Paramapada

Paramapada · parama-pada, “the supreme abode”

Grammar: neuter noun; parama (supreme) and pada (step, place, state): “the supreme place”.

Meaning: the supreme abode or state, the highest goal; in this text it is the fruit given for bhakti and for many tīrthas.

In the scriptures: in the Sarva-pāpa-mocana stava, Maheśvara says to Bhagavān Vishṇu: “The sruk and sruva are your forms. You are the parama-pada” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 60).

Prahlāda teaches Bali that the parama pada attained by devotees who always keep in mind the wondrous deeds of Śrī Vishṇu cannot be attained even by tapas for a thousand births (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 67).

In his stotra to Sarasvatī Devī, Mārkaṇḍeya says: “Your paramapada, measured as the half-mātrā, cannot be pointed out as ‘such’. It is changeless, imperishable, divine, free of every change” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 11).

In the Saro Māhātmya the paramapada is the fruit named for many tīrthas of Kurukshetra:

  • Bhagavān Vāsudeva tells Aditi that even those who remember Aditivana from afar attain the paramapada (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 7).
  • One who fasts on Jyeshṭha śukla ekādaśī, has darśana of Vāmana on the dvādaśī, bathes in the Vishṇupada sarovara and gives dāna according to his means gains the paramapada (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 10).
  • Śrāddha at Kapisthala on Caitra śukla caturdaśī, for the pleasure of Bhagavān Śiva, gives the paramapada; and those who seek moksha straight after brahmacarya see the paramapada as soon as they enter Kulottāraṇa (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 15).
  • Of the Sthāṇu tīrtha, Bhagavān Śiva says: “By mere darśana of my liṅga here, brāhmaṇas, kshatriyas, vaiśyas and all others gain the paramapada” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 24).
  • Darśana of the Vaṭeśvara liṅga, installed by Brahmā beside the Sthāṇuvaṭa, grants the paramapada (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 25).

At last Vena‘s son went to Kurukshetra, did severe tapas, worshipped Śaṅkara, gave up his body at his own will and reached the paramapada (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 27). In the Kali yuga, those who worship Mahādeva at the Vasishṭhāśrama with śraddhā and bhakti, fasting and with the senses conquered, attain the paramapada; there is no doubt at all (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 28).

Related terms: Moksha · Vaikuṇṭha · Tīrtha · Kurukshetra · Sthāṇu Tīrtha

Sources

  • Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 60, 67
  • Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapters 7, 10, 11, 15, 24, 25, 27, 28