Chapter 52 - The Story of Koṭitīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Though the heading of the chapter mentions the Koṭitīrtha, it includes the installation of Koṭīśvara, Atrīśvara. Bharadvājeśvara and Gautameśvara Liṅgas also.

Arjuna said:

1. How did Koṭitīrtha originate, O sage? By whom was it made? How is it that the merit of a crore of Tīrthas is obtained here, O sage?

Nārada said:

2. When this spot was established by me, Lord Brahmā, the grandfather (of the worlds), was propitiated and brought from his world (Brahmaloka).

3-4. Then, at midday, Lord Vidhi (Brahmā) remembered a crore of Tīrthas for the sake of his bath. On being remembered, they all came here—one million from Svarga, seven million from the earth and two million from Pātāla. All of these came on being remembered.

5. When Pitāmaha began his worship, O leading scion of the family of Kuru, Liṅgas too came in the same number.

6-11. After performing the ablution and worshipping the Liṅgas and after concluding the midday rites, the Lotus-born Lord lovingly granted me boons.

Thereafter, a lake was mentally created by the Lord. Lord Prajāpati was adored by those Tīrthas and was asked:

“O Lord Dhātā, what shall we do? Command us.”

On hearing those words of the Tīrthas, Bramnā, the Prajāpati spoke: “All the Tīrthas should stay here in this lake. Since I worshipped all the Liṅgas, all the Liṅgas should stay in a single Liṅga. The devotees shall get the benefit of the holy bath in all the crores of Tīrthas as well as that of the worship of a crore of Liṅgas. They shall get the benefit of charitable gifts too in the same manner, if my words are true.

If anyone performs Śrāddha here and offers rice balls in accordance with the injunctions, the Pitṛs will be propitiated everlastingly. There is no doubt about it.

12. If anyone takes his holy bath and worships Lord Koṭīśvara without thinking about anything else, he will obviously obtain the benefit of worshipping a crore of Liṅgas.

13. By taking his bath in Koṭitīrtha, one gets the benefit of (baths in) all the Tīrthas in the three worlds and in all the rivers beginning with Gaṅgā.”

14. After granting the boon thus, Lord Brahmā went to his region (Brahmaloka). Ever since then, Koṭitīrtha became well-renowned.

15. Formerly the excellent Devas beginning with Brahmā performed many Yajñas on its banks. Thereafter, they attained great Siddhi.

16. Formerly, O sinless one, penance was performed by the excellent sages beginning with Vasiṣṭha. Other ascetics too obtained everything they desired in their minds.

17-18. Formerly, penance was performed, O son of Pṛthā, here in this Tīrtha by Atri. An excellent Liṅga was installed to the south of Koṭitīrtha (by him). It is called Atrīśvara Liṅga. It is destructive of great sins. After installing that Liṅga, he made an excellent lake in front of it.

19. After taking his holy dip there and worshipping Atrīśvara, if any man performs Śrāddha carefully, he shall dwell in the world of Rudra for a long time.

20. It is reported, O mighty-armed one, that penance was performed and Yajñas were performed by sage Bharadvāja in the excellent lake Koṭitīrtha.

21. The exceedingly charming Liṅga Bharadvājeśvara was installed. After making a very beautiful lake there, be obtained a great pleasure.

22. After taking his bath there, a man should perform Śrāddha with great devotion and in accordance with the injunctions. After worshipping Bharadvājeśvara, he is honoured in the world of Śiva.

23. Further, the holy Lord, sage Gautama performed a very severe penance at this Koṭitīrtha with the hope of a re-union with Ahalyā.^[1]

24. The intelligent (sage) realized union with Ahalyā, thanks to the power of this Tīrtha. He derived a great pleasure (thereby).

