Chapter 70 - The Greatness of Prabhāsa

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Mohinī said:

1. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, recount to me the greatness of Prabhāsa[123] On hearing it I shall be delighted in my mind. May I be blessed thanks to your grace.

Vasu said:

2. O gentle lady, listen. I shall narrate to you the (glory of the holy eentre named Prabhāsa. It yields great merit. It is a Tīrtha that dispels all sins of men. It yields worldly pleasures and salvation.

3-4. O daughter of Brahmā, there are innumerable Tīrthas therein. Someśa,^[1] the lord of the universe, the lord of the daughter of the mountain, is present there. By taking a holy bath in the Prabhāsa Tīrtha, and by worshipping Soma- nātha, a man obtains liberation. What I have stated to you is the truth.

5. The zone of Prabhāsa extends to twelve Yojanas. In its centre is the Pīṭhikā (the pedestal). It is said to extend to five Yojanas.

6. In its middle is the Tīrtha extending to a Gocarma (about a hundred hands. But it excels even mount Kailāsa. Another meritorious and splendid Tīrtha is Arkasthala (the holy spot of the sun).

7-8a. There are thousands of Liṅgas such as Siddheśvara etc. By performing the holy bath there, and the Tarpaṇa rite for Pitṛs and Devas with devotion, and by worshipping the Liṅgas, the devotee attains the same worlds as that of Rudra.

8b-9a. Another Tīrtha, the Agnitīrtha,^[2] is situated on the shore of the sea. O gentle lady, by taking the holy dip there, the man shall attain the world of Vahni.

9b-10a. By worshipping lord Kapardīśa (Śiva) after observing fast, the devotee attains Śiva’s world after enjoying the desired worldly pleasures.

10b-11a. The devotee shall go to Kedāreśa and worship him in accordance with the injunctions. Thereby, he attains heavenly goal. He goes there by means of an aerial chariot. He is worshipped by Devas.

11b-13. The three deities mentioned before together with the following make fourteen, viz: Bhīmeśa, Bhairaveśa, Caṇḍīśa, Bhāskareśvara, Aṅgāreśa, Gurvīśa, Someśa, Bhṛgujeśvara, Śanīśvara, Rāhvīśvara and Śikhīśvara. These deities must be visited in order. By worshipping with devotion these deities severally, the devotee who knows rules of religious procedure attains the same world as Śiva. He becomes competent to chastise as well as to bless others.

14. O daughter of Brahmā, by worshipping five other Liṅgas, Siddheśvara etc., the man attains Siddhi of this world as well as of the other world.

15. By worshipping the fair lady Ajāpālā, Maṅgalā and Laliteśvarī, the man becomes free from sins.

16. By worshipping Lakṣmīśvara, Bāḍaveśa, Arghyeśa and Kāmakeśvara with devotion, a man shall attain lordship of the worlds.

17. By worshipping Gaurīśa, Varuṇeśvara and Uṣeśvara after reaching the penance grove of Gaurī, the man shall attain heavenly goal.

18-19a. By duly worshipping Gaṇeśa, Kumāreśa, Svākakeśa, Kuleśvara, Uttaṅkeśa, Vahnīśa, Gautama and Daityasūdana (the slayer of the Daityas), the man shall never go to hell (or troubles).

19b-20a. The devotee should thereafter go to Cakra Tīrtha, take a holy bath in accordance with the injunctions and worship goddess Gaurī; thereby the man shall obtain the desired benefits.

20b-21a. O fair-faced lady, after reaching the Tīrtha called ‘Sannihatyā’, the devotee shall take a holy dip and perform the rite of Tarpaṇa to Devas and others. Thereby, he shall attain the benefit accruing from that Sannihatyā Tīrtha.

21b-22a. He who worships the eleven Liṅgas, Bhūteśa and others, attains excellent pleasures and in the end shall attain the region of Rudra.

22b-23a. O gentle lady, by worshipping lord Ādinārāyaṇa, the excellent man shall attain salvation. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.

23b-24a. He who goes near Cakradhara and worships him in accordance with the injunctions shall conquer his enemies and attain worldly pleasures high and low.

24b-25a. The devotee who goes to the Tīrtha Sāmbāditya and takes a holy bath with due observances of restraints shall be free from ailments. The man shall be endowed with wealth and food-grains on the earth.

