78 - The Glory of Avanti

Mohini said: 

1. O Brahmaņa, very wonderful is this greatness of Narmada. It has been heard by me as it was described by you. It is destructive of sins. 

2. O blessed holy lord, now tell me the greatness of Avanti ¹ and that of Mahakala worthy of being adored by the Devas. 

Vasu said: 

3. O gentle lady, listen. I shall recount the greatness of Avanti. If duly glorified, it yields merit unto men and destroys their sins. 

4. The grove Mahākālavana is meritorious. It is an excellent place for penance. Lord Mahākāla is perpetually engaged in penance there. 

5. There is no other holy centre on the earth greater than Mahäkālavana. O gentle lady, by visiting it, a man competes with the deities. 

6. O lady of beautiful eyes, by taking a holy dip in the Tirtha named Kapālamochana, with devotion, even a Brāhmaṇa slayer becomes sanctified. 

7. Similarly, by worshipping the deity called Kalakäleśha, the man gains victory in disputes and always succeeds in his undertakings. 

8. There is another Tirtha here viz: The Apsaraḥkunda. The man who plunges therein shall become blessed and enjoy all worldly pleasures. He shall be like Kandarpa (cupid) himself. 

9. One who takes a holy dip in the Kunda called Mahisha shall conquer the enemies in battle. One who takes a holy dip in the lake Rudrasaras is honoured in the world of Rudra. 

1. Avanti is the region with Ujjayini as its capital, though later on they were identified. It is known since the time of Påņini. The NP, states that in different Yugas it was known under different names such as Amarāvati, Kushasthali, Kanakaśhrungå, Padmavati, Kumudvati and Ujjayini. It is associated with Mahakāla, a famous jyotir-linga. The fight between god Shiva and Andhakasura took place in the Mahākālavana in (the country called) Avanti. A number of sub-Tirthas are mentioned in the NP. with the usual recommendations of bath, Tarpaņa, Dana, Shraddha etc. The SKP. has devoted one Volume (Khanda) to describe the great sanctity of Avanti. 

10. By visiting Kundaleśhvara and by worshipping the deity in accordance with the injunctions, the devotee gains in business and activities and becomes a favourite of Shiva. 

11. By taking a holy dip in the Tirtha called Vidyadhara, the man becomes purified. By worshipping Mārkandeśhvara the devotee becomes rich and long-lived. 

12. If a man worships goddess Shitala stationed in Kalavana, he need never fear swelling boils (smallpox). 

13. By visiting the holy centre Svargadvåra, by taking a holy bath and by worshipping Sadāshiva, a man never attains wretchedness. He is honoured in the heavenly world. 

14. By visiting the holy centre Rājasthala and taking a holy dip in the oceanic Tīrtha, the devotee attains the excellent benefit of holy ablution in all the Tīrthas. 

15. By taking a holy bath in the tank of Shankara, the man of regular holy observances attains desired pleasures and in the end goes to the city of Rudra. 

16-17. By worshipping Shankarāditya, a man shall be invincible. By taking a holy dip in the Nilagangā and by devoutly worshipping goddess Gandhavati, the man is liberated from all sins. By taking a holy dip in Daśhāśhvamedha, one attains the benefit of a horse-sacrifice. 

18. By visiting the shrine of the goddess Ekānamśhă (?), and by worshipping the goddess of Devas with scents, fragrant flowers etc. one attains the desired benefits. 

19-20a. By worshipping Harasiddhi a man shall be a lord of all Siddhis. By worshipping the fourteen deities beginning with Piśhāchaka, a man obtains the desired benefits. No doubt need be entertained in this regard. 

20b-21. The man who takes a holy dip in the lake of Rudras and worships Hanumatkeśhvara with faith, shall attain riches. By worshipping Vālmikeśhvara, one shall become a storehouse of all lores. 

22. The man who worships Shukreśhvara and other Lingas faithfully shall be richly endowed with worldly pleasures and shall be free from ailments. 

