Chapter 110 - On the performance of Śrāddha and the associated legend

The sages said:

1. How should sons and relatives perform Śrāddha for the manes who have departed to the other world and who are abiding in the region assigned to them according to their actions?

Vyāsa said:

2. I bow to Varāha, lord of the universe, creator of the people. Listen, I shall tell you all about Śrāddha, as was recorded afore.

3. In days of yore, the lord uplifted the manes who were drowned in the waters of Kokā river, by performing Śrāddha for their sake, O best of Brāhmaṇas.

The sages said:

4-5. Why were the fathers drowned in the waters of the Kokā river? How were they uplifted by Varāha, O best of Brāhmins in that holy place of pilgrimage that grants fruits in the form of worldly enjoyment as well as release?

We wish to hear about it. Tell us all in detail. It is a matter of great curiosity to us all.

Vyāsa said:

6. In the intervening period of Tretā and Dvāpara Yugas, the diverse human beings—the manes, stood in the company of Viśvedevas at the top of Meru mountain.

7. Once, they were sitting (as usual) there (at the top of Meru). A beautiful divine girl born of Soma appeared before them with hands joined in reverence. Among the manes who had assembled there, those shining with refulgence spoke to her.

The pitṛs said:

8. O auspicious lady! Who are You? Who is your lord? Please tell us.

Vyāsa said:

9. She said to the refulgent manes. I am Kalā, born of the Moon, You are my lords whom I can choose, if you so desire.

10. My first name is Ūrjā; second is Svadhā; third is Kokā. This latter name you have given me this very day.

11. The manes, the divine beings heard her speak this. They fixed their eyes on her face but were not satisfied.

12. When Viśvedevas saw that they were gazing at the face of the girl and had fallen off Yoga, they left their company and went to heaven.

13. When the holy god Moon did not see his daughter Ūrjā, he was upset. Where she may have gone? He thought to himself.

14. The Soma came to know the facts. He knew that manes were after her, that they were sexually inclined to her and had accepted her by the virtue of their penance.

15. The Moon was overcome with anger. He cursed the manes, “Fall off from your Yoga, be confounded”.

16-17. Since you passionately desired my daughter, without my permission; since, she of her own accord accepted you as her husbands, disregardful of me, her father; since she transgressed the dictates of Dharma and acted independently, let her become a river by name Kokā and resort to Mount Himālaya.

18. Thus cursed by the Moon, the manes, the divine men were deprived of yoga and fell off at Mount Himavat.

19-20. Ūrjā fell off at the top of Himavat mountain, at the confluence of seven rivers. She was called Kokā. By flowing along with hundreds of rivers over the peak of the mountain she came to be known as Sarit.

21-23. Then those manes fallen off yoga assumed the forms of Brahmins. They saw the river Kokā of cool water but they could not recognize her as the beautiful-eyed girl they once loved. Then the mount Himālaya observed that the manes who were cursed to assume the form of human beings were very hungry.

He arranged for their sustenance, the cow ‘Badari’ yielding sweet honey, milk, the sweet waters of Kokā river and the berry fruit.

24. O best of sages, the manes living on that sustenance passed ten thousand years as it were a single day.

25. Thus, when the world was deprived of the services of manes and of Svadhā, the asuras, yātudhānas and rākṣasas became powerful.

26. Then the asuras, yātudhānas and rākṣasas found that the manes were estranged from Devas and they fell upon them.

27. The Brahmins stationed on the bank of Kokā (who were formerly manes) saw asuras and yātudhānas pouncing upon them. The infuriated brahmins caught hold of a lofty slab.

28. The fast-flowing Kokā saw them holding the slab. She concealed the manes in her waters which overflowed Himālaya.

29-30. The asuras, yātudhānas and rākṣasas found that they were concealed. They ascended the peak Vibhītaka and disappeared. Meanwhile the manes felt hungry and thirsty. Distressed by hunger and thirst, the manes sang songs of praise in favour ofViṣṇu.

