Part 3a - Places of Pilgrimage

All religions have emphasized the sacredness and purity of certain sites, localities, mountains, river, confluences, wells, towns, cities, etc., and have recommended pilgrimage to these holy sites. These sites are considered very holy and a visit to them are said to be very rewarding. Liberation (mokṣa) is one of the four aims of life (puruṣārthas). It is a common belief that one of the ways or means to attain liberation is going to pilgrimage. The description and the glorification of the holy places called tīrthas form a special and important topic of the Purāṇas. These tīrthas are scattered all over in India and they provide a deep religious inspiration to the Hindus.

The Matsyapurāṇa has mentioned many tīrthas of Bhārata. It has given a vast discussion on the Prayāga māhātmya and Narmadā māhātmya as well. The river Narmadā is one hundred (100) yojanās in length and two (2) yojanās in breadth. It is notable that sixty (60) crores and sixty thousand (60,000) holy places are situated on the banks of this river around mountain Amarakaṇṭaka.^[1] A bath in Narmadā leads one to the acquisition of the fruit of Aśvamedha sacrifice. In short, it is so sacred that it liberates a person even from the sin of diabolical deeds.^[2] This river originated from the body of Rudra for the welfare of the world.^[3] It is prognosticated by the Fish-God to Manu to survive from the imminent dissolution.^[4] It is the mind-born daughter of the Somapā pitṛs.^[5] It is said to be Dakṣināpathagāmini, i.e., it flows southwards. It purifies all the people.^[6]

Prayāga:

The extension of Prayāga or modern Allahabad is said in the Mp to be five yojanas. This is a famkous place of pilgrimage even today. Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva are said to reside there for the protection and the averting of sin. To the north of the town Pratiṣṭhāna, Brahmā is said to reside in disguise. Viṣṇu resides there as Venīmādhāva and Śiva as a Banyan tree. Hence, it is said that all other gods and demi gods reside there and protect Prayāga.^[7] The chapters 103,104,105,106,107,108,109,110,111 and 112 of the Matsyapurāṇa are on glorification of Prayāga. It is a pitṛtīrtha which fulfils the desires of the worshipper. God Śiva in the form of Vaṭeśvara resides there together with Mādhava, i.e., Viṣṇu.^[8]

Avimukta or Varanasi:

The Matsyapurāṇa describes the glory of Avimuktakṣetra which is nothing but other than Varanasi or Kāśī in six long chapters, viz., 180, 181, 182, 183, 184 and 185. It is said here that the East-West land of this place is two yojanās, while North-South land is one half yojanā.^[9] The east west length is two yojanās and the north south length is one half yojanās.^[10] It is also described here that this tīrtha extends from Bhismacandika river to the river Śukla.^[11] This place is named Avimukta because lord Śiva had promised that he would never leave this tīrtha. This tīrtha is superior to Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, Gaṅgādvāra and Puṣkara.^[12] According to Śiva, Avimukta or Varanasi is his most favourite place and as such he never leaves this place.^[13] In Varanasi, Śiva resides in the form of the liṅga called kṛttivāsa. The river Gaṅgā flows by its side.^[14] It is said that the very sight of this tīrtha is believed to destroy all sins.^[15]

In this way the Matsyapurāṇa has glorified Avimukta or Varanasi. However, though here Avimukta is identified with Varanasi, now-a-days there is a tīrtha called Avimukta which is situated near Varanasi where Śiva is called Avimukteśvara.

Gayā:

This place is known after Gaya, the son of Ila who was known as Sudyumna when he was a Kiṃpuruṣa.^[16] It is the best of pitṛtīrthas. Brahmā himself resides here. It is believed that if even one son goes and performs a śrāddha at Gayā, it gives great satisfaction to the pitṛs^[17]

Koṭitīrtha:

This tīrtha belongs to Prayāga.^[18] Here many demons were killed by the gods and hence this name. Koṭiśara Śiva was installed here by the gods.^[19] The goddess Kotavī is worshipped here. It is mentioned in the Prayāgamāhātmya that a person giving up his life here enjoys pleasures in the heaven for a period of crores of years.^[20]

Godāvarī:

This is a pitṛtīrtha. It is situated near the Godāvarī river which teem with myriads of Śivaliṅgas. It is an exceedingly holy place. It is extended up to Jāmadagnya. It is also known as Apsaroyuga. The performance of śrāddha, Agnihotra sacrifice and charity in this tīrtha is held million times more sacred than elsewhere.^[21]

Gokarṇa:

It is a holy place for the performance of śrāddha.^[22] It is believed to be especially sacred because of Siva’s presence there.^[23] It is said that once Chāyā, the mother of Yama was partial to her Manu for which Yama became angry and raised his right leg to strike her for this discriminative attitude. Chāyā cursed him that his leg would be eaten by worms. Yama then went to Gokarṇa and practised penance here for a myriad of years to propitiate Śiva.^[24] Śiva became pleased and gave him three boons.

