Chapter 67 - The Greatness of Badarikāśrama

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Note 1: The editor of the text of Nāradapurāṇa introduces this chapter with the remark: “Henceforth the greatness of Badarī is begun.”]

[Note 2: Badarikāśrama represents modern Badrinath in Garhwal, (Uttar Pradesh)]

Mohinī said:

1. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, the greatness of Gaṅgādvāra has been recounted. Now narrate the greatness of Badarī that is destructive of sins.

Vasu said:

2. Listen, O gentle lady, I shall describe in detail to you the greatness of Badarī. On hearing this, a creature (the living soul) is liberated from the bondage of birth and saṃsāra.

3. The holy centre of Hari named Badarī is destructive of all sins. It bestows liberation on those men who are afraid of worldly existence and it dispels the defects of Kali Yuga.

4-5. There, lord Nārāyaṇa and the holy sage Nara who were born of Mūrti and Dharma, went to Gandhamādana mountain where there is a Badarī tree endowed with many fruits of sweet fragrance.

O blessed lady, on that spot, they have been engaged in penance ever since the beginning of Kalpa.

6. They are surrounded by Nārada and other excellent sages staying in the village of Kalāpa^[1] and also by the groups of Siddhas. They stationed themselves there for the sustenance of the world.

7. There is a well known holy centre named Agnitīrtha^[2] (Hot water spring). It yields all Siddhis. Even those who are defiled by great sins become purified by taking holy dip therein.

8. Just as the discoloured gold becomes pure when heated in the fire, so also the embodied soul becomes liberated from sins by plunging into the Agnitīrtha.

9. By taking a holy dip in the Agnitīrtha a man obtains that benefit which is obtained from thousands of Cāndrāyaṇas and crores of Kṛcchras.

10. There are five rocky slabs.^[3] O daughter of Brahmā, Agnitīrtha is situated in their midst. By its mere sight, it dispels sins.

11. That rocky slab is called Nāradī śilā where the holy sage Nārada performed a terrible penance. By its very sight, it yields liberation.

12-14a. O lady of beautiful eyes, there is the perpetual presence of Hari, there. The Nāradakuṇḍa (holy pool of Nārada) is also there. The man who takes a holy bath there becomes pure. He obtains whatever he desires, such as worldly pleasures, salvation and devotion to Hari. Whatever a man performs here with devotion such as holy bath, charitable gift, worship of Devas, Homa, Japa or other rites are imperishable.

14b-15. There is another splendid rocky slab in that holy centre. It is called Vainateyaśilā.

It was here that a very severe penance was performed by Garuḍa of noble soul, for thirty thousand years with the desire for seeing Hari.

16. O auspicious lady, the delighted lord granted him the boon and said, “O dear one, be unconquerable to the host of Daityas, and a terror unto the serpents.

17-18a. Become my vehicle. I am delighted with you. This rocky slab where the penance has been performed by you will become famous over the Earth by your name. By its mere sight it shall be the bestower of merit on men.

18b-19a. In this most important Tīrtha on Gaṅgā, with a desire to attain my love (you have performed penance). O blessed one, may it manifest itself as the granter of merits to those who take their holy dip here.

19b-20. He who takes a holy bath in the Pañcagaṅgā and performs the rites of Tarpaṇa to the Devas and others, doesnot return from the eternal world of Brahmā.”

After granting this boon, Viṣṇu vanished then.

21-22a. At the behest of Viṣṇu, Garuḍa attained the state of being the vehicle of Viṣṇu. Thereafter, that holy centre has become destructive of sins.

228. It is the bestower of merits on being remembered. It yields the goal of Vainateya. There is another auspicious slab of a rock. It is known as Vārāhī (Śilā).

23. It was here that the lord (in the form of a divine Boar) lifted up the Earth after striking down Hiraṇ- yākṣa and occupied this position in the form of a rocky slab. He is the destroyer of sins.

24. The man who goes there, plunges into the pure waters of Gaṅgā and worships that rocky slab with devotion does not attain misfortunes or hell.

25. There is another rocky slab called Narasiṃha śilā. The lord of Devas killed Hiraṇyakaśipu and rested there on the rock.

26. Later on, his anger was assuaged by the celestial sages. He was requested to stay perpetually there at Viśālā (i.e. Badarikāśrama).

27. The four-armed deity accordingly assumed the rocky form. Engaged in aquatic sports, he permanently stays in the middle of water.

28. The man who takes a holy bath there and worships the rocky slab, attains the abode of Viṣṇu from which rarely does any one return to Saṃsāra.

29. O gentle lady, know the fifth rocky slab situated on the banks of Vahnikūpa (i.e. the hot water spring thereof). It is called Naranārāyaṇa Śilā. I shall explain about it now, listen.

30. In the age called Kṛtayuga, Hari in the form of Naranārāyaṇa stayed there directly visible to all as the bestower of worldly pleasures and liberation.

31. O auspicious lady, in the age named Tretāyuga, he is seen by the sages, Devas and Yogins and not by others. He himself adopts the Yogic posture and remains as the sustainer of worlds.