The manes said:

31. Victory to Govinda: O the abode of the universe, O Keśava, be pleased to favour us with Victory. O Janārdana of pure and spotless impression, uplift us from the cavity of waters.

32. O lord, Viṣṇu, O Boar, Vaikuṇṭha, Nārāyaṇa, lord of lords, lotus-navelled, worthy of praise, we are afraid of asuras, of dreadful sight; protect us, O lord, and grant us victory.

33. O Viṣṇu, the younger brother of lord Indra, O Yogin, the slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha demons, O Endless, of steady disposition, Vāsudeva, holding bow, discus, lotus and conch in your hands, O lord of Devas, protect us from rākṣasas.

34. O Śambhu, you are the father of universe, the dreadful asuras are unable to assail you. Hence, we come to your shelter.

35. As soon as your name is uttered, the asuras fly away, the evil-doers disappear, the enemies are destroyed. Dharma, Truth etc. attain eminence.

Vyāsa said:

36. Thus praised by the manes, the lord in the divine form of a boar, the sustainer of this Earth saw the manes, merged in the waters of Kokā carrying slabs over their head.

37. Lord Viṣṇu, in the form of a boar, saw the manes hidden in the waters of Kokā out of fear from the asuras and thought of uplifting them to the Earth.

38. The boar cast away the slab with the tip of his tusks and brought up the manes to the Earth.

39-40. The manes, when they came into contact with the boar (incarnate of Viṣṇu) looked splendid. Made fearless by Viṣṇu, they stood at Kokāmukha. Having uplifted them thus the lord poured libation of water for the manes at Lohārgala.

41-46. Then, with a handful of Kuśa grass produced from his hair and the Sesamum seed grown up from his sweat, Keśava made a fire-brand. He made a torch as bright as the light of the sun and a vessel. He stood under a wish-fulfilling, holy, tall, banyan tree. He took up the sacred waters of Gaṅgā and the juices of sacrificial herbs from the lofty peak of the mountain. He brought honey and milk and fragrant substances such as odorous flowers, perfumes and sweet-smelling unguents; he brought forth a cow from the lake and the gems from the ocean; he scratched the earth with his tusk and sprinkled and smeared the same with drops of perspiration, scratching it up again, encircling it with the fire-brand and sprinkling it up again and again. He took up a handful of Kuśa grass, with their tips pointed to the east while their ends were stuck into the pores of hair. He then invited the sages and asked their permission, saying “I shall like to pour libations of water to the manes”.

47. They said: “You may” The Lord then invoked all gods and on their arrival gave them seats.

48. Adorned with discus and mace, he planned out their protection with the unbroken rice.

49. The unbroken rice and the barley seeds are born of parts of all-gods. These ward off calamities from all sites; they are produced for the sake of protection.

50. In this mobile and immobile world, none among Devas, Dānavas, Daityas, Yakṣas and Rākṣasas is able to effect their destruction.

51-52. As they are not broken by any, they are called akṣatas. Of yore, they were appointed by Viṣṇu to guard the people. The Boar incarnate of Viṣṇu, propitiated all of them with the holy Kuśa grass, incense and barley seeds. He poured libation of water to all gods and then said:

53. “I invoke the manes, both divine and mortals.” When they agreed to be invoked, he invoked them.

54. He held a handful of sacred grass together with the sesamum. He put his left hand on the left knee and gave each of them a seat.

55. Similarly, he put his right hand on the right knee and the sacred thread on the right side and invited them with the mantra ‘āyāntu naḥ’.

56. Varāha recited the mantra ‘apahatā’ and warded off the asuras from the site. He then transferred his sacred thread to the right. Uttering the names and gotras he invoked the pitṛs by the personal and gotra names.

57. Varāha then uttered the mantras ‘āpyāyayantu’ and ‘saṃvatsaraiḥ’ and poured arghya to the Pitṛs who as a result of the curse had assumed the form of Brahmins.

