Chapter 55 - Ganeśa Proceeds on a Mission to Kāśī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Skanda said:

1. O Kuṃbhayoni (Pot-born Sage), listen. I shall speak to you about the Liṅgas that the other Gaṇas installed there at Kāśī.

2. The Liṅga of Śaṃbhu named Piṅgalākhyeśa was installed to the north of Kapardīśa by the Gaṇa named Piṅgala.

3. Merely by visiting it, sins are eradicated. Vīrabhadra was a great favourite of the Trident-bearing Lord of Devas.

4. Even today, one should steadily meditate upon Vīrabhadreśvara Liṅga. Merely by visiting it attainment of heroic powers takes place.

5. By worshipping Vīrabhadreśvara behind Avimukteśvara, one shall be victorious. He will never face obstacles or defeat in battle.

6. O sage, Vīrabhadra himself possesses the body of a hero. He destroys the mass of obstacles of the residents of Avimukta.

7. By worshipping Vīrabhadra accompanied by his auspicious and splendid spouse Bhadrakālī a man obtains the benefit of residence at Kāśī.

8. Kirāteśa Liṅga was installed to the south of Kedāra in Kāśī by Kirāta. It bestows freedom from fear on the devotees.

9. A glorious Gaṇa, Caturmukha, is meditating steadily even today on Caturmukheśvara Liṅga near Vṛddhakāleśa.

10. The devotees of Caturmukheśa are honoured by the groups of Suras in heaven including Brahmā. They are endowed with all pleasures.

11. After visiting Nikuṃbheśvara adored by the Gaṇa Nikuṃbha and worshipping it, if one proceeds to (his) village one shall surely attain the fulfilment of the task. He is honoured in Śivaloka near Kubereśa.

12. After duly adoring Pañcakeśa, the great Liṅga to the south of Mahādeva in Kāśī, the man shall attain the power of remembering previous birth.

13. By meditating on Bhārabhūteśvara Liṅga adored by Bhārabhūta Gaṇa, at the northern gate of Antargṛha, the devotee shall stay in Śivapura.

14. Those by whom Bhārabhūteśvara Liṅga has not been visited in Kāśī, have become burdens unto the earth like non-fruit-bearing trees.

15. Tryakṣeśvara, a great Liṅga, is being meditated upon even today by the Gaṇa named Tryakṣa in front of the Threeeyed Lord, O Pot-born One.

16. Those who are devotees of that Liṅga become threeeyed ones (like Śiva) on death. No doubt need be entertained in this regard.

17. The leader of Gaṇas named Kṣemaka who assumed a form himself in Kāśī, even today steadily meditates on the omnipresent Viśveśvara.

18. If a devotee worships Kṣemaka, a great Gaṇa, in Vārāṇasī, all his obstacles get dissolved. There shall be welfare (for him) at every step.

19. If someone has gone to another land, Kṣemaka should be worshipped with a desire for his safe return. He will immediately return safe and sound.

20. By visiting Lāṅgalīśvara adored by Lāṅgalin on the northern side of Viśveśa a man never falls ill.

21. By worshipping even once Lāṅgalīśa, one obtains the entire benefit of the gift of five ploughs. It endows all (kinds of) riches.

22. By propitiating Virādheśvara worshipped by the Gaṇa named Virādha, one is free from crimes though one might have committed all the offences.

23. A crime committed by the residents of Kāśī, becomes wiped off instantaneously by the adoration of Virādheśa.

24. By assiduously bowing down to Virādheśa to the southwest of Daṇḍapāṇi, one is freed from all offences; there is no doubt about it.

25. By visiting Sumukheśa, a great Liṅga, that faces west and that was adored by the Gaṇa named Sumukha, one is rid of all sins.

26. By taking the holy dip in Pilipilā Tīrtha and visiting Sumukheśa one will always see the pleasant-faced Dharmarāja (god of Death) and not the wry-faced one.

27. By devoutly visiting on the new-moon day in the month of Āsāḍha, the Liṅga named Āṣāḍhīśvara adored by Āṣāḍhī, a man becomes rid of all sins.

28. By worshipping Āṣāḍhīśa to the north of Bhārabhūteśa, on the new-moon day of the month of Āṣāḍha, one is never distressed by sins.

29. By undertaking the annual Yātrā (pilgrimage) on the fourteenth or fifteenth lunar day in the Śuci months of Jyeṣṭha and Āṣāḍha in the bright half, a man becomes free from sins.