25b-26a. Then the man should go to the goddess Kaṇṭakaśodhinī who slew Mahiṣa. By worshipping her, the man becomes fearless.

26b-27a. By worshipping Kapālīśa and Koṭīśa, the excellent man shall become extremely fortunate. Thus the middle pilgrimage shall be completed.

27b-28a. O queen of men, by going to the Tīrtha Bālabrahmā thereafter, the man becomes a master of worldly pleasures and salvation. He will be honoured and worshipped by all Devas.

28b-29a. By worshipping Narakeśa, Saṃvarteśa, Nidhīśvara, one shall be having worldly pleasures and liberation.

29b. By resorting to Gaṅgāgaṇapati and worshipping him in accordance with the injunctions, the devotee derives desired benefits in this world as well as in the other world.

30-3la. Thereafter, the man should go to the river Jāmbavatī. By taking the holy dip with devotion and concentration and by worshipping the deity, the man shall have his objects accomplished.

31b-32a. Thereafter, he shall take a holy dip in the well Pāṇḍukūpa and worship Pāṇḍaveśvara. That man goes to heaven and sports about in Nandana and other parks.

32b-33a. By worshipping the three Liṅgas, Śatamedha, Lakṣamedha and Koṭimedha in the proper order, the devotee rejoices in the heaven like a Deva.

33b-34a. By visiting Durvāsādityaka and by worshipping him in accordance with the injunctions, the devotee shall undoubtedly attain the benefit of horse-sacrifice.

34b-35a. By resorting to Yādavasthalī^[3] and by worshipping Varṣeśa, the man attains his coveted Siddhi. He is greeted and honoured by the king of Devas.

35b-36. After taking a holy dip in the confluence of the Hiraṇyā, the devotee shall make a gift of a golden chariot to a Brāhmaṇa looking upon him as Śiva. He who does so with devotion shall obtain everlasting worlds. By worshipping Nagarārka thereafter, this devotee shall attain the world of the sun.

37. By visiting and duly worshipping Bala, Kṛṣṇa and Subhadrā near Nagarāditya, one shall attain the sāyujya (identity) with Kṛṣṇa.

38. Thereafter, the devotee shall go to Kumārikā Tīrtha and worship the deity in accordance with the injunctions. There is no doubt about this that he attains cherished desires and conquers even Indra.

39.. By worshipping Kṣetrapāla thereafter, he shall attain all desired benefits.

39b-40a. By worshipping Brahmeśvara installed on the banks of Sarasvatī^[4] the devotee shall be freed from all sins. He is honoured in the world of Brahmā.

40b-41a. He should then go to the river Piṅgalā and take a holy dip there. By performing Śrāddha, the man is not born here again. By worshipping Saṅgameśa, the man wards off misfortune or hell.

41b-42. By worshipping Śaṅkarāditya, and Ghaṇṭeśa, the great lord, a man shall attain all cherished desires. There is no doubt about this.

43. The devotee should then go to the Ṛṣi Tīrtha and take a holy bath with full control of the mind. By worshipping the sages there, he shall attain the benefits of all the Tīrthas.

44. By worshipping Nandāditya thereafter, he is liberated from all ailments. By resorting to Tritakūpa and by taking the holy dip therein, he goes to the heaven.

45. O Mohinī, by taking a holy dip in ‘Śaśopāna’ the man sees Devas and attains all desired benefits. Truth: It is the truth that has been stated by me.

46-47. By visiting Parṇāditya, the man becomes free from ailments and enjoys worldly pleasures. By resorting to Nyaṅkumatī, by taking the holy dip there in accordance with the injunctions and by worshipping Siddheśvara, the devotee shall attain Aṇimā (minuteness) and other Siddhis. By visiting Varāhasvāmin, one is liberated from the ocean of mundane existence.

48. By worshipping Chāyāliṅga one is liberated from all sins. By visiting Gulpha and worshipping him one shall attain the benefit of observance of the Cāndrāyaṇa vow.

49. O chaste lady, by worshipping goddess Kana- kanandā, the devotee attains all cherished desires. On death he attains heavenly goal.

50-51a. By worshipping Kuntīśvara, one is liberated from all sins. The man who takes a plunge in the Gaṅgā and worships Gaṅgeśvara is liberated from the three types of sins.