58-59. He uttered the mantra ‘yās tiṣṭhatyamṛtā vāco yanmā’ and poured water mixed with Kuśa, incense, sesamum seed and flowers to the Pitṛs while he wore the sacred thread on the right side. He repeated the mantra ‘yanmā’ and poured water for the grand-father. Again, he repeated the mantra ‘yanmā’ and poured water for the great-grandfather.

60. Varāha (incarnate of Viṣṇu) repeated the same procedure for the maternal grandfather. He propitiated them again with incense etc. and offered them perfume with devotion.

61-63. The lord of the universe uttered the mantra ‘Āditya Vasavo Rudrāḥ’ He then held food and butter mixed with sesamum seeds and Kuśa grass and put the same in the vessels as previously. He then asked the permission of the sages, “shall I make offering in the fire”. Permitted by them he made three offerings to the fire. One to Soma, one to Fire and one to Yama. He repeated the seven mantras of the Yajurveda beginning with “Ye māmakā”.

64. The residue of the sacrificial material he offered thrice to each of the Pitṛs, by their personal and gotra names.

65. The residue of the material such as “food” he put into the vessel wherein the rice-ball was kept. Then, he gave the tasty food together with the rice boiled in milk.

66-70. He served Brāhmaṇas with fresh and tasty meals, with less vegetables, abundance of fruits, with six flavours, nectar-like. He put the same anointed with butter and sprinkled with honey in the rice-ball vessel meant for Pitṛs, preceded by Devas, by reciting the mantra beginning with Pṛthivī and the three ṛcas: Madhuvātā ṛtāyate etc. When the Brāhmaṇas started eating, he recited the five mantras beginning with the mantra ‘yat te’. He also recited the three Madhu and three Suparṇa portions from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka, the mantra of solar deity and Puruṣa Sūkta. When the Brahmins had finished meals he asked them, “are you satiated”.

71. On their reply, “we are satiated”, he gave them water for breaking silence. He gave the rice-ball vessel to Chāyā.

72. He divided food into two parts. Then each into three parts. Varāha scratched the Earth and covered the same with the particles of Kuśa grass.

73-74. He turned the tips of Kuśa grass to the South, put the seat (āsana) on the Kuśa grass, for, the Pitṛs like to sit upon Kuśa grass uprooted from the very root and on which the sesamum seeds have been spread. He placed incense, flowers etc. over the rice-ball and recited the formula ‘Pṛthivī dadhi’ and gave the rice-balls to grandfather, great-grandfather, maternal grandfather.

75-76. The residue of the rice-ball material was offered to the paternal ancestor in the fourth, fifth and sixth degree. He repeated the formula ‘Etad Vaḥ Pitar’ with the mind full of devotion and offered fresh white pieces of cloth to the Brahmins. He gave them incense and flowers and circumambulated them.

77-79. He should sip water from the palm of his hand, also make the Brahmin pitṛs sip at first and then Devas too. He should sprinkle the place with water mixed with flowers and rice. He should give water mixed with the sesamum seeds to the Pitṛs at first, then to Devas mixed with rice. He should recite ‘akṣayyam naḥ,’ for the pitṛs and ‘Prīyatām’ to Devas.

80. Having pleased them thus, he should move aside, repeat aghamarṣaṇa thrice. Withdrawing himself, he should repeat ‘yan me’.

81-82. O Pitṛs, give us residence abounding in grains and riches. Repeating the formula ‘Ūrjaṃ Vahanti’, he put the rice ball, the ring of Kuśa grass and rest of the material consisting of cold milk, honey and sesamum seeds into the Arghya vessel. Then he offered libation of water to the Pitṛs.

