mind and speech are pure and whose hands and feet are stabilised (i.e., do their respective functions,) is non-greedy and celibate shall attain the benefit of holy centres. 

19b-2la. The great holy centre called Syamitirtha² is well-known in the three worlds. Skanda respectfully bowed to by the immortal beings, is ever present there. On bathing in the Kumaradhara and performing the Tarpana rites for Devas and others, and one propitiating lord Shanmukha (the six-faced deity), one rejoices with Skanda. 

2. Svami-tirtha. De (p. 107) identifies it with the temple of Kumarasvami situated about a mile from tiruttani on the Southern Railway.

21b-22. The river named Tamraparni is well-known in the three worlds. There is no doubt in this that on taking bath there and on performing the Tarpana rites to the Pitrus in accordance with the injunctions, one shall redeem even those Pitrus who had committed sins. 

23. At the source-place of Kaveri, there is a well-known holy centre named Chandratirtha. What is given in that holy centre is of ever-lasting benefit. It yields good goal i.e., the heaven to those who die there. 

24. O Brahmana, those devotees who see Sadashiva the lord of Devas at the foot of the Vindhyas, do not see the face of Yama (the god of Death). 

25. At Devika¹ (?), there is the holy centre named Vrusha. It is resorted to by Siddhas. One who takes bath there and libation, attains perfection in Yoga.

1. Devika—Modern Deig, a tributary of the Ravi in Punjab (HD IV p. 746, De. p. 55).

26. The holy centre Dashashvamedhika is destructive of allusions. A man obtains the benefit of performing ten Aśhvamedhas (horse-sacrifices) therein. 

27. The holy centre named Pundarika is beautified by the Brahmanas. A person of self-control approaching it, shall obtain the benefit of Pundarika (sacrifice). 

28. The greatest among the holy centres is named Brahmatirtha.² On worshipping god Brahma here, one is honoured in the world of Brahma.

2. It is mentioned as a sub-tirtha under various holy places and rivers like Varanasi, Gaya, Narmada (KP. II 41. 56) Godavari, Sarasvati, De. (p. 40) identifies it with Pushkara lake in Rajasthan.

29. There are some holy centres as these: The Vinashana³ where the river Sarasvati lost itself in the sand, the auspicious Plaksha-prasravana (the source of the Sarasvati), that which is known as Vyasatirtha' and the excellent mountain Mainaka.⁵

3. Vinashana-the spot in the sandy desert of Ambala and Sirhind district of Punjab. The exact location of Vinashana is presumed to be near Sirsa. 

4. Vyāsa-tirtha-Kane locates this in Kurukshetra HD IV. 824. It is under the Narmada infra ch.41.25-27. 

5. Mainaka is located at Badari, west of Gujarat and near the Sarasvati. Dey (p. 121) regards the range of Sewalik hills from the Ganga to the Beas.

30-31a. The source of origin of Yamuna is destructive of all sins. The river, the daughter of the Pitrus, is well known as goddess Gandhakali. He who bathes in it goes to heaven, after death. He will be able to remember his previous birth. 

31b-32a. The holy centre of Kuberatunga¹ is resorted to by the Siddhas and the Charanas. One who abandons his life therein, shall become a follower of Kubera.

1. KP. and Vayu mention Kubertunga, Umatunga, Bhrugu-tunga as the best places for Shraddha but their location is uncertain.

32b-33a. The holy centre well known as Umatunga is the place where the beloved of Rudra (performed her penance). On worshipping the great goddess there, one shall attain the benefit of the gift of a thousand cows. 

33b-34a. It is my opinion that the penance or Shraddha performed in Bhrugutunga, or the charitable gifts made there sanctifies seven generations.in both the families (i.e., that of the father and that of the mother). 

346-35a. The great holy centre of Kashyapa is well known as Kalasarpis. With the desire for the diminution of sins, one should offer Shraddhas there every day. 

35b-36a. The Shraddha, Dana, Homa, Japa and penance performed in Dasharna are of everlasting benefit and inexhaustible for ever. 

36b-37a. The Tirtha named Kurujangala² resorted to by the twice-born is famous. On making charitable gifts there in accordance with the injunctions, one is honoured in the Brahmaloka.

2. It is between the Sarasvati and Drushadvati, Sirhind in Punjab (HD IV. 773).

37b-39a. Whatever is offered in the great Tirtha, in Vaitarani,³ in the Svarņavedi, in the Dharmaprushtha,⁴ in the great and auspicious head of Brahma, in the holy hermitage of Bharata, in the auspicious and sacred Grudhravana, in Mahahrada¹ and in the Kaushiki²—whatever is offered in these places-is of everlasting benefit.