51b-52a. He who takes a holy dip in Camasoḍbhedaka and offers balls of rice, obtains a merit a crore of times more than at Gayā. There is no doubt about this.

52b-53. Thereafter, O daughter of Brahmā, the devotee should go to the excellent Vidurāśrama and worship Triga, the lord of the three worlds. Thereby, he shall be happy. By worshipping Maṅkaṇeśvara, the man attains good goal (i.e. heaven).

54-55. By worshipping Traipura and Triliṅga, one is liberated from sins. Thereafter, the man shall resort to Ṣaṇḍa- tīrtha, take a holy dip there and make a gift of gold. Thereafter, he shall be purified of all sins. He shall attain the region of Śiva. By taking a holy dip in Sūryaprācī, the man shall be devoid of sins and enjoy worldly pleasures.

56-57. By taking a holy dip in the Tīrtha, Trilocana, the man attains Rudraloka. By worshipping Umānātha in the Devikā river the excellent man attains desired benefits. On death he shall attain heavenly benefit. By worshipping Bhūdvāra the devotee shall attain the cherished desire.

58-59. By making obeisance to Vālmīki in Śūlasthāna, the devotee shall become a poet. By worshipping Cyavanārka one shall be richly endowed with all desired benefits. Through the worship of Cyavaneśa, the man shall become the attendant of Śiva. By worshipping Prajāpāleśa, the devotee shall be endowed with wealth and foodgrains.

60. A man who worships Bālārka shall be endowed with learning and wealth. By taking a holy dip in Kuberasthāna the devotee shall certainly obtain a treasure-trove.

61. By resorting to the river Ṛṣitoyā, by taking holy bath there, and by giving gold to a Brāhmaṇa as gift, the man becomes pure and is liberated from sins.

62. By worshipping Śṛgāleśvara, the devotee is honoured in the Rudraloka. By worshipping Nāradāditya the devotee shall become endowed with the perfect knowledge of the three units of time.

63-64. By worshipping Nārāyaṇa the man shall attain liberation. After taking a holy dip in the waters of Taptakuṇḍa, the devotee should worship Mūlacaṇḍīśa. The man shall be absolved of all sins. He shall attain the desired object. By worshipping the fourfaced deity Vināyaka, the devotee attains the desired benefit.

65. By worshipping Kambala, the devotee is endowed with flourishing wealth and food-grains. Through the worship of Gopālasvāmin, the devotee will possess cows and wealth. He will become a poet or a wise man.

66. The worship of Bakulasvāmin is the bestower of heavenly goal unto the man. By worshipping the goddess of Maruts, one shall attain the desired benefits.

67. Through the worship of Kṣemāditya, the man shall attain welfare and truthfully partake of all relished objects. By worshipping Vighnarāja Unnata, the devotee is not impeded by obstacles.

68. The two deities Jalasvāmin and Kālamegha, when worshipped, bestow all Siddhis. When the goddess Rukmiṇī is worshipped, she bestows the desired objects on men.

69. By worshipping Durvāseśa and Piṅgeśa, the devotee is liberated from sins. By taking the holy dip in the confluence of Bhadrā, the man sees auspicious things.

70. By taking the holy dip in Śaṅkhāvarta, the man shall become the master of all Siddhis. By taking the holy bath in the Mokṣa Tīrtha, the man shall be liberated from the ocean of worldly existence.

71. Merely by means of ablution in the Goṣpada (the pit made by the hoofs of cows), one shall attain all happiness. After going to the abode of Nārāyaṇa, a man does not grieve again.

72. Through the worship of Jaleśvara, a man shall realise all desired Siddhis. One who takes a holy dip in the well Huṃkārakūpa shall never attain a residence in the womb thereafter.

73. By worshipping Caṇḍīśa one shall attain the benefit of all Tīrthas. By worshipping Vighneśa stationed in Āśāpura, one shall never be harassed by obstacles.

74. A man taking the holy plunge in the Kalākuṇḍa shall undoubtedly attain salvation. By worshipping Kapileśa one shall attain a herd of Kapilās (tawny-coloured cows).

75. By worshipping Jaradgaveśvara the devotee is never overwhelmed by old age. The worshipper of Naleśvara is an enjoyer of pleasures. The worshipper of Karkoṭeśa is a wealthy man.

76. Through the worship of Hāṭakeśvara all the desires are fulfilled. The worshipper of Nāradeśa shall obtain devotion to Viṣṇu and Śaṅkara.

