Chapter 26 - The Glory of Koṇāditya

Brahmā said:

1-9. There in the Bhārata subcontinent is a land that bestows heavenly pleasures and liberation. It is situated on the southern ocean and it is well known as Oṇḍadeśa (Oṇḍradeśa?). The region to the north of the ocean is the beautiful Vīraja Maṇḍala. This is the land of those who are habituated to the attainment of good qualities. It is embellished with good attributes. The brahmins born in that land have perfect control over their sense-organs. They are always engaged in penance and study of the Vedas. They are worthy of being honoured and saluted. They are famous for their ability to officiate in the rites of Śrāddha, charitable gift, marriage rites and sacrifices. They are experts in sacred rites. They are of divine origin. The brahmins therein are regularly engaged in performing the six types of holy rites. They are masters of Vedic lore. They are conversant with mythology and Ancient Historical tradition. They are experts in all scriptures. They perform sacrifices regularly. They are devoid of indecent rivalry. Some are engaged in sacrificial rites and some are interested in maintaining holy fires ordained in the Smṛtis. The residents of that land are endowed with sons, wives and riches. They are truthful in speech. They perform homas. They live in the holy land of Utkala rendered beautiful by sacrifices and festivals. The people belonging to the other three castes, Kṣatriyas and others are righteous. They control their sense-organs. They are calm. They are engaged in their respective duties. Sun-god known as ‘Koṇāditya’ is the lord in that land. Those who visit lord Bhāskara there are liberated from sins.

The sages said:

10. O excellent one among Devas, we wish to hear further. Tell us now about the holy shrine of the sun in that land where lord sun is stationed.

Brahmā said:

11-17. The holy shrine of the sun is situated on the holy and beautiful shore of the briny sea. The land is endowed with all good qualities. It is full of sands. It abounds in varieties of trees such as Campaka, Aśoka, Bakula, Karavīra, Pāṭala, Punnāga, Karṇikāra, Nāgakesara, Tagara, Dhava, Bāṇa, Atimukta, Kubjaka, Kadamba, Lakuca, Śāla, Panasa, Devadāru, Sarala, Mucukunda, white and red sandal trees, Aśvattha, Saptaparṇa, Āmra, Āmrātaka, Tāla, Arka, coconut, wood apple and many other trees all round. There are flowering plants such as Mālatī, Kunda, Mallikā, Ketakī, etc. which shine with blossoms in all seasons. The shrine of lord sun is famous in the whole world. The region all round to the extent of a Yojana yields worldly pleasures and salvation.

18. The thousand-rayed lord sun is directly present there. He is well known, as Koṇāditya. He is the bestower of worldly pleasures and liberation.

19-27. On the seventh day in the bright half of the Māgha month the devotee should observe fast. After performing purificatory rites he shall take bath in the ocean in the presence of lord Sun. With a pure mind he shall remember him with concentration. After performing Tarpaṇa rites for Devas, sages, mortals and Pitṛs, he shall come out of the sea and wear a pair of cloths free from dirt. They should have been washed and kept dry the previous day itself. With complete purity he shall perform Ācamana after sitting on the seashore. As the Sun rises up in the morning he shall sit facing him. He shall draw the mystic diagram of a lotus with the red sandal paste. It should have eight petals, filaments and be circular with the pericarp moving upwards. The intelligent devotee shall put gingelly seeds, rice, grains, red flowers, Darbha grass, and red sandal into a copper vessel and pour water therein. If a copper vessel is not available he shall put gingelly seeds in a cup made of the leaf of Arka plant. O excellent sages, he should cover this vessel with another vessel and keep it down. He should then perform Nyāsa rites of hands and limbs. With the heart and other organs he should meditate on the sun as his own self with sincere faith. The intelligent devotee should worship the deity in the petals in the middle as well as in south-east, south-west, north-east and north-west. He shall then worship (once again) in the middle.

28-33. After propitiating the lord for attaining supreme happiness he should worship the mystic lotus. From the sky he should invoke lord Sun and establish him on the pericarp. He should show mystic gestures. After performing the rite of ablution he should meditate on Sun with concentration thus:—He is stationed in the refulgent disc, his eyes are tawny; he is red with two arms, wearing garments pink like the lotus; he is endowed with all characteristics and he is decked in all ornaments. He is calm bestowing boons, bedecked in a halo of great brilliance. After seeing the rising Sun resembling thick paste of saffron he should take that vessel and keep it on the head. Kneeling on the ground he should silently after Arghya into the Sun. He should concentrate his mind on the lord and repeat the three-syllabled Mantra.

34. He who has not received proper initiation should merely repeat the name of the Sun god and make water offerings with faith and fervour since lord sun can be made favourable through devotion.

