151 - Greatness of Lohargala

Suta said:

1. After listening to the greatness of Sanandura, Earth asked Varaha again with folded hands.

Earth said:

2. “By knowing this secret, O lord, I have gained great peace of mind.

3. Are there places even greater than Sanandura and more important.

4. O Lord of the worlds, best of Men, great hero, lotuseyed and of the nature of Time.”

5. Hearing these sobbing words of Earth, Lord Vishnu, the remover of all ills of the world, spoke in sweet tone.

Varaha Said:

6. Listen, O goddess, I shall tell you what you ask.

7. My devotee may go to Lohargala in the Himalaya, at a distance of thirty yojanas from Siddhavata, (although it is) situated amidst (settlements of) Mlecchas.

8. It is fifteen yojanas long and five yojanas broad.

9. (Normally) it is inaccessible and intolerable being surrounded by the heinous (Mlecchas), but it can be reached by the virtuous who follow my path. 

10. I stand there in a golden idol facing north.

11. The demons crept in there, but I stopped them with my Vaishnavi maya.

12. I shielded there Brahma, Rudra, Skanda, Indra, Maruts, Adityas, Vasus, Vayu, Ashvins, Soma, Bruhaspati and other celestials.

13. And with my effulgent chakra, quickly annihilated thousands of demons.

14. The gods thus became happy.

15. Thus was this place Lohargala established by me after killing the valiant demons.

  16. He who sees me there with all the effort necessary for it, establishes himself as a great devotee.

17-18. He who bathes there after fasting for three nights and performing all austerities, delights himself in thousands of heavens.

19. And he who gives up life there, gives up all these heavens and reaches my world.

20. I shall tell you about a great wonder there.

21. On the twentyfourth Dvadashi day of the year, an offering is made to me there, which removes all desires.

22. I have installed there a horse, white in colour like the lily, jasmine and conch, and decorated with all kinds of gems.

23. Offerings of bow, arrow, rosary, spouted vessel and seat are made to me over this horse.

24. Climbing the white mountain and falling in the Kuru country, no injury is found sustained.

25. Making numerous forms fall from the sky, the horse remains in the sky calm and composed.

Suta said:

26. Hearing these words of Earth, the great sage (Sanatkumara), son of Brahma became wonderstruck, being influenced by Vishnumaya.

27. And in that state of wonder, he asked again.

Sanatkumara said:

28. O goddess, you are extremely blessed that you got the sight of the lord of the worlds.

29. Tell me all that he told you in the course of your conver— sation with him, as that is conducive to the wellbeing of all.

30. My mind is full of eagerness to know the rare things told by the Lord for the sake of dharma and supported by reason.

31. What did that lotus-eyed god, fond of all devotees, say regarding the deeds prescribed?

Suta said:

32. Hearing these words of the great Sanatkumara, (Earth) spoke to him in sweet words.

33. O dear son, I shall tell you what the Lord of worlds told me at my request.

Varaha said:

34. The performance there of the prescribed actions properly, removes all sins.

35. The horses of mine lead (such devotees and) those of theirs, but none else.

36. There is another important pond called Pancasaras, where four white torrents fall in high speed.

37. He who bathes there after forgoing four meals, goes to the (Gandharva) world Chaitrangada and delights there in the company of Gandharvas.

38. And he who gives up life in that place, gives up the world of Gandharvas, and reaches my world.

39. Then there is Naradakundaa where five torrents fall, each like a palm tree.

40. He who bathes there after foregoing one meal, sees the divine sage Narada and lives with him.

41. And he who gives up life there knowing the secret about me, leaves Narada and reaches my world.

42. Then there is in that place Vasishthakunda where three torrents fall which are neither too big nor too small.

43. He who bathes there after fasting five times, goes to the world of Vasishta and enjoys there.

44. And he who gives up life there, remaining steadfast in my service, gives up the world of Vasishta and reaches my world.

45. Then there is the spot called Panchakunda where five torrents fall from the Himalayan peak.

46. He who bathes there after fasting five times, goes to the world of Sage Panchashikha.

47. And he who gives up life there, after completely conquering the senses, gives it up and attains the highest bliss.

48. Then there is the famous Saptarshikunda where seven torrents fall from Himavan.

49. He who bathes there after giving up seven meals, delights in the world of sages surrounded by their daughters.

50. And He who gives up life there, free from all attachment and desire, gives up the (company of) seven sages and reaches my world.

51. There is Sharabhangakunda where a single torrent falls and flows as the river Sharabhanga.

52. He who bathes there after giving up six meals delights in the world (of Sharabhanga) in the company of daughters of sages.

 53. And he who gives up life there, free from all attachment, leaves Sarabhanga and reaches my world.

54. Then there is the pond called Agnisaras where the water falling on the ground remains still.

55. He who bathes there after fasting eight times, reaches the world of Agnisaras¹ and derives great pleasure.

1. The world of Agni is what to be meant here.

56. And he who gives up life there, remaining in my service, gives up the world of Agni and reaches my world.

57. Then there is the pond of Bruhaspati full of waters of the Vedas, where a single torrent falls from the Himalayan peak.

58. He who bathes there after fasting six times, goes to the world of Bruhaspati surrounded by the daughters of sages.

59. And He who gives up life there, gives up the world of Bruhaspati and reaches my world.

  60. There is the pond of Vaishvanara where a single torrent falls from the Himalayan peak.

61. He who bathes there after foregoing six meals, delights himself in the world of Vaisvanara.

62. And he who gives up life there, remaining in my service, gives up the world of Vaisvanara and reaches my world. 

63. There is the pond of Karttikeya where fifteen torrents fall from the Himalayas.

64. He who bathes there after fasting six times, sees the auspicious six-faced Kumara.

65. And he who gives up life there, after performing Candrayana, gives up Karttikeya and delights in my regions.

66. Then there is the pond called Umakunda where arose Gauri, the consort of Mahadeva. 

67. He who bathes there after fasting during ten nights sees the goddess Gauri and delights in her world.

68. And he who gives up life there, after fasting for ten nights, leaves the world of Uma and reaches my world.

69. There is Maheshvara Kunda which is full of Chakravakas, swans and cranes and where Uma was married (by Maheshvara).

70. Three torrents fall there from the Himalaya mountain, which are big, beautiful and clear.

71. He who bathes there after fasting for twelve days, goes to the world of Rudra and is surrounded by women.

72. And he who gives up life there after performing all austerities, Leaves the world of Rudra and reaches my world.

73. Then there is Brahmakunda from where the Vedas arose and where four torrents representing the four Vedas, fall from the Himalayas.

74. On the eastern side a uniform torrent falls which is high and beautiful and has whitish colour representing Sama. 

75. On the northern side is a torrent of clear water golden in colour and representing Ruk.

76. On the western side is the torrent representing Yajus and on the southern side the one representing Atharva coloured like Indragopa.

77. He who bathes there after fasting for seven nights, reaches the world of Brahma and remains in his company.

78. And he who gives up life there after subduing his ego, gives up the world of Brahma and reaches my world.

79. The man who desires to attain bliss must, therefore, go to this Lohargala of mine.

80. O goddess, this extends over twentyfive yojanas and he who goes there will not have any trace of his actions left in him.

81. This is the greatest of narratives, the highest of all dharmas and the purest of the pure.

82. Those of my devotees who read this or listen to this, liberate ten generations of ancestors and ten generations of successors.

83. Those who desire liberation from samsara should never forget this at the time of death.

84. Thus have I told you about the greatness and secret of Lohargala.

85. It is auspicious and holy and brings about happiness to the devotees.