77. By worshipping goddess Mantravibhūṣaṇā, the devotee becomes one who deserves heaven. By worshipping Gaṇapati and Durgakūṭā, one shall be ever happy.

78. A person who worships Kauraveśvarī shall become one endowed with wealth and food-grains. By worshipping Suparṇeśā and Bhairavī, one shall be blessed with happiness.

79. By taking a holy dip in Bhāla Tīrtha.^[5] the man is absolved of all sins. By taking a holy bath in Kardamāla, one is relieved of sins.

80. By visiting Guptasomeśvara (the hidden Someśvara) one ceases to grieve further. By visiting Bahusvarṇeśvara one shall attain heavenly goal.

81. The man who worships Śṛṇgeśvara is not attacked by miseries. By taking a holy dip in the Tīrtha Nārāyaṇa, the man obtains liberation.

82. By worshipping Mārkaṇḍeśvara, the man becomes long-lived. By taking the holy dip in the Koṭihrada and by worshipping Koṭīśvara one becomes happy.

83. By performing ablution in Śiddhasthāna and by worshipping numerous Liṅgas thereof, the man shall become a Siddha on the earth.

84-85a. By visiting Dāmodaragṛha one attains excellent happiness. O auspicious lady, the holy centre Vastrāpatha is situated in the navel region of Prabhāsa. By worshipping god Bhava (Śiva) there, one shall directly become equal to Śiva.

85b-86. The Svarṇarekhā (the line of gold) is in Dāmodara. Brahmakuṇḍa (holy pool of Brahmā) is in Raivata. Kuntīśa and the highly refulgent Bhīmeśa are in Ujjayanta (mount Girnar). And Mṛgīkuṇḍa and Sarvasva—all these are remembered to be at the holy spot called Vastrāpatha.

87. By taking the holy bath in these, in the order, by worshipping Devas assiduously and by performing Tarpaṇa rite with water, one shall attain the benefit of all Tīrthas.

88. By taking the holy dip in Dunnābila and enjoying the pleasures one shall go to the heaven. By worshipping Gaṅgeśvara thereafter, one shall attain the benefit of the holy bath in Gaṅgā.

89-90. O gentle lady, there are many Tīrthas on the mountain Raivataka (or Girnar). By taking a holy dip in them and by worshipping with devotion, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśvara, Indra and other guardians of the worlds, the man obtains worldly pleasures and liberation. O beautiful lady, these Tīrthas have been narrated to you in brief.

91. In their midst there are infinite numbers of them. It is not possible to recount them all. There are detailed stories for each and everyone of these Tīrthas.

92-93a. Hence, the merit accruing from Prabhāsa has been succinctly mentioned by me. O Mohinī, there is no other Tīrtha in all the three worlds, equal to Prabhāsa. O auspicious lady, a man who takes a holy bath there competes with heavendwellers.

93b-95. If the greatness of Prabhāsa is written and kept in the house, there can be no danger or fear from goblins, thieves, serpents and enemies. He who devoutly listens to this and he who narrates this with concentration shall attain the goal of the good.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

This is the famous Jyotir-liṅga whose shrine faced destruction and re-construction at least five times during the last thousand years. The last re-construction of the shrine took place after Indian independence, probably due to the interest taken by Sardar Patel, the then Home Minister of India.

[2]:

It is strange but watery places are called by the name Agnitīrtha (The sacred ‘pool’ of the Fire god). Here the sea near the town of Prabhāsa is called Agni Tīrtha.

[3]:

This is traditionally regarded as the site of the last mutually- annihilating fight among Yādavas. It is on the bank of the Hiraṇyā river (Kalyāṇa 31. I. P. 419).

[4]:

This is different from the Vedic Sarasvatī of Kurukṣetra. This is also called Prabhāsa Sarasvatī, Pratyak (west-ward flowing) Sarasvatī. Near Prabhāsa, the small rivers, the Kapilā, Sarasvatī and Hiraṇyā join each other near the sea and fall into. It is also called ‘Triveṇī’ confluence, though actually the Kapilā joins the Sarasvatī which flows into the Hiraṇyā which ultimately falls into the sea.

[5]:

This is probably the Bhālaka Tīrtha of today near Bhālupura (Kalyāṇa 31. 1 P- 419).