33 - The mode of gifting the kalpa tree

Sanatkumara said:

1-2. Henceforth, I shall mention the excellent rite of kalpa tree. The kalpa tree shall be made in replica with a hundred gold coins. It shall have all the branches. Strings of pearls shall be suspended from the branches. The tender sprouts shall be depicted by means of illustrious emerald stones.

3. The new shoots of the tree shall be depicted by the devotee by using coral. He shall beautify the branches all round by means of rubies depicting the fruits.

4. The root shall be depicted by using the blue gem; the stem by using diamonds; the tip of the tree by Vaidurya (Lapis Lazuli) and topaz.

5. O sage of good holy rites, the bulbos root shall be depicted by the Gomedaka gem. The platform round the tree shall be depicted by the solar or the lunar stone or by crystals.

6. The width of the tree including the eight branches, and the height of the tree shall be one cubit.

7-9. The devotee shall place the Linga at its root. It shall be surrounded by the guardians of the quarters. The tree shall be placed on the Mandala in the middle of the altar mentioned before. The devotee shall then assiduously worship lord Ishana and the guardians of the quarters. As before, Japa, Homa and other rites shall be performed as in the rite Tuladhana. O king, the devotee shall dedicate the tree to the lord or offer it to yogins or to persons who smear their bodies with Bhasman. The king will become an emperor.

Summary of chapter 143 of the Linga Mahā Purana is as follows:

The narrative records the historical account of King Dasharatha of Ayodhyā, detailing his devout worship of Sūryadeva and Prabhu Śiva to overcome his karmic afflictions and obtain noble progeny. Through divine grace invoked by intense Śiva worship and Vedic sacrifices, King Dasharatha was blessed with four divine sons led by Bhagavān Śrī Rāma.