50 - The Glory of Kashi

Vasu Said: —

1. Henceforth, O Mohinï, I shall recount the proper time for the Yätrâ (pilgrimage) which has been undertaken by the Devas and others1 and which yields befitting benefits.

1. VV. 1-10 enumerate the month and holy centres visited by gods and others for pilgrimage.

Category of                Month of           Holyspot (Kunda)

The Pilgrim               Pilgrimage        visited etc.

1.      Gods                  Chaitra              Käma Kunda

2.      Siddhas             Jyeshtha           Rudra-Väsa Kunda

3.      Gandharvas      Ashadha            Priyä-devi Kunda

4.      Vidyädharas     Shravana           Lakshmi Kunda

5.      Yakshas             Äšhvina             Märkandeya Kunda

6.      Pannagas          Mårgashirsha  Koti-Tirtha

7.      Guhyakas          Pausha              Kapäla- mochana Kunda

8.      Pishächas          Phålguna          Kåleshvara  Kunda.

2. Formerly, in the month of Chaitra, this pilgrimage was performed by the heaven-born gods staying there at Kamakunda. They were exclusively and devotedly engaged in performing ablutions and worship.

3. In the month of Jyeshtha O splendid-faced lady, the pilgrimage was undertaken by the Siddhas devotedly engaged in the performance of religious bath and worship in the Rudraväsa Kunda (pool) which was the residence of Rudra.

4. In the month of Ashadha the pilgrimage was carried out by the auspicious Gandharvas who performed their ablution and worship in the Kunda of goddess Priyâdevî.

5. O Mohini, in the month of Shrävana this pilgrimage was perfòrmed by the Vidyâdharas who stayed near Lakshmikunda and who were devoutly engaged in the performance of ablution therein and the worship of the deity.

6. O fair-faced lady, in the month of Äšhvina this pilgrimage was undertaken by Yakshas who, stationed at the deep pool of Mârkandeya were engaged in the worship and ablution therein.

7. O Mohini, in the month of Margašhirsha, this pilgrimage was performed by the Pannagas (serpents) who stayed at the Kotitïrthas and performed ablutions and worship.

8. O splendid-eyed lady, in the month of Phalguna this pilgrimage was undertaken by the Guhyakas stationed at Kapälamochana (kunda) and were engaged in the regular practice of ablution, meditation and worship.

9. O splendid lady, in the month of Phálguna this pilgrimage was undertaken by the Pišhächas stationed at the Kunda (pool) Kâlešhvara who were devoutly engaged in ablution, worship etc.

10. Hence, O gentle lady it is well-known that the fourteenth day in the bright half of the auspicious month of Phalguna is called ‘‘Pišhächi (Chaturdašhï)”.

11. Henceforth, O splendid-faced lady, I shall tell you the duties and procedure in respect of the pilgrimage, by performing which the man shall attain the full benefit of pilgrimage.

12. Water pots should be given as gifts accompanied with sweet-cooked rice. They should be beautiful and be covered with cloths and be presented along with fruits and flowers.

13. The third day in the bright half of the month of Chaitra is highly fruitful. On that day, Gauri must be visited by men with devotional feelings.

14. O fair-faced lady, after taking bath the devotee should go to the holy centre Gopreksha. At Svargadvära (heavenly portals) Kälikädevi should be assiduously worshipped.

15. Another deity is also mentioned to be very great. She is Samvartâ, the auspicious Lalitâ. She should be visited with devotion. She is the bestower of all desired benefit.

16.Thereafter, he (the pilgrim) should feed Brähmana devotees of Shiva who are observers of pure vows, and offer them clothes and sumptuous monetary gifts of befitting nature.

17. With Pañcha-Gaurïs in view the devotee shall dedicate tasty juices and sweet scents to a Brâhmana. He will obtain excellent and great welfare and be endowed with good fortune.

18. I shall now mention the Vinäyakas, the creators of obstacles and troubles in the residence of holy centre Käšhi. O gentle lady, by worshipping them, a man attains benefit without any hindrance.

