Brahmavalli and Khandatirtha

Mahadeva said:

1-10. O chief goddess, a man should then go to the great holy place (called) Brahmavalli. O best goddess, listen to the actual nature of that holy place. That Brahmatirtha where the water of Sabhramati joins the water of Brahmavalli, is said to be equal to Prayaga. By offering pindas there the dead ancestors are gratified for TWELVE

years — as this is the statement of Brahma. Knowing that the religious merit due to a sraddha offered there is equal to that of a sraddha at Gaya, men offer it, and the dead ancestors would (thereby) be pleased. A gift particularly at Brahmavalli has religious merit equal to that due to the gift of a cow, of land or of food also. Here only Sanaka and others having bathed according to the precept, obtained Vishnu's world by meditating upon the position of the highest Brahman. O chief goddess, a man obtains particularly that fruit at Brahmavalli which he obtains by going to Puskara, (bank of) Ganga, and the holy place Amarakantaka. Men obtain that fruit at Brahmavalli which (they get when) they give gifts at the lunar or solar eclipse, O chief goddess. Those who have divine forms and hold conches, discs and maces, also go to heaven on bathing (here), O chief goddess. A man, holding a rosary made of Tulasi(-wood), and remembering Vishnu, goes to the divine Vaikuntha, the highest position (full of) bliss. Thus is the greatness of Brahmavalli-tirtha.

11-12. From there a man should go to Vrsatirtha wellknown as Khandatirtha. Having formerly bathed there the cows went to Goloka. The cows, the mothers of the world, that had fallen due to a curse were protected by Dharma in the form of Khanda; therefore it is called Khandatirtha. Pdrvatl said:

13. Who formerly gave a curse to the cows, the mothers of the world? How did they fall from (their) world? How were they protected by Dharma? Mahddeva said:

14-29. Formerly Vrsa, playing with the mothers in Goloka, discharged feces and urine. That fell on the head of Hara. So, due to their fault Hara gave a curse: " O cows, losing your intellect, you will go to the earth." The cows cursed by the lord, again went to Hara, and requested the god: " May we obtain (i.e. go back to) our world." " When you will bathe in the pool called Khanda near Brahmavalli at the holy place on (the bank of) Sabhramati, you will certainly obtain heaven." Then the cows having bathed with the lord of cows in the pool, (became) most pure (and) went to heaven near Mahadeva. A man having bathed in Gohrada, and having offered oblations to his dead ancestors, obtains Goloka free from heat and destruction The man, who, living there without food, offers pindas to cows, would obtain happiness as long as the fourteen Indras (rule). There is no doubt that a man obtains that fruit at Khandatirtha which he certainly gets by the gift of a crore of cows. Taking a bull's urine, one who drinks the holy water gets purified at that moment only. There is no doubt about it. There was not and there will not be a holy place superior to Khandatirtha. Those men, O best goddess, who go there, are meritorious. Having gone there, a man should worship cows, O best goddess. Then having bathed and being composed he should worship Vrsabha. Undoubtedly by worshipping him he would live in Goloka for a long time. Those men who, having gone there, particularly offer a golden (image of a) cow enjoy happiness as long as the fourteen Indras (rule). A man, who having fashioned (golden images of) ten cows gives them to a brahmana at Khandatlrtha — that is said (to give) infinite fruit, O best goddess. Having gone there the wise should plant a pippala tree. Having done so, O chief goddess, he goes to the world of the dead ancestors. Those who plant five amalaki trees, enjoy happiness in this world and go to Vishnu's world.

 

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTYFIVE

Sangamesvara

Shri Mahddeva said:

1-16. Then (a man) should go to the great, excellent holy place called Sangamesvara, where the auspicious Hastimati has joined Sabhramati. Having received a curse from the sage Kaundinya, the river became dry and came to be known in the world as Bahiscarya. I shall describe to you that auspicious holy place, well-known in the world. It is auspicious, removes all sins, and is well-known in the three worlds. Having bathed at that holy place, and having seen Mahesvara, a man being free from all sins, goes to Rudra's heaven. O goddess, listen. I shall tell you the reason for this curse, due to which curse she became dry. At that place where that auspicious, great river Sabhramati, named Ganga (also) is, Hastimati joined Ganga. There the sage commenced a very severe penance. When so much time passed like this, the noble sage worshipped Narayana Nirafijana (i.e. Vishnu). On her bank, O chief goddess, the sage particularly passed many years. O Parvati, sometime by chance the rainy season arrived. In course of time, O you of a good vow, the river was full (of water). Then at night the sage Kaundinya abandoned that place. At night, he was very unhappy, and crying 'Ha, Ha', he wept piteously. Thinking what to do, he was very much anxious. The very divine hermitage with (i.e. occupied by) the sage, went (i.e. collapsed) into Sabhramati, due to the flood, O best goddess. O beautiful lady, many fruits, roots, and even books, went (i.e. fell) into the river, due to the flood. That best sage Kaundinya cursed the river: " In the Kali-age you will be without water." Having thus given a curse to Hastimati, O great goddess, the best brahmana went to the ancient heaven of Vishnu. Even today that holy place called Sangamesvara exists. Seeing that a sinner is freed from such sins as the murder of a brahmana.

 

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