44 - Description of sacred places (contd.)

Sūta said: 

1. Near the holy centre Japyeśhvara there is another excellent Tīrtha named Pañchanada.1 It is sacred and destructive of all sins. 

1. Vide note 1, p. 597. 

2. One who observes fast there for three nights and worships Maheśhvara gets his soul purified of all sins and is honoured in the Rudraloka. 

3. There is another excellent Tīrtha pertaining to Indra (king of gods) of unmeasured splendour. It is called Mahābhairava2 and is destructive of great sins. 

2. Though KP. calls this Tīrtha as pertaining to Indra', it is onc of the eight Shiva Kşhetras (HD. IV. 775), but Kane's reference to Mt. 181.29 is about a Tirtha of the same name at Vārānasi. 

4. The great river Vitastā (mod. Jhelum) is the holiest of all holy tirthas. It is sacred and it removes all sins. Itself it is born of the king of mountains. 

5. There is the Tirtha belonging to Shambhu of unlimited splendour. Its name is Pañchatapas. It is here that Bhava (Shiva) was worshipped by the overlord of Devas (?) for the purpose of being mighty. 

6. Offering of Piņdas etc. at that holy centre is the bestower of pleasure and happiness after death. One who dies there as a result of observance of holy rites, is honourd in the Brahmaloka. 

7. There is a splendid shrine of Mahādeva called Kāyāvarohana1 where holy dharmas or religious doctrines pertaining to god Maheśhvara have been promulgated by the sages. 

1. Kāyāvarohana is modern Kårvan, 15 miles South of Baroda in thc Dabhoi Tehsil. The promulgation of ‘dharma' special to Maheśhvara probably refers to the Pāśhupata doctrines propagated by Na (La) kulišha (in the 2nd cent. A.D.). Mathura inscription of Chandragupta II dated A.D. 38. (Gupta era year 61) mentions Lakuli. 

8. The Shrāddha, the charitable gift, the penance, the Homa or the fast there is of ever-lasting benefit. He who abandons his life there goes to the Rudraloka. 

9. There is another excellent Tirtha called Kanya-Tīrtha2 than which there is no better holy centre. One should abandon one's life after going there, whereby one attains eternal worlds. 

2. This is near the sea and as such is different from one of the same name but under Narmadā (Supra II. 42.21). 

10. There is the splendid holy centre of Rāma, the son of Jamadagni and of unimpaired activity. On taking bath there in the excellent holy centre, one shall attain the benefit of gifting away a thousand cows. 

11. The Tirtha well-known as Mahākāla3 is famous in the worlds. After going there and abandoning the life, one shall attain the chieftainship of Ganas. 

3. Probably refers to Mahākāleśhvara of Ujjayini,

12. The Tirtha of great mystic efficacy is the excellent Nakulīśhvara4 Tirtha. Lord Nakulīśhvara, the glorious deity is present there. 

4. Nakulisha, the founder of the Pashupata sect probably finally settled in Himalayas, Hence, his dwelling place came to be regarded as a sacred place. Its exact location is uncertain. 

 13. On the beautiful peak of Himavin in the splendid (spot called) Gangadvāra, lord Mahadeva is present for ever along with the goddess and accompanied by his disciples. 

14. On performing the rite of ablution there and after worshipping the bull-bannered Mahādeva one is purified of of all sins. On death, one shall attain the perfect knowledge. 

15. There is another abode of the lord of Devas. It is extremely meritorious and splendid. It is well-known as Bhimeśhvara.1 On visiting it one eschews sins. 

1.One Bhimeśhvara in mentioned under Narmadā (vide Supra II. 41.20). This is probably a different Tirtha. 

16. There is another confluence of river Chandavega.2 

It is destructive of sins. On bathing there and drinking the waters, one is freed from the sin of Brahmaņa-slaughter. 

2. Mt. p. 22.28. There also it is regarded sacred to Pitrus. 

17. The great city named Vārānasi is very divine. It is a ten thousand times, nay, a hundred million times more auspicious than all these holy centres. 

18. Formerly, its greatness had been narrated to you by me. Nowhere else does one attain salvation in a single birth even by means of Yoga. 

19. These sacred places that remove sins of men have been mentioned in view of their importance. By visiting holy centres, one should wash off one's sin (accumulated) at least in hundreds of births (?) 

20. The holy centres are not fruitful to him who forsakes his duties and goes on pilgrimage to various holy centres. The holy centres do not benefit him either in this world or in the other world. 

21. A person performing expiatory rites, a widower, a wandering mendicant, or a householder or a person of their ilk should go on pilgrimage to holy centres. 

22. One may go on a pilgrimage alongwith one's wife as well as the sacrificial fires. If he assiduously performs the pilgrimage, he shall be freed from all sins. He shall attain the goal as mentioned before. 

23-24. A person desirous of going on pilgrimage shall wipe off the threefold indebtedness (viz. to gods, sages and one's manes). He shall assign proper means of livelihood for the sons and entrust his wife to their care. 

In the context of expiatory rites, the greatness of the holy centres has been recounted.1 He who reads this or listens to this is freed from all sins. 

1. VV. 20-24 give instructions about eligibility to go on a pilgrimage. Pilgrimage to sacred places is a sort of atonement for sins. Hence these chapters followed the section of expiation.