35. He should make water offering, in the south-east, south-west, north-east, middle and in the four directions beginning with the east. He shall repeat the following Mantras and make water offerings in the direction indicated:—Hrām, obeisance to the heart (south-east); Hrīm, obeisance to the head (south-west); Hrīm, obeisance to the tuft of hair (north-west); Hraim, obeisance to the coat of mail (north-east), Hraum, obeisance to the three eyes (in the middle); Hraḥ, obeisance to the missile, (in the four quarters).

36. After the water offering he should offer sweet scents, incense, light and food. After repeating prayers and holy names he should bow to the deity, show mystic gestures and discharge the deity ritualistically.

37-38. Whether Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, or Śūdras men or women whoever make water offerings to Sun with perfect control over their sense-organs and mind, with great devotional favour and pure conscience, enjoy the desired pleasures and attain the greatest goal.

39. Those who remember him as the illuminator of three worlds traversing firmament will obtain happiness.

40. The devotee should not worship Viṣṇu, Śiva or the lord of Devas (Indra) unless the water-offering has been made to the Sun-god in the manner prescribed in the Śāstras.

41-42. He who makes water offerings with great concentration to Sun-god on the seventh day after taking bath and remaining pure will obtain the desired benefit. Hence, one should strenuously endeavour to make water offering every day to Sun-god along with sweet scents and beautiful flowers. He shall remain pure too.

43. The ailing man is liberated from sickness, he who seeks wealth will attain wealth; he who seeks learning will obtain learning and he who seeks sons shall be blessed with sons.

44. Whatever desire he may cherish in his mind, the intelligent man shall fully obtain that desire and benefit by offering libation of water.

45. The devotee, whether a man or a woman shall take bath in the ocean, offer libation of water to Sun-god and bow down to the deity. He or she will obtain the desired benefit thereby.

45-A. The man who has taken bath in the waters of Gaṅgā, shall sprinkle water on the head of Sun-god by means of Kuśa grass. Thereby liberated from all sins he passes on to heaven.

46. Thereafter, the devotee shall proceed to the temple of Sun-god taking flowers with him. After entering the shrine he shall circumambulate thrice and worship Sun-god.

47. O excellent sages, on the day of Sun-god the devotee shall worship Koṇārka reciting Vedic Mantras and Tāntrika texts, with great devotion. He shall offer scents, sweet and fragrant flowers, lights, incense and food-offerings.

48-52. He shall prostrate before the deity lying flat on the ground like a long pole. He shall eulogise the lord and shout cries of victory unto him. By worshipping thus the thousand-rayed lord of the universe, a man obtains the benefit of ten horse-sacrifices. He will be liberated from all sins and assume a youthful divine form. O brahmins, he will redeem seven ancestors and successors in his family. He will go to the world of Sun-god on an aeriel chariot that has solar lustre and colour that is excessively refulgent and that can go wherever one likes it to go. He will be sung about by Gandharvas. After enjoying excellent pleasures there till the final dissolution of all living beings, when his merits have been exhausted, he will return to the Earth and be born in the excellent family of Yogins. He will become a pure brahmin learning all the four vedas and engaged in holy rites. After becoming united with the sun he will attain liberation.

53-55. In the bright half of the month of Cakra the devotee should make the holy pilgrimage to Damana-bhañjakā. He who makes pilgrimage to that place will obtain the benefìt as mentioned before.

During the period of going to bed and rising up of the Sun i.e. during the tropical and equinoctical transits, O brahmins, persons of perfect control over their sense-organs shall perform holy pilgrimage on Sundays, the seventh day of the mouth or on Parvan days. They go to the world of Sun-god on the aerial chariot having solar lustre and colour.

56-59. Lord Mahādeva is also present on the shore of the ocean. He is known as Rāmeśvara. He is the bestower of desired benefits. The devotees should have a dip in the vast ocean and visit the lord, the enemy of lust (Kāma). They should propitiate the lord with sweet scents, fragrant flowers, incense, lights, excellent food-offerings, prostrations, eulogies, songs of prayer and sweet musical instruments. They will become noble souls attain the benefit of Rājasūya and horse sacrifices. They will attain great success.

60. They will go to the world of Śiva on an aerial chariot that can travel as it pleases and that has clusters of tinkling bells suspended from it. Gandharvas will sing songs in their praise.

61. They will enjoy charming pleasures until the dissolution of all living beings and when their merits have been exhausted they will return to the Earth and be born as brahmins learning the four Vedas.

62-63. Being united with Brahman they will attain liberation.

He who passes away in the holy centre of the Sun will reach the world of Sun-god and rejoice in heaven together with Devas. Reborn as a man he will become a virtuous king.

64-65. Becoming united with the Sun-god he will attain salvation.

Thus, O excellent sages, the rare holy centre of Koṇārka on the shores of the ocean has been recounted by me. It yields worldly pleasures and salvation.