3. Vaitarani—A river in Orissa rising in the Vindhya-mountain Jaipur stands on this river.

4. Dharma-prushtha, the same as Dharmaranya of Buddhists—4 miles from Bodha Gaya, De. p. 56.

1. Mahā-hrada-near Badrinath (also Mbh. Anushāsana 25.18). 

2. Kaushiki, Mod. Kusi (Kosi) which flows through Nepal, Tirhut and joins the Ganga below Patna.

39b-4la. His footstep was imprinted on Muņdaprushtha,³ by the intelligent Mahadeva, for the welfare of all living beings and as a proof to be pointed out to the non-believers. A man devoted to Dharma shall within a short time, abandon his sin like the serpent casting off its slough.

3. Munda-prushtha-A hill situated on the Western bank of the Phalgu river at Gaya.

41b-42. The holy centre named Kanakananda⁴ is well known in the three worlds. It is to the North of Brahmaprushtha and is resorted to by groups of Brahmana sages. On taking holy dip there, the twice-borns go to heaven along with their physical bodies.

4. Kanakananda-a river to the north of Munda-prushtha at Gaya.

43. The Shraddha offered there is cited to be everlasting, On taking the bath, a man reduces his sins and he is freed from the threefold indebtedness to god, sages and manes. 

44. By means of ablution in the Manasa-lake one shall obtain half the throne of god Indra. Ongoing to the Uttaramanasa one achieves very excellent Siddhis (mystic powers). 

45. Hence, one should perform Shraddha in accordance with one's capacity and physical strength, thereby he obtains divine pleasures and attains the means of salvation. 

46. The mountain named Himavan is bedecked with different kinds of minerals. That mountain is eighty thousand Yojanas in length. 

47. Siddhas and Charanas live therein and the mountain is resorted to by the groups of Devas and sages. There is a beautiful Pushkariņi (holy lake) there named Sushumna. 

48. Ongoing there, a scholarly Brahmana leaves off (is relieved of the sin of) Brahmana slaughter. The Shraddha offered there is inexhaustible and highly flourishing, 

49. He shall redeem the Pitrus of ten previous generations and ten later generations. The Himavan is sacred everywhere. The Ganga is sacred all round.

50. All the rivers flowing into the ocean are sacred and those oceans are particularly holy. On reaching the hermitage Badaryāshrama,¹ one is released from all sins.

1. Badaryashrama-The same as Badrināth in Garhwal, U.P.

51. There stays the eternal lord Narayana along with Nara. The charitable gift as well as the Shraddha offered there, is of everlasting benefit. 

52. That is a holy centre liked by Mahadeva. It is particularly sanctifying. On offering Shraddha with great concentration, one shall redeem the Pitrus. 

53. The holy centre Devadāruvana² is sacred. It is resorted to by the Siddhas and the Gandharvas as well as by the great lord of Devas. What is offered there is highly flourishing. *

2. Devadāruvana-Kane regards this in the Himalayas near Badrinåth. (HD IV p. 745). De (p. 54) thinks it to be the same as Daruvana in which Badarikashrama is situated. The story about the introduction of Phallus-worship in the next two chapters shows that this Daruvana must be in the Himalayas.

*a better v.l. mahad-varam 'a great boon was given by the great god.' 

54. After fascinating the sages and on being worshipped by everyone, the delighted lord Isha spoke to the leading sages who had been sanctified. 

55. “You all shall always stay here in this beautiful and excellent hermitage, with the devotion centering on me. There by you shall obtain Siddhi. 

56. Those who are devoted to Dharma in the world worship me. I grant unto them the eternal great chieftainship of the Ganas. 

57. I will stay here for ever along with Narayana. A man abandoning his life here, is not reborn. 

58. O excellent Brahmanas, those people who have gone to the other lands but who remember this holy centre, will have all their sins dispelled by me. 

59. Here all these holy rites are to be performed. If performed, Shraddha, Dāna, Tapas (penance), Homa, Pindas, meditation, Japa and other observances are of everlasting benefit.

60. Hence the holy Devadāruvana, resorted to by Mahadeva should be visited by the twice-born by every means. 

61. Wherever there is Mahadeva or Vishnu, the Supreme Person, the Ganga, the holy centres and the shrines are present there.