77 - Sanctity of the Tirthas in Narmadā

Mohini said: 

1. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, the excellent greatness of Setu has been heard by me. Now I wish to hear the collected list of the Tīrthas on the river Narmada. ¹ 

1. The Narmadā, though not mentioned in the Vedic literature is eulogized in the Mbh. Vana (chs. 121-122) and Puranas like the Mt. P. (chs. 186-194, 554 verses), the KP. 2. (chs. 40-42, verses 189), the Pd. P. Adi (chs. 13-23, 739) while SKP, has devoted one complete book Revā-Khanda to it. As compared with the above, the treatment of Narmada in the NP. in 35 verses is sketchy. Narmada is superior to Gangå as its mere sight inmediately sanctifies the secr. (V. 31). Thousands of sacred places happen to abide in various parts of Narmada is a Puranic exaggeration. People normally visit its source (Amarakuntaka), Mähishmati (or Omkära Mändhată) and Bhrugukaccha (Broach). Routine recommendations for the performance of Shraddha, Dana, Japa are the features of every Tirtha need not be repeated. 

Vasu said: 

2. Listen, O Mohini, I shall recount every thing. There are four hundred most important Tīrthas on both the banks of the Narmadā together. 

3. There are eleven Tirthas on the northern bank and twentythree on the southern bank. The thirtyfifth Tīrtha is said to be at the meeting place of the Revă with the sea. 

4. From the mountain Amarakantaka (where the Narmadā rises) round the Omkara Tirtha within two Kroshas kms) in all the quarters, there are three and a half crores of Tirthas. 

5. There are a crore of Tirthas situated in the confluence of the Kapilā (with the Narmadā). A hundred thousand Tirthas are founded in the Ashoka grove. 

6. A hundred Tirthas are at the Angāragarta, ten thousand at Kubjä, * a thousand in the confluence with Väyu and a hundred Tîrthas of Sarasvati are situated here. 

*v.l. At the confluence of Kubjå with Narmada.

7. They know that there are two hundred holy spots in the Shuklatirtha, a thousand in Vişhnutirtha, a thousand in Mähishmati and ten thousand holy spots in the Shūlabheda. 

8. There are a thousand holy spots in the Devagrāma village, there are seven hundred in Ulūka. There are a hundred and eight Tīrthas at the confluence of the Maņinadi. 

9. As many Tirthas are in Vaidyanatha, and as many in Ghateśhvara. There are a hundred and fifty thousand sacred places in the meeting place of Revă (Narmadā) and the sea. 

10. There are eightyeight thousand Tīrthas in Vyāsa and also hundreds of islands. In the confluence of the Karañja, ten thousand and eight Tīrthas are situated. 

11. In the confluence of the Erandi (modern Uri) there are a hundred and eight Tirthas, there are sixtyeight tirthas, in the Dhūtapåpā and one and a half crores in the Kokila. 

12. O queen of men, there are a thousand Tirthas in Romakeśha and a thousand in Dvādaśhārka. In the Shuklátirtha there are eight hundred lakhs and two thousand Tirthas. 

13. They know that in all confluences of rivers with Narmada there are hundred and eight Tīrthas. There are five hundred Tirthas in Nandā, the confluence of the river Kāverī. 

14. In the Kśhetra (holy centre) of Bhrugu, there are a crore of Tirthas. In Bharabhruti there are a hundred and eight Tīrthas. 

15. There are a hundred and fifty Tirthas in Akrūresha and hundred thousand in Vimaleśha. In the sphere of Narmadā, the number of Tirthas is one and a half crores, 

16. O splendid-faced lady, there are ten Tīrthas of the sun, nine of Kapila and eight of Vidhu (the Moon god). There are a crore and eight Tirthas of Nandin. 

17. O Mohini, there are seven Tīrthas in each of these holy spots namely Nägāvarta, Agnyavarta and Siddhavarta and there are five Tirthas named Kedāradaiva, Indriyadaiva, Vāridaiva, Ishadaiva and Nandi daiva. 

18-19. The following are mentioned to be of four Tīrthas in each Viz: Yameśha, Vaidyānātha, Vamana, Angärakeśhvara, Särasvata, Munisha, Därukeśha and Gautama. There are three Tirthas at Vimaleśhvara. There are then the Tīrthas of Sahasrayajña, Bhishmesha and Svarna Tīrtha. 

20. The following are great Tīrthas viz. Dhautapapa, Karañjeśha Ruņamuktiguha, Daśhāśhvamedha, Nanda, Manmatheśha and Bhargava. 

21-23. O auspicious lady, each of these is a great Tirtha Parāśhara, Ayoni, Vyāsa, Pitrinandi, Gopeśha, Mårutesha, Jañgaleśha, Shuklaka, Akśharesha, Pippaleśha, Māņdavyeśhvara, Dipakeśhvara, Uttareśha, Asokeśha, Yodhaneśha and Rauhiņa, Lokeśha is said to be two in number. There are one thousand nine hundred individual Tīrthas, O fair one. 

24. In groups there are two hundred and four hundred Tirthas. There are Tirthas pertaining to Shiva. The Tirthas pertaining to Viśhņu are twentytwo. 

25. All these Tīrthas pertain to Brahma; twentyeight Tirthas pertain to śhakti. Among them, O splendid-faced lady, seven pertain to Mothers and three to Brāhmi. 

26. There are two Tīrthas of Vaiśhņavi. O gentle lady, Raudri (among the Mothers) is stationed in the remaining Tirthas. O splendid-faced lady, one Tirtha is mentioned as that of Kśhetrapala. 

27. O Mohini, three and a half crores of Tirthas have been mentioned by Vayu. They are intermediary Tīrthas. Some are hidden and some manifest. 

28-29a. These Tīrthas are in the Revå (Narmada) region on the ground, in the atmosphere or in the heaven. The man who takes a holy dip anywhere in these Tīrthas, O blessed lady, becomes pure in soul and attains excellent goal. 

29b-30a. Holy dip, charitable gift, Japa, Homa, the study of the Vedas and the worship of the deity, everything performed on the banks of Narmadā has everlasting benefits. 

30b-3la. The waters of Sarasvati sanctify in three days. O chaste lady, the waters of Yamunā sanctify in seven days. The waters of Gangă are meritorious even in a single dip; but the waters of Narmadā are holy even by their sight. 

31b-32a. Thus, O gentle lady, the multitudes of Tīrthas on Narmadā have been listed. These Tīrthas suppress great sins of those who remember them. 

32b-35. The man who hears about these Tirthas, he who narrates and he who reads this list, O gentle lady, is liberated from sins. There is no fear of pestilence, or from arson in the house where these names of Tirthas have been written down and are revered too. There is no fear from kings, thieves and enemies, nor from sickness. That house is filled with fortune, riches and food-grains perpetually. It is always joyous and auspicious through the marriage and other celebrations of sons, grandsons etc.