150 - Greatness of Sanandura

Suta said:

1. Earth was very happy to listen to the greatness of Dvaraka and spoke to the Lord again, being desirous of knowing dharma.

Earth said:

2. “I am extremely delighted that you have been pleased to tell me all this.

3. If you are pleased to favour me further, tell me if there is any place even more important than this.”

4. Hearing these words of Earth, Vishnu in the form of the boar, spoke to her.

Varaha said:

5. There is the holy place called Sanandura to the north of sea and the south of Malaya mountain.

6. There I stand facing north in an idol which is neither very tall nor very short.

7. Some consider this idol to be of iron, others to be of copper, some others to be of bronze yet others to be of tin and still others to be of stone. Such is its wonder.

8. Now listen to the holy spots there which help people to cross the ocean of samsara.

9. one wonder in Sanandura is that a golden lotus appears there at noon. 

10-11. In the spot called Ramagruha there, a big tree with a single creeper spread over it, stands in the sea, but it is not visible to any one (other than my devotees).

12. Another wonder I may tell you, O Earth, which also my devotees alone are able to see.

13-14. There are multitudes of fish there, but if a pinda is thrown amidst them, none touches it until it is received by a big fish with the mark of disc on it.

15. There is the lake called Ramasaras which is deep and broad and adorned with red lotuses.

16. He who bathes there after fasting for a night, goes to the abode of Budha and makes himself happy there.

17. And he who gives up life there, leaves the abode of Budha and goes to my world.

18. Now listen to the wonder in the Ramasaras which people other than my devotees do not see.

19. This lake extends over one krosha and has around it numerous bushes and creepers.

20. It is attractive with numerous lotuses in every part of it and also with other water plants. There is amidst them one white lotus which is of silver.

21. On the northern side is the Brahmasaras where falls a single torrent shaped like a mace.

22. He who bathes there after foregoing six meals reaches the world of Brahma and delights himself there.

23. And he who gives up life in this Brahmasaras, reaches my world being permitted by Brahma.

24. Know you now the wonder in Brahmasaras which my devotees see.

25. The single torrent (about which told you) falls on the earth at noon on the twentyfourth Dvadashi day of the year.

26. Soon after noon, this ceases to fall on earth. Such is the wonder in this holy Brahmasaras.

27. There is the place called Sangamana where the sea and Rama remain together.

28. There we get of a pond placid water with bushes and creepers all around and charming with birds.

29. It is just at a distance of one yojana from the sea and is full of fragrant lotuses and lilies.

30. He who bathes there a tuer foregoing six meals, goes to the abode of (the lord of) sea and from there to my world.

31. I shall tell you about the wonder in that Sangama seeing which people move about happily free from all ailments.

32. The leaves falling in the water there are never seen in it.

33. The leaves (in the trees) in Ramasangama have no holes in them. No hole is seen in them even by my devotees.

34. At a distance of half a yojana in the eas is the holy Shakrasaras.

35. Four streaks of clear water fall in the pond there.

36. He who bathes there after foregoing four meals, reaches the worlds of four (principal) guardian deities of the quarters.¹

1. These are Indra, Yama, Varuna and Soma.

37. And he who gives up life there, gives up the worlds of guardian deities and reaches my world.

38. I shall tell you the wonder seen there by the pure devotees.

39. The four streaks fall on the four sides. They never increase or decrease in their flow.

40. And on the Dvadashi day in the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada, highly pleasant music is heard there.

41. Then there is the place called Surparaka where we get the hermitage of Parashurama.

42. There I take abode facing north with a Shalmali (silk-cotton) tree in front on the shore of the sea.

43. He who takes bath there after foregoing food five times, goes to the world of sages and sees Arundhati there.

44. And he who gives up life there, after performing all austerities, gives up the world of sages and reaches my world.

45. Those who prostrate there in reverence, get the benefit of prostrating for twelve years.

  46. The Shalmali tree is visible only to my devotees and not to those who are sinful;

47. And that too only on the twenty-fourth Dvadashi day in the year. 

48. On the north-western side we get the lake called Jatakunda.

49. It spreads over ten yojanas and lies to the north of the sea and south of Malaya.

50. He who bathes there after fasting five times, goes to the abode of Agasti and delights himself there.

51. And he who gives up life there thinking of me, leaves the abode of agasti and reaches my world.

52. Nine streams fall into this lake and it is deep like the sea.

53. Know you the wonder there which is seen only by my devotees and not by others.

54. On the twentyfourth Dvadashi day of the year when the sun rises, the water does not swell but remains steady.

55. I have thus told you about Sanandura, its expanse and wonders which increase devotion.

56. This is the greatest secret and the holiest of all.

57. He who goes there remaining in the eight-fold path, attains the highest. I assure so.

58. He who reads this every day and he who listens to it, liberate six generations of ancestors and six generations of successors.

59. This should not be forgotten at the time of death, if easy passage to the world of Vishnu is desired.

60. I have thus told you what you asked me about for the sake of devotees. What else do you wish to ask?