83-84. When the officiating Brāhmaṇas had said: “Welfare to you”, and they felt gratified on the Amāvāsyā day, Varāha incarnate of Viṣṇu gave silver-fee (rajata-dakṣiṇā) to each of the Brāhmaṇas. When he asked “Is the rite completed”, they said, “Yes”. When he asked “may you be pleased”, they said: “We are already pleased”. When he asked them about the remaining food, they said, “You may partake of it together with your people”.

85-86. He caught hold of the Brāhmaṇas by his hand and led them outside the ritual altar repeating the formula ‘Vāje-Vāje’.

87. Then sprinkling the massive heap of hair with the collected waters of holy rivers he begged blessings of Brāhmaṇas.

88-91. The Brāhmaṇas blessed him, saying, “May our patrons prosper in riches”. Varāha circumambulated them; touching their feet with reverence; he offered them seats to take rest. He held the middle ball of rice and gave the same to Chāyā. That beautiful lady took hold of the rice-ball and said: “May the Pitṛs enter the womb”. She then bowed at the feet of the Brāhmaṇas. Then the boar-incarnate Viṣṇu thought of letting the Pitṛs go.

92-94. Then Kokā and Pitṛs spoke out their self-interest. We were formerly stationed in heaven when we were cursed by the Moon, “You fall off from Yoga and descend to the nether region”. We were falling to the nether regions but are saved by you. Being fallen off from Yoga, we were deserted by the guardians. Now, may all-gods protect us again.

95. O lord Boar, by your favour, we shall go to heaven. Let Soma (the Moon-god), the observer of Yoga be our guardian.

96-99. May Soma, the source of Yoga, protect us. Through Yoga may we live in heaven as well as on earth. May some of us attain prosperity within a month, in the firmament. This Ūrjā known by her popular name Svadhā endowed with Yoga, be the mother of Yoga (roaming) in the middle region.

Thus requested by the manes lord Varāha addressed the river Kokā and the manes: Whatever you have asked will indeed be accomplished.

100. Let Yama be your deity; Moon the preceptor; Fire the priest.

101. Let Fire, wind and Sun be your abodes; Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Rudra be your guardians.

102. Let Āditiyas, Vasus and Rudras be your forms. Let Yogis, embodying Yoga make yoga as your basis and observe vows.

103-105. Let you move at will bestowing fruits of actions upon the people at large. Let you elevate by the strength of your Yoga both the mobile and immobile stationed in heaven, hell and earth.

This Ūrjā, daughter of the Moon, fashioned by flesh and wine will be born as the daughter of Dakṣa, Svadhā by name. This good-faced lady will be your wife.

106. Known as Kokā, she will resort to Himālaya. She will be as efficacious as the crores of holy places all together.

107. I shall stay in Kokā from this very day, smashing sins of all mankind. The sight of lord Boar is holy. His worship grants worldly pleasures and salvation.

108. Drinking the water of Kokā destroys sins. The plunge yields merit. The fast leads to heaven.

109. Charity gives imperishable fruit; it destroys sins of birth, death and old age.

110-111. In the dark fortnight of the month of Māgha, on the Amāvasa night, when there is no moon, one should come to Kokāmukha and stay there for five nights. During the time, the person who offers libation of water to the pitṛs will reap the fruit of the same. There is no doubt in this. I shall be staying here on the eleventh and twelfth tithi always.

112. He who fasts here reaps the fruit thereof as mentioned previously. O blessed ones, you are now free to go to your places at your will.

113. “I too shall rest here”, saying this lord Boar disappeared. When lord Boar had gone, the pitṛs took leave of Kokā and went away.

114-115. Kokā took up her abode on that mountain. Chāyā, the Earth conceived by lord Boar generated asura Naraka known also by the name Bhauma. Lord Viṣṇu gave him Prāgjyotiṣa, the capital city of Kāmarūpa.

116. Thus have I described at Kokāmukha the Boar incarnate of Viṣṇu who confers boons to the people. On hearing this description, a man is purified from dirt, becomes devoid of sins, and obtains the merit of performing Aśvamedha Sacrifice.