32. When Dvāpara Age arrives he is seen by the path of knowledge and not by any other means. In the Tiṣya (i.e. Kali age) he becomes (completely) invisible.

33. Therefore, Brahmā and other Devas, sages and ascetics, eulogised lord Hari with various kinds of praise and propitiated him.

34. Thereupon, an incorporeal voice (from heaven) addressed Brahmā and others: “I shall not be visible in the Kali age that is devoid of virtue and piety.

35. O leading Devas, if you have faith in viewing the Maṇḍapa (ceremonial hall) take up my image of rock situated in the Nārada Kuṇḍa”.

36-37. On hearing those words, Brahmā and others became delighted at heart. They took out that divine rock image situated in the Nāradakuṇḍa and installed it. After worshipping it, they went to their respective abodes. It is in the month of Vaiśākha that Devas go back to their abodes.

38-39. They come back again in the month of Kārttikā and perform the rite of worship. At the beginning of Vaiśākha, due to the melting away of snow, the meritorious human beings devoid of sinful actions are able to see the deity. The deity is to be worshipped for six months by Devas and for six months by human beings.

40-41a. It is under these conditions that the image manifested itself from that time onwards. He who devoutly worships the image of Viṣṇu and partakes of Naivedya, certainly attains liberation.

41b-42. These five holy rocky slabs are thus situated in Viśālā (Badarikā). The Naivedya offered to Hari in these places is inaccessible even to Devas. What then to the human beings? If it is partaken of, it is a means to salvation.

43. Even if the boiled rice offered as Naivedya to Viṣṇu at Badarī is partaken of, it shall purify sins in the body like the blazing fire that purifies the dross in gold.

44. Thus this is the holy spot of Kapālamocana^[4] which dispels sins. In its midst too, there are five rocky slabs that dispel sins.

45. O Mohinī, listen to another great holy pool here itself. By taking a holy dip here with devotion, the man becomes master of the Vedas.

46. The Asura named Hayaśiras, a terror to Devas and others, snatched away Vedas coming out of the mouth of god Brahmā.

47. Thereupon, prayed to by Brahmā, Viṣṇu manifested himself in the form of a divine Fish. The lord killed the demon and handed over the Vedas to Brahmā.

48. That Tīrtha is highly meritorious. It illuminates all lores. O blessed lady, it is called Taimiṅgila Tīrtha. By its mere vision it is destructive of sins.

49-50. Once again, the unchanging lord Viṣṇu in the form of the horse-necked being, killed the arrogant Asuras, Madhu and Kaiṭabha who stole the Vedas from god Brahmā. He handed the Vedas back to Brahmā. O daughter of Brahmā that Tīrtha dispels sins by a mere holy dip.

51. In both Tīrthas, Matsya (i.e. Taimiṅgalla)^[5] as well as Hayagrīva, the Vedas exist in the liquid form of water perpetually. O gentle lady, that water is destructive of sins.

52. O gentle lady, there is a famous holy centre Indrapāda in the south-east corner. By taking a holy dip therein, a man shall attain the region of Indra (or Indra-hood).

53. There is another charming Tīrtha there named Mānasodbhedaka^[6] (resolver of the mind.) It splits the knots in the hearts; it dispels all doubts.

54-55. It dispels all sins also. Hence, it is called Mānasodbhedaka.

O fair-faced lady, there is another Tīrtha there called Kāmākāma. It bestows the desired objects on those who have a desire for it and confers salvation an those who have no desires.

O gentle lady, to the west of it is the Tīrtha called Vasudhārā.^[7]

56-57. By taking a holy bath therein with devotion, a man obtains the desired benefit (Defective Text). The meritorious persons see the deity, stationed in the middle of waters On seeing it, the creature does not have the compulsion to stay in the womb (i.e. is not reborn).

Thereafter, in the south-western direction five currents flow down.

58. Their names are Prabhāsa, Puṣkara, Gayā, Naimiṣāraṇya and Kurukṣetra. By taking a holy dip in every one of them separately, the man obtains the benefit of respective Tīrtha.

59-60a. There is another pure Tīrtha, the second name of which is Somakuṇḍa, By performing severe penance here, Soma (the moon god) became the over-lord of planets and luminaries that move about in the firmament). O gentle lady, by taking a holy bath, a man becomes free from defects and sins.

60b-61a. There is another Tīrtha there called Dvādaśā- ditya, (the sacred pool of the twelve sun-gods). It is excessively destructive of sins. By taking a holy dip in it, a man becomes comparable to the sun by means of his refulgence.

61b-62a. There is another Tīrtha there called Catuḥsrotas. A man who plunges into it attains whatever he wishes from among the Puruṣārthas viz. virtue, wealth love and liberation.

62b-63. There is another charming Tīrtha there named Saptapada. By the very sight of this Tīrtha, even great sins definitely perish. O chaste lady, what then if he takes a holy bath therein?

64. In the sacred pools called Trilokakuṇḍas, Brahmā. Viṣṇu and Maheśvara are stationed. By dying therein the man attains the region called Satya-Ioka.