19-20. Having visited Dhundhi-Vinäyaka first (one should next visit) Kïla-Vinäyaka, Devi-Vinâyaka, Go-prekshya Vinäyaka, Hasti-hasti-Vinàyaka and lastly the famous Sindürya Vinâyaka. O queen, all these Vinäyakas be visited on the Chaturthï (fourth Lunar) day.1

1. Vinäyakas were originally trouble-mongering spirits. They were to be propitiated at the beginning of any undertaking lest they should spoil the work. Their identification with god Ganešha and attribution of auspicious nature to them is a later development in epics. It is reported that there were 56 at Varanasi. The most frequented is Dhundi-råja Ganešha to the west of Annapürnä temple.

21. With these (Vinäyakas) in view, sweet-meats (sweet balls) should be given to a Brâhmana. When this duty is performed the man realises Siddhi (accomplishment of his desire)

22. Henceforth, I shall enumerate the Chandikäs2 who protect the holy place (Kâšhï Durgä protects in the south; Antarešhvari protects in the south-west.

2. Like Vinåyakas, Chandikäs are the other category to be propitiated for one’s protection, though their main job is to guard Varanasi. Their postings are enumerated in VV. 22-27.

23-24. Añgärešhi protects in the west; Bhadrakälikâ in the north-west; Bhïmachandâ in the north; Mahämattâ in the north-east, Šhàñkari accompanied by Ûrudhvakešhi in the east, Adhahkešhï in the south-east and Chitraghant in the middle.

25. These goddesses (Chandikäs) when visited by men become delighted with them. All of them eagerly protect the holy place.

26. O gentle lady, they continuously create obstacles for sinners. Hence, for the sake of protection, the goddesses should always be worshipped along with the Vinâyakas.

27. If one wishes for the greatest Siddhi, progeny, prosperity and happiness, one must offer scents, fragrant flowers, Naivedyas etc. with devotion.

28. O lady of beautiful eyes, I shall recount to you another thing in that holy spot (city). There are three rivers flowing there with splendid waters.

29-31. Merely by seeing them the sin of the murder of a Brâhmana recedes. The first of these is Trisrotà (the three currented). The next one is Mandâkinï and the third is Matsyodari. These three bestow merits. Among them Mandäkinï is highly meritorious. It is stationed in Madhyamešhvara. Trisrotâ that exceedingly bestows merit, flows in Avirnukta; Matsyodari is stationed at Omkâra; it is always the bestower of merit.

32. O Mohini, the time when the Gañgâ flows into that holy spot is extremely meritorious. It is difficult even to the Devas to get its advantage.

33. Will anybody bewail if he takes bath in the meritorious (holy centre) Nadešhvara sprinkled with the waters of Jâhnavi? (No).

34. O auspicious lady, Shiva got rid of the skull by bathing in it at a time when the Gañgà got mingled with the Matsyodari.

35. The great lake named Kapâlamochana is there itself. It is glorified as sanctifying of all living beings. It bestows merit on them.

36-37. The Gañgä gets mixed with the waters of the Matsyodari near Omkärešhvara. If at that time a man takes bath in its waters and visits lord Omkära, he is not contaminated by grief, old age and the bondage of death. One who takes bath therein himself becomes that deity, called Omkäreshvara.

38-39. O fair-faced lady, out of affection for you, this esoteric secret has been communicated to you.1 The (constituents) there are Akàra (letter ‘A’) Ukâra (letter ‘U’) and Makâra (letter ‘M’). The letter ‘A’ should be known as the bestower of the goal of Vishnu’s world. The letter ‘U’ is reputed to be on its southern side.

1. This is an esoteric way of identifying the three matras of the sacred syllable with the three rivers.

40.Bruhaspati the preceptor of the Devas attained great Siddhi there. Omkära should be known as the unchanging region of Brahman.

41. To the north side of both of them is the letter ‘M’ termed as Vishnu’s syllable. Sage Kapila, the great ascetic achieved Siddhi at that Liñga.

42. After coming to Varanasi, Bhïshma stayed there, worshipping the lord of the Devas, the excellent Pañchâyatana (five-aboded Shiva).

