141 - The greatness of Badarikäshrama

Varãha said:

1. Now listen to another secret on the surface of the Himavat mountain, namely the holy place Badari which is not easily accessible even to Devas.

2. People do not reach there by their actions, however difficult to perform they may be. They reach only by devotion this place which liberates all.

3. It is not easy to reach this place of mine in the rocky peak   full of snow. But he who is able to go there will be really gratified.

4. In that heap of rocks there is Brahmakunda. O Earth, I remain there in that snow.

5. The man who bathes there after fasting for three nights attains merit equal to performing   sacrifice.  

6. And, if after performing the vows and with full control of the senses, he gives up life there, he crosses Satyaloka and reaches my world.

7. In that place, there is the spot called Agnisatyapada, where water falls in torrents from three peaks.

8. He who bathes there after fasting for three nights becomes truthful, clever and devoted to my service.

9. He who dies there too, crosses Satyaloka and reaches my world and enjoys there.

10. In Badari, there is my hermitage known as Indraloka where I was most sincerely propitiated by Indra.

11. Here too from the peaks water falls in big torrents in a broad slab which is dear to me.

12. He who bathes there after fasting for a night becomes truthful and pure and remains high in Satyaloka.

13. And he who gives up life there after performing the vow called Anäšhaka, crosses Satyaloka and reaches my world.

14. There is the tirtha called Pañchašhikha in Badari where water falls from five peaks.

15. He who bathes there attains the merit of Ašhvamedha sacrifice and delights himself in the company of Devas.

16. He who dies there after performing all austerities, crosses Svargaloka and remains high in my world.

17. In that great place of mine there is the spot called Chatuhsrotas where water falls in streaks, one each in the four directions.

18. He who bathes there after fasting for a night delight in heaven and becomes my devotee.

19. And if he dies there after performing all austerities, crosses heaven and reaches my world.

20. There is another spot called Vedadhära there wherein from the mouths of Brahma emanated the four Vedas.

21. Four big peaks are there in that place in the Himälaya and from these four torrents fall.

22. He who bathes there after fasting for four nights gets the capacity to easily master the four Vedas.

23. And if he dies there standing in my service, he crosses the world of Devas and reaches my world.

24. Then there is another spot called Dvädašhädityakunda, where the twelve Ädityas were settled by me.

  25. There a big slab fall twelve streaks of water facilitating service to me.

26. He who bathes in any one of these twelve streaks, goes there where the twelve Ädityas lord.

27. And if he dies there, he crosses the place of these Ädityas and remains high in my world.

28. There is the spot called Lokapäla where the guardians of quarters were settled by me.

29. There in the middle of the mountain is a pond from where by splitting the rocks arose Soma.

30. He who bathes There on the Dvädašhï day in the month of Jyeshtha, delights with guardian deities of the quarters and becomes my devotee.

31. And if he dies there, remaining in my service, he crosses the world of these guardian deities and reaches my world.

32. There is a very holy spot called Merorvara from where the Mount Meru settled itself.

33. Three torrents bright like gold fall from There but become invisible at the place where they fall.

34. He who bathes there after fasting for three nights, delights himself in the peaks of Meru and becomes my devotee.

35. And if he dies there, he crosses the Meru and reaches my world.

36. There is another important tirtha called Mänasodbheda where water gushes forth piercing the earth.

37. Even Devas do not know about this place, but men know since the water comes forth from under the earth. 

38. HE who bathes there after fasting for a full day and night delights in the heavenly Mänasa and becomes my devotee.

39. Then there is the holy spot called Pañchašhira where Brahma clipped off one of his heads.

40. Five ponds are there amidst big rocks in the place of five heads.

41. The one in the centre has water red in colour and this represents the head cut off by Brahma.

42. He who bathes there after fasting for five nights, delights in Brahmaloka and becomes my devotee.

43. And if he dies in this Pañchašhira after performing Jalachändräyana and remaining steadfast in my service,

44. He becomes clever and prudent and free from desire and stupor, and crossing the Brahmaloka reaches my world.

45. There is another tirtha named where Soma (Moon) was crowned by me as the king of Brahmins.

46. O Earth, I was propitiated there by the Moon by austerities numbering fourteen crores.

47. He attained great powers because of this. The whole world is now dependent on him, as also the cereals and all herbs.

48. Skanda, Indra and Maruts are born from him and also disappear in him, and everything will be of Soma.

  49. There is a spot called Somagiri where there is a torrent of water falling in cavity.

50. He who bathes there after fasting for three nights, delights himself in the world of Soma.

51. And if he dies there after performing austerities, he crosses Somaloka and reaches my world.

52. In that sacred Badari there is the holy Urvašhikunda where Urvašhi was born out of the right thigh.

53. There I was performing penance for the sake of Devas. None knew me.

54. A long time passed as I was performing penance there. Even the gods like Indra, Brahma and Shiva did not know me then.

55. Result is certain in Badari and I performed penance for many thousands of years.

56. In fact, I continued like that for millions of years.

57. As I was in this secret place, Devas could not see me and they became very sad.

58. O Earth, while I was engaged in that penance, I could see every one, but none could see me because of my power of illusion.

59. Then the gods went to Brahma and told him that without Vishnu they could have no peace of mind.

60. Hearing the words of Devas, Brahma said that I was concealed from them by the enveloping Mäyä.

61. Then Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Saints became very much pleased.

62. Headed by Indra they came where I was and said:

631 ‘‘O Lord, we are all unhappy being forsaken by you. Save us by your blessing”. 

64. I then cast a glance at them and they became happy.

65. He who- bathes in the Urvašhikunda after fasting for a night, gets absolved of all sins and delights in the Urvašhiloka for all time.

 66. And he who gives up life there remaining in my service, becomes freed of all merits and sins and merges in me.

67. He who thinks of this holy Badari reaches the abode of   never to return.

  68. He who listens to this or recites this remaining truthful, celibate and free from anger,

69. Or remaining in contemplation and he who understands the secret of such contemplation,

70. And understands the self, attains supreme beatitude.