Skanda said:

30-31. O sage, when these Gaṇas stayed behind in Vārāṇasī after installing Liṅgas after their names for the delight of Viśveśa, Viśveśa thought again regarding the city of Kāśī: ‘Which good one shall I send today and get the greatest delight?

32. The Yoginīs, the hot-rayed Sun, the Creator, the Gaṇas beginning with Śaṅkukarṇa—these have not returned from Kāśī like the rivers that flow into the ocean.

33. Certainly those who have entered Kāśī have entered my abdomen. They have no outlet like Havis offered in a well-kindled fire.

34. Those who are engaged in the worship of Liṅgas and have permanent stay in Kāśī are undoubtedly my mobile Liṅgas.

35. Mobile and immobile, sentient and otherwise—all are my Liṅgas. Those who hate them are wicked ones.

36. Those in whose mouth there is Vārāṇasī, those in whose ears there is the story of Viśveśvara—only they are the Liṅgas of Kāśī worthy of being worshipped as I am.

37. Yama will not overpower them from whose mouths these clear words—Vārāṇasī, Kāśī and Rudravāsa—come out.

38. Those who, after reaching Ānanda Kānana, yearn for any other place (city) that is not the place of bliss, remain always devoid of bliss here.

39. Let death come today or after a long time, Kāśī should never be abandoned by men for fear of Kali (Age) and Kāla (god of Death).

40. Inevitable events will take place at every step. It is persons without intellect who abandon Kāśī that is the abode of prosperity.

41. It is better to endure thousands of obstacles at every step in Kāśī and not elsewhere. One should never desire an unimpeded kingdom anywhere else.

42. How many moments (eye-winkings) can prosperity be enjoyed continuously? But Kāśikā yields great pleasure continuously here and hereafter.

43. I, the Lord of the universe, am the lord (here). Kāśikā is the illuminator of salvation. The celestial river has nectarine waves. What is it that this combination of three does not bestow?

44. This city is limited to five Krośas (Krośa = three Kms.); but its prosperity is of unlimited extent. It is the cause of the salvation of a devotee.

45. Certainly my city, Kāśī, alone is the place of permanent rest for those who come and go and are distressed due to the burden of the worldly existence.

46. This pavilion of wish-yielding creepers bearing abundant fruits of fulfilled cherished desires, is called Kāśikā. It is always at the disposal of wayfarers of worldly existence.

47. This Kāśī is the wonderful and distress-dispelling umbrella of the emperor Nirvāṇarāja (‘king of liberation’). Its supporting rod is my lifted-up trident.

48. For the acquisition of incessant happiness, Kāśī should never be abandoned by men of meritorious nature who sportingly desire the glory of salvation.

49. Those who permanently take up their residence in my Ānandavana get here the tasty fruits of the glorious salvation.

50. Kāśī enchants even me despite the fact that I am Nirmama (free from desire of possessions) and Nirmoha (free from delusion). By whom should not that enchantress of the universe be remembered?

51. Her very name is also sweet. It manifests the greatest bliss. Why is she not repeated in Japa by those with merits in possession?

52. If people incessantly imbibe the nectarine name of Kāśī, their pathway certainly becomes lustrous and nectarine.

53. I am the Ātman of all. I am free from Mamatā (sense of possession). Indeed in this world only those who repeat the name of Kāśī are the people belonging to me.

54. It was after knowing this secret of Vārāṇasī that the Gaṇeśvaras along with the Yoginīs, the Sun and Brahmā stayed there itself and not with any other purpose.

55. If not, how can those Yoginīs, Sun-god, Brahmā and those Gaṇas forsake me and stay elsewhere?

56. A great good has resulted by their staying behind in Kāśī. Even one of them may be able to create split in the kingdom without (the assistance) of another country (intervening).

57. Those who have gained entry are entirely persons having my forms. They will surely try for my arrival there.

58. I shall send others too from my attendants. Though those who have gone there are all excellent ones, yet I too shall go.’

59-60. After reflecting thus Mahādeva called Gajānana and sent him after telling him thus: “O my son, go to Kāśī from here. Staying there, endeavour for the accomplishment of our purpose along with the Gaṇas without any obstacle. Create obstacles in the case of the king.”

61. Keeping the command of Dhūrjaṭi on his head, Gaṇādhīśa well conversant with the situation, hastened to Kāśī for a stay there.