Chapter 112 - The greatness of Vārāṇasī (māhātmya)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: The greatness of Vārāṇasī (vārāṇasīmāhātmya)]

Fire-god said:

1. (Lord) Maheśvara (Śiva) said to Gaurī (consort of Śiva) that Vārāṇasī is the sacred place. It confers enjoyment and emancipation on those who reside there and recite (the name of god) Hari (Viṣṇu).

Rudra (Śiva) said:

2. “The sacred place, O Gaurī, has never been forsaken (by me) and hence it is called Avimukta^[1]. The repetition (of god’s names), the performance of penance and giving alms at Avimukta indeed (yields) undiminishing benefits.

3-5. After rubbing away dust from the feet with a stone, one should stay at Kāśī (Vārāṇasī). He should never forsake it. The eight holy spots—Hariścandra, Āmrātakeśvara, Japyeśvara, Śrīparvata, Mahālaya, Bhṛgu, Caṇḍeśvara and Kedāra, remain concealed at Avimuktaka (Vārāṇasī). Avimuktaka is the most sacred place among all sacred places.

6. It extends to two yojanas in the east and half a yojana in the opposite direction. The (two) rivers Varaṇā and Asī (flow) and Vārāṇasī lies between the two.

7. Bathing, muttering (of divine names), oblations (to gods), (one’s) death, worship of gods, ancestral rites, almsgiving and stay and whatsoever done here is capable of conferring enjoyment and emancipation.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Avimukta is one of the names of Vārāṇasī.