65-66a. O auspicious lady, there is another Tīrtha in the residence of Naranārāyaṇa. Its name is Urvaśīkuṇḍa.^[8] One who takes bath here becomes endowed with handsome features. He shall be a great favourite of Nārāyaṇa. He will captivate the universe.

668. Then to the south of it there is the great Tīrtha called Astra.

67-68. It was here that Nara and Nārāyaṇa deposited their weapons and engaged themselves in the penance. (It is true) O highly blessed lady, since the divine weapons (such as) the conch, discus etc are seen in embodied form by meritorious persons. A man who takes a holy bath there with devotion shall never be afraid of an enemy.

69. There is the holy centre called Merutīrtha there. By visiting the bowbearing deity after the holy dip, O auspicious lady, the devotee realises all desires.

70-71a. There is another Tīrtha named after the guardians of quarters. It is an excellent holy centre. It is here that the guardians of quarters performed penance. O gentle lady, the man who performs ablution into the Tīrtha attains the benefit of plunging into all Tīrthas.

71b-72a. Since it was by striking with his staff that the Tīrtha was created by Hari, it has come to be called Daṇḍapuṣkariṇī. It yields happiness to the protectors of the worlds (i.e. the guardians of quarters.)

72b-74a. That Tīrtha where the Bhāgīrathī is joined by Alakanandā is the most excellent of all holy spots in the sacred Badarikāśrama. By taking a holy bath and devoutly performing the Tarpaṇa rites to the Pitṛs and Devas and by worshipping them with devotion, the devotee attains the abode of Viṣṇu. He is bowed to by all Devas.

74b-75. O splendid-faced lady, there is Dharmakṣetra (the sacred place called Dharma) to the south of the confluence. I consider that holy centre as the most sacred. It is the most excellent of all Tīrthas. O gentle lady, by taking a holy bath there, the man becomes one who has reached the vicinity of that which should be accomplished (viz Mokṣa).

76. The Tīrtha called Urvaśīsaṅgama, is the dispeller of all sins of man. There is another holy centre called Karmoddhāra. It is the sole means to attain Hari’s devotion.

77. The Tīrtha called Brahmāvarta is the sole cause of attaining the world of Brahmā. These Tīrthas based on the Gaṅgā have been recounted to you.

78-79a. Even god Brahmā is not competent to describe entirely the Tīrthas stationed there. He who listens to this and he who narrates this with concentration shall be liberated from all sins. He shall attain the world of Viṣṇu.

79b-80a. The man who stays here for a month and observes holy rites with devotion, will visualize lord Hari, Nara and Nārāyaṇa directly.

80b. Premature death, mental anguish, physical ailments and fear of serpents shall not befall the abode, O gentle lady, where the greatness of Badarikāśrama has been written and preserved. Thanks to Hari’s favour, happiness always abides there. The riches flourish, thanks to the favour of Viṣṇu.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Purāṇas like Bhāgavata Purāṇa X. 87.7 state that there was a village called Kalāpa near Badarikāśrama, but now there is no such village. The big plain behind Mucakunda’s cave is regarded by some as the site of Kalāpa-grāma (Kalyāṇa 31.1 P. 60); about other locations vide The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India, p. 84.

[2]:

This is the hot-water spring near Badrinath temple where people take bath. It is below the local Kedāranātha shrine.

[3]:

The five rocky-slabs are below the hot-water-spring called Agni Tīrtha. The order of slabs today is (1) Garuḍa or Vainateya (2) Nārada, (3) Mārkaṇḍeya, (4) Narasiṃha and (5) Vārāhī (Kalyāṇa 30. 1. p. 59). The order in the Nārada-purāṇa is as follows: (1) Nārada, (2) Vainateya or Garuḍa (3) Vārāhī, (4) Narasiṃha (5) Nara: Nārāyaṇa Śilā on the bank of the hot-spring (Vahni Kuṇḍa).

[4]:

It is at a distance of about one and a half furlong from the Agni- Tīrtha on the bank of the Alakanandā. When god Śiva cut off the fifth head of god Brahmā, it stuck to his hand, Śiva performed pilgrimage to all places but was rid of that sticking head at this Tīrtha. Hence it is called Brahma-Kapāla. Pilgrims offer Piṇḍa here to their ancestors.

[5]:

According to Kalyāṇa 31. 1 P. 61, it is high up on the mountain behind the Badrinātha temple at a higher altitude than Urvaśī-Kuṇḍa.

[6]:

At Keśava-Prayāga, near the stone bridge or Bhimaśilā on the Alakanandā, two cascades form this Tīrtha. Its water is famous in Garhwal for its health-restorative efficacy. (Kalyāṇa 31. 1. P. 60)

[7]:

This is a beautiful waterfall at a distance of five miles from Badarīnātha shrine.

[8]:

Just behind the Badarinātha shrine, high up on the hill there is the Urvaśī Kuṇḍa. Here Nārāyaṇa is said to have created Urvaśī from his lap and discomfited Indra’s band of tempters.