25. The holy Lord installed a great Liṅga at this holy spot. It is named Gautameśvara. It is on the banks of the lake Ahalyāsaras.^[2]

Arjuna said:

26. O Brāhmaṇa, when was this great lake dug by Ahalyā? Tell me the cause of this Ahalyāsaras in its entirety.

Nārada told:

27. It is reported that in ancient times, Ahalyā, due to her union with Indra, was cursed by Gautama. She then felt extremely sorry for it, O Phālguna.

28. Thereafter, the sage who was very much depressed and miserable, performed a penance at Koṭitīrtha. As a result of that penance, O son of Pṛthā, he was re-united with Ahalyā.

29. Then the chaste lady became extremely delighted. She created an exceedingly meritorious lake in this excellent spot, filled with the water of (all) Tīrthas.

30. A devotee should perform holy ablution in the Ahalyā-saras and then offer rice-balls (to Pitṛs). By properly worshipping Gautameśa he goes to the world of Brahmā.

31. Many sages who were free from impurities have performed severe penances, O excellent one among men, at Koṭitīrtha and have attained the greatest Siddhi (i.e. liberation).

32. Formerly, austerities, charitable gifts and sacrifices were performed by many kings at this holy spot. They have attained the greatest Siddhi (thereby).

33. If anyone propitiates a single Brāhmaṇa with sumptuous food on the banks of this holy Tīrtha, due to that faith, it is as good as a crore (Brāhmaṇas) propitiated.

34-36. If any man, O son of Pṛthā, gives different kinds of jewels, cows, plots of lands, gingelly seeds, cereals and different kinds of clothes to Brāhmaṇas with great sincerity and faith, it has merits a hundred crores of times, thanks to the power of Koṭitīrtha. If anyone promises anything to Brāhmaṇas at Koṭitīrtha but does not give it, he causes a hundred and one generations of his family to fall into the exceedingly terrible hell Raurava. Afterwards he himself falls into it.

37. At the advent of the month of Māgha (January-February) early in the fine morning, when the Sun is in the zodiac Capricorn, a devotee should take his holy bath here. Listen from me to his merit.

38-41a. The merit that is acquired in all the Tīrthas, the benefit derived from all Yajñas, all charitable gifts and holy rites—all this can be obtained by a man in Koṭitīrtha everyday. There is no doubt about it.

If a man performs Śrāddha here, when the Sun is in the zodiac Kanyā (‘Virgo’), the Pitṛs get that satisfaction which they do not derive even from Gayā Śrāddha.

At the advent of the month of Kārttika (October-November) if anyone performs holy ablution etc. it will have everlasting benefit in accordance with the words of Brahmā.

41b-43. By performing a single Yajña here, one attains the benefit of a crore of Yajñas. By giving a virgin in marriage according to Brāhma rite, the benefit derived is a crore of times, since all charitable gifts in Koṭitīrtha have a crore of times more benefit.

One shall gives up one’s life at Koṭitīrtha, thinking of Mādhava in the heart. O son of Pṛthā, he will have heavenly pleasures for a long time. He will attain everlasting goal (of Mokṣa).

44. Groups of Devas beginning with Brahma worship the person who casts off his mortal body in the excellent sacred place Koṭitīrtha.

45-47. If the body of anyone is cremated on the banks of this Tīrtha, if the bones are cast into the Mahī-Sāgara-Saṅgama, O son of Pṛthā, even the Lord of Speech is not capable of expressing his benefit. It is after knowing thus, O son of Pṛthā, that one resorts to the great holy spot Koṭitīrtha everyday. Its benefit is on a par with that of the gift of a thousand tawny cows everyday. Hence this is the rarest (holy spot) in heaven, earth and the nether worlds.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VR is not aware of Gautama’s coining to the Mahī-Sāgara-Saṅgama of this Koṭitīrtha for penance. VR states that after cursing Indra and Ahalyā, Gautama went to Himālaya for penance. (VR 1.48.34)

[2]:

This story of creating Ahalyāsaras described in vv 27-30 below is unknown to VR.