The Greatness of Ganatirtha

Mahadeva said:

1-15. One intent on a pilgrimage to holy places, should then go to Ganatirtha. It is called Trivistapa by Shiva's attendants and is on the bank of Candana. A man bathing on the full-moon day at Trivistapa, and being composed, is freed from (the sin of) the murder of a brahmana. No doubt should be entertained about this. He too, the noble and meritorious one, who stays at Trivistapa during the four months of the rainy season, is also honoured in Rudra's world. A man, having bathed at Ganatirtha and fasted on the Astami (day), and having bathed at the confluence of Bakula, goes to heaven. A man, having bathed at that holy place and having seen Bakulesa, would obtain the position of the chief of Shiva's attendants due to the grace of the lord of Shiva's attendants. A man hearing (about) this which is pure, very meritorious, increasing religious merit and (span of) life, obtains religious merit equal to (that obtained from) a bath in Ganga. Having stayed here, a man, observing a fast, with his senses controlled and composed, who thus mutters the names of the charming lord of Shiva's attendants, obtains all pleasures. This is the truth and the (only) truth, O you of a beautiful face. (There was) the powerful king, Visvadatta, of the lunar dynasty. He practised penance here for a long time, O chief goddess. Then due to Shri Ganesha's grace he obtained the position of the chief of Shiva's attendants. All the meritorious sages like Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Hoda, Kausltaka, Bharadvaja. Angiras, Visvamitra and Vamana, everyday serve (the lord) due to Ganesha's grace, O great goddess. A sonless man obtains sons, a poor man gets wealth, an ignorant man obtains knowledge, and a man desiring salvation would obtain salvation. O you beautiful lady, what is the use of repeatedly talking profusely about any other thing? He who would bathe here and offer worship, is freed from all sins, and goes to the highest position of Vishnu, (and reaches) Shiva of the form of Vishnu, and Vishnu of the form of Shiva. Due to Vishnu's grace, O goddess, I do not see any difference (between the two of us).

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTYNINE

The Greatness of Agnipdlesvara

Mahddeva said:

1 -19a. On the northern bank of Sabhramati (the holy place called) Agnitirtha is known. The holy place Tirthapalesvara is situated not far away in the north-eastern direction from her, where Candi has settled. That seat of the Yogamatrs brings in complete welfare. There the great mothers have stayed with great effort and for favouring the world. A man of a firm vow, having stayed there for three nights, should go to that god Candikesvara, the lord of gods. Having bathed in Sabhramati near Matrtirtha, he being fully concentrated, should go to Matrmandala. A man obtains the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows after having bathed at Agnitirtha and seen Camunda. For him there is no fear from demons, evil spirits and goblins. O chief goddess, at the place where river Gokhura has joined Sabhramati, there are thousands of holy places. O Parvati, there a sraddha should be offered with Sheshamum powder. (A man) having offered pindas and fed brahmanas, would obtain an undecaying position. There was a king Kukardama, who was most sinful, irresistible, wicked, foolish, who possessed ego, who censured brahmanas, killed cows and children, who was most sinful and always indomitable. O chief goddess, when he was ruling in the city called Pindara, he died at an auspicious time. He who was dead, was born here as an evil spirit, O great goddess. He, of a yellow face, with his mouth parched up, having yellow hair, and harsh, very tall, having profuse hair, oppressed by hunger and thirst, subsisting on air, moved here and there. Accompanied by many evil spirits he wailed 'Ha, Ha'. The evil spirits near him also said: " What should be done? " Those other wicked evil spirits also crying and oppressed by hunger, thirst etc., came in contact with the king. With the king they moved to many uninhabited countries. On the way neither water nor food was ever seen (by them). Those evil spirits of wicked forms moved on the earth. They ate the flesh of corpses and always drank blood. King Kukardama was thus always surrounded by them. Some time by chance he went to the hermitage of (his) preceptor. He had done religious acts in the former existence. Due to that he came in contact (with the preceptor). Pdrvatl said:

19b-20. O master, O lord of the universe, tell (me) what religious deeds he did. This was a sinner, a wicked one, and troubled brahmanas. How did he have good company. Tell it to me (though) difficult. Mahadeva said:

21-29a. I shall tell (you) all that this king had done in the previous existence. Listen (to it), O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain. O goddess, in his previous existence, he was a brahmana who recited the Vedas. Having everyday worshipped Mahadeva, and honoured guests, this best brahmana took his food. Due to the prowess of that religious merit, he became a king in the city of Pindara, and was known as Kukardama. Through his body and mind, he did not perform religious acts. Due to that (ill) luck, he died and became the king of the evil spirits. His face was dry, his figure was dry, his complexion was yellow, and he was fearful. O chief goddess, (the effect of) the religious deeds done in a former existence does not perish. Due to that religious merit he came in the company of the preceptor in the (latter's) hermitage. Kahoda lived there. He saw the king of the evil spirits, whose face was dry, figure was dry, complexion was yellow, and who was fearful. His eyes were deep, he was a great sinner, and was accompanied by wicked evil spirits. His hair was raised, he had matted hair, he was of the nature of death, and was fierce. Seeing him like that at that time, the brahmana (Kahoda) was afflicted. Kahoda said:

29b-31. At this charming, very wonderful place, viz. at the holy place of Agnipalesvara, I always live. O king, you are our patron. How have your become the king of the evil spirits? On this auspicious earth, due to the result of which deeds have you become a wicked one, of a wicked form, of the nature of death, and fierce? The evil spirit said:

32-39. O brahmaria, listen to the sin I committed in the previous existence. I was king Kukardama in the city called Pindaraka O divine one, listen to what I, living there, did. Formerly, (I indulged in) killing brahmanas, telling lies etc. I harassed my subjects, always killed beings. I harmed the cows, and destroyed brahmanas' vows. O brahmana, I always remained without a bath. I hurt the good. I was always given to censuring Vishnu, and blamed the devotees of Vishnu. My conduct was bad, I was wicked, and was always accompanied by shudra females. I ate anywhere, and was never intent on being pure. Due to that (evil) deed, O lord of brahmanas, I died and reached the stock of an evil spirit and have become unhappy in many ways. The preceptor alone is the kinsman, the preceptor, the mother, the father of him who does not have a mother, a father, relatives and kinsmen. Realising this, O brahmana, please relieve me. Kahoda said:

40-46. Listen, O best king. I shall do as you tell me. You will instantly attain salvation. There is no doubt about it. Even the pre-eminent evil spirits who are in your company, will also get release, especially at this excellent holy ploce. Then, O chief goddess, that brahmana, having gone to the holy place, made them perform rites like offering water with Sheshamum-seeds. There is no (restriction as to) month or date. Repeatedly going to a holy place, one should perform rites like a sraddha as formerly told by Brahma to me. O goddess, when the (sraddha-)rite was performed at the chief holy place, they were released and seated in an aeroplane they went to my city. O chief goddess, bathing and giving gifts at the place where Gokhura has joined Sabhramati, would secure the fruit of a crore of sacrifices. Salvation is said to be obtained there, where there would be (i.e. is) the holy place Agnitirtha called Kapalesvara. It would certainly be true (and) true (only).

 

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