Kurukṣetra:

The king Kuru crossing beyond Prayāga, established Kurukṣetra. It is a great sacred place where all holy places conjoin.^[25] The temple of Vāmana is situated here. It is also called Dharmakṣetra.^[26] The Bhagavadgītā also describes it as Dharmakṣetra.^[27] The battle of the Mahābhārata was fought here.

Govardhana:

It is one of the holy places where the performance of śrāddha is recommended.^[28]

Hariścandra:

The goddess Candrikā is worshipped in this holy place.^[29] It is one of the holy places where the performance of śrāddha is recommended.^[30] It is believed to be sacred because of Śivas’s presence there.^[31]

Puṣkara:

The goddess Puruhūtā is worshipped in this tīrtha.^[32] It is said to be sacred in the Tretā age.^[33] Yuddhiṣṭhira has described it as sacred on Antarīkṣaloka.^[34] It is one of the sacred places present at Prayāga.^[35] A long sacrifice was performed for a period of three years in the reign of Adhisomakṛṣṇa.^[36] The emancipation is easier to obtain in Varanasi than here by the grace of Śiva.^[37] Puṣkaratīrtha is a holy place where the performance of śrāddha is recommended.^[38]

Naimiṣa:

It is believed to give fruit of all the holy places Naimiṣāraṇya.^[39] Naimiṣāraṇya is the place residing where the sages asked the Sūta at the end of a long sacrificial session to narrate the Purāṇic stories in response to which the Matsyapurāṇa was narrated.^[40] The goddess Liṅgadhāriṇi is worshipped here.^[41] Here the circumference (nemi) of the wheels of the chariot of Viṣṇu was shattered to pieces. It is the most sacred place of all the holy places. Viṣṇu in the form of Varāha is worshipped here. One who goes there is sanctified and attains the feet of Nārāyaṇa.^[42] Residing in the Naimiṣāraṇya, Pippalāda is said to have narrated Aṅgārakavrata to Yudhiṣṭira.^[43] The emancipation is easier to obtain in Varanasi than here by the grace of Śiva.^[44] In the Kṛta age, Naimiṣakṣetra is believed to be more sanctifying.^[45]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid.,186.33

[2]:

Ibid., 186.51 ff.

[3]:

Ibid., 190.17 ff.

[4]:

Ibid.,2.13

[5]:

Ibid.,15.25

[6]:

Ibid., 15-28

[7]:

, 111.7 ff.

[8]:

, 15.26

[9]:

Ibid., 183.61

[10]:

Ibid.,183.61ff

[11]:

Ibid., 183.162

[12]:

Ibid., 180.54-55

[13]:

Ibid., 181.13, 15

[14]:

Ibid., 183.7-8

[15]:

,185.55

[16]:

,12.17

[17]:

Ibid., 22.4-6

[18]:

Ibid., 106.44

[19]:

Ibid.,191.7-9

[20]:

Ibid., 106.44

[21]:

Ibid., 22.57-59

[22]:

, 22.58

[23]:

,181.25

[24]:

Ibid.,11.18

[25]:

Ibid., 22.18

[26]:

dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre vamanāyatane sthitaḥ/ Ibid., 244.5

[27]:

Bhagavadgītā, 1.1

[28]:

Ibid., 22.52

[29]:

Ibid., 13.40

[30]:

Ibid., 22.52

[31]:

Ibid., 181.28

[32]:

Ibid., 13.30

[33]:

, 106.57

[34]:

, 109.3

[35]:

Ibid., 110.1

[36]:

Ibid., 50.67

[37]:

Ibid., 180.55

[38]:

Ibid., 22.62

[39]:

Ibid., 22.12

[40]:

Ibid., 1.4

[41]:

Ibid., 13,26

[42]:

Ibid., 22.15,16

[43]:

Ibid.,72.2

[44]:

Ibid.,180.55

[45]:

Ibid.,106.57