43. In that highly hallowed spot, Shiva manifested himself. He is well-known as Goprekshaka. He is eulogised by all the deities.

44. After approaching, visiting and worshipping Goprekhešhvara, a man never attains wretchedness. He is liberated from sins.

44.The cows staying in the forests and wandering about on being scorched by the forest-fire approached this deep pool of water and became calm. They drank water then.

46. Ever since then, this came to be called Käpilâhrada (the Pool of Kapilä cows.) There also Shiva (who manifested himself) is as Vrushabha-dhvaja (bull-emblemed one).

47-49a. The lord always maintains his presence there and is always seen at that place. By taking bath in this holy Tirtha of Kapilâhrada, and by visiting the bull-emblemed Shiva, the devotee of well-controlled mind shall attain the benefit of all the Yajñas. On dying there, he attains the heavenly world. By worshipping Shiva, he becomes Šiva himself. With a different physical body, he attains Gana-hood which is very difficult to attain.

49b-50. In this spot itself, cows were retained by Brahmä himself for peace in all the worlds and certainly to sanctify all. (It is from their milk that) the holy splendid lake Bhadradoha is created there. It is holy and destructive of sins.

51. A man who takes bath in that spot (Tïrtha) shall himself become the lord of speech. Shiva was brought there and installed by Parameshthin (god Brahma).

52.Collecting it from Brahmä, another Liñga was installed by Vishnu. Shiva then remained there by the name Hiranyagarbha.

53. Thereafter, again, Brahma installed a Liñga which was named Svarlokešhvara (lord of heavenly world) which exhibited the divine heavenly sports at times.

54. By visiting that lord of the Devas, the devotee is honoured in Shiva’s world. By abandoning the vital breath here, the devotee is not born again anywhere.

55-56. His state becomes eternal which is the same as in the case of Yogins. In this very same part of the earth, a certain Daitya, the thorn to the deities, had assumed the form of a tiger. This proud and strong Daitya was killed (by the lord), who became famous as Vyäghrešhvara.1 He abides here continuously.

1. Puräna-writers are fond of giving popular etymologies vide our note on Kukkuteshvara.

57-58a. By visiting this lord of the immortals, the devotee never faces wretchedness. The Liñga that is installed by the mountain Himalaya is stationed (and known as) Shailešhvara. O gentle lady, by visiting this no man will ever attain wretchedness.

58b-59. There were two Daityas Utpala and Vidala. As a result of the boon granted by Brahma, they became arrogant. Seeing that they became indulgent to women out of lustfulness, Pârvati killed them with bow and with a spear. *As a memento of it, this Liñga has been established.

*The text Sårañgam kantukenatra is corrupt and obscure. It emended Sarangena kuntakenatra and translated as above.

60. By visiting this Liñga that has occupied the most important spot, no man is subjected to grief. O gentle lady, he becomes a Siddha in every one of his births.

61. All round it, Liñgas were installed by the Devas. By visiting there, a man shall become a Gana with a different body assuming a new form after death.

62-63. This river Varanasi (combined name for Varanà and Asi) is sacred and destructive of sins. After embellishing this holy centre, it meets with the Jâhnavï. In this confluence, an excellent Liñga Was installed by Brahma. It is well known in the whole universe as Sañgamešhvara. May it be seen.

64. Whence is the fear of a rebirth to that person who takes holy dip, O auspicious lady, in the confluence of the two divine rivers and worships god Sañgamešhvara (lord of the confluence).

65. O gentle lady, the Liñga installed by Šhukra, the son of Bhrugu, is known by the name Šhukrešhvara. It is worshipped by all Siddhas and immortal ones (i.e. gods).

66.By visiting this (Liñga) a man shall immediately be liberated from all sins. After death, the man is never born in the world.

67. O Mohini, Jambüka, a great Daitya was killed here by Mahädeva. By visiting that Liñga, a man shall attain all desires.

68-69. Know that all these meritorious Liñgas were installed by the Devas, the leader of whom was Indra. They bestow all desires. Thus, O Mohinï, all these Shiva Liñgas in the holy place of Avimuktaka have been recounted to you by me.