23. By worshipping Pañcheśhana, a man shall attain all Siddhis. By roaming over Kuśhasthali, the devotee attains the desired benefit. 

24. By worshipping Akrūreśha, one attains fearlessness from cruel persons and beings. By taking a holy plunge in Mandākini, one shall attain the benefit of a holy dip in the Ganga. 

25. By worshipping Ankapada, a man shall become an attendant of Shiva. By worshipping Chandrāditya, one shall attain different worldly pleasures. 

26. By worshipping Karabheśhvara, one shall attain happiness of vehicles. By worshipping Laddukapriya Vighnesha (Vighnesha fond of sweets) one shall be happy. 

27-28a. By worshipping Kusumeśha and others, one enjoys all pleasures. By taking a holy dip in the Yajñavāpi and by worshipping Mārkandesha, the man obtains the benefit of all Yajñas. He stays in heaven for the period of a Yuga. 

28b-29. O chaste lady, by taking the holy dip in the Somavati and by worshipping Someśhvara, the man obtains the desired benefits both here and hereafter. O Mohini, by worshipping in Yåtanakalana, the man never faces tortures in hell. 

30-31. By worshipping Narakeśha, one attains the goal of heavenly world. By worshipping Kedaresha, Rāmeśhvara, Saubhāgyeśha and Narāditya, the devotee obtains the desired benefit. By worshipping Keśhavārka, the man shall be a favourite of Keśhava. 

32-34a. By taking a holy dip in Shaktibheda, one is liberated from terrible and difficult calamities. By taking a holy dip in Svarņakşhura Brahmavāpi and by worshipping Abhayeśhvara and Agastyeśha, O daughter of Brahmā, one shall become the abode of all riches. The man who perfectly worships Omkāreśha and other Lingas, shall obtain all desires. Thanks to the grace of Maheśha. 

34b-35a. O gentle lady, there is no limit to the number of Lingas in Mahākālavana. By worshipping any Linga situated anywhere, one shall be a favourite of Shiva. 

35b-36. The names of Avanti are Kanakaśhrungā, Kuśhasthali, Avantika, Padmăvati, Kumudvati and Ujjayini. In every Kalpa it has a different name. It is called Viśhāla and Amarāvati as well. 

37. The man who takes bath in Shiprā river and worships Mahesha, shall attain his cherished desires, thanks to the grace of the deity. 

38-39a. By taking a holy dip in the Gomati Kunda the man obtains heavenly goal. By taking a holy dip in Vamana Kunda, by eulogising Shridhara, the lord of all Devas, by uttering his thousand names, a man shall becomc Hari himself on the earth. 

39b-40a. He who takes a holy dip in the lake Vireśhasaras and worships Kålabhairava, enjoys riches and attains śhiva’s world. 

40b-41a. He who visits Kuțumbeśhvara and worships him with various means of service, achieves his different cherished desires, and in the end achieves heavenly goal. 

41b-42a. He who worships Devamādhava in the Devaprayagasaras derives devotion for Mädhava and attains the region of Vişhnu. 

42b-43a. O chaste lady, he who takes a holy bath in the Tirtha of Karkarāja with controlled mind, shall be rid of all ailments. He shall become rich and enjoyer of pleasures. 

43b-44. The man who faithfully worships Vighnesha Bhairava, Umā, Rudras, Adityas and other Devas in the course of his pilgrimage in the Antargruha (?) with whatever means that are available, shall gain heavenly world. 

45-46. O lady, there are many other Tirthas in Rudrasaras. By worshipping Shankara in them, the man shall be happy. By taking a holy dip in the Aśhțatirthi (collection of eight Tīrthas), the man obtains the benefit of pilgrimage to Kālāraṇya. O daughter of Brahmā, truth, it is the truth that has been mentioned by me. 

47. Thus everything in regard to the greatness of Avanti has been narrated. By listing to the greatness of Avanti, the man is liberated from all sins.