Chapter 78 - Description of the glory of Yoni Pitha

CHAPTER LXXVIII Sri Mahadeva said Worshipping Candika on the third day of Vaisakha there one attains crores of merits and great holiness and does not get rebirth. Worshipping me with devotion on the fourteenth day on Sivaratri there, on every 'Prahara' attains the merit of hundreds of horse sacrifices. (1-4) The other auspicious deed such as bathing, presenting gifts etc., at Kasi on that particular date are more meritorious than presenting thousand and crores of cows at Kuruksetra. (5-6) One who presents me one Vilva leaf with devotion, attains supreme salvation no doubt. (7) It does not give such delight to me by worshipping with thousands of gold in flowers (Campaka) accompanied with gems and jewels and precious ruby as with the Vilva leaf. O the great sage worshipping Samkara at the bottom of Vilva tree one can attain the supremacy over gods. As all the great tirthas reside under the Vilva tree; for which worship of Sambhu at that place causes the destruction of terrible sins. (8-10) Rudra, himself the manifestation Brahma and the lord of the creation stays on the earth for the welfare of whole creation. That is why the bottom of the Vilva tree is the most auspicious place, destroyer of all terrible sins and greater than other tirthas. (11-12)

483 O the high souled Narada, the great Tirthas like Ganga, Kasi, Gaya, Prayaga, Kuruksetra, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Godavari, Narmada and others are put together under the Vilva tree. (13-14) The rites performed for the gods or ancestors according to injunctions under it knows the merit as inexhustable for crores of births. (15) The man who gives up his life under the Vilva tree. attains supreme pleasure inaccessible even to Brahma, etc. (16) Thus is Vilva tree so sacred among others the delighter Sambhu always. So worshipping Mahesa with its three leaf, one is liberated from the worldly bondage. Sambhu is also fond of its fruits. So the people offering the fruit to Sambhu attains great merit. O sage the Vilva leaf is very favorite to Siva wherever it may be specially at Kamarupa. O sage what more to speak, there is no such better place anywhere else like Lohitya tirtha, the bestower of great merit. Taking bath in the Lohitya on the eighth day of bright fortnight of Caitra taking bath properly in a auspicious moment at Lohitya and worship Jagadambika with that water with devotion one is liberated from the worldly bongage. (17-22) The Yonipitha of the great goddess is the epitome of all tirthas, the best among the other tirthas and inaccessible even to all gods. (23)

484 Where the absolute goddess embodied with all gods and the most adorable goddess resides there beside Lolitya, embodied with all other tirtles, is very rare. (24) Due to much merit one who comes in contact with these tirthas on the most auspicious day of Astami, has no fear of rebirth in the earth. (25) His ancestors proceed on to Brahmaloka safely one who offers libation to his ancestors with the water of Lohitya. (26) The other pious deeds such as penance and offering of gifts also bestow more merits than in other thousands of tirthas. (27) As Bhavani, the wife of Blava is more adorable in the world so also Tulasi leaf and Vilva leaves are more auspicious among the leaves. (28) As the man, the holder of club is the best among the deitful, so also Sri Yoni Pitha is the best among the tirthas. (2() O Narada, the worldly beings one who listen the glory of Yoni Pitha, the king of the tirthas attains the place of the goddess. (30) O Narada, here I narrated before you the glory of Yoni Pitha, the king of the tirthas which is very secret. Now what more you want to listen. (31) Here ends the seventy eighth chapter called the description of the glory of Yoni Pitha in Sri Mahabhagavata Upapurana.