Chapter 56 - Brahmeśvara, Mokṣeśvara and Garbheśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nārada said:

1. Henceforth I shall recount (the glory of) the excellent Brahmeśa Liṅga, merely by remembering which one shall obtain the benefit of Vājapeya sacrifice.

2. Once, in the days of yore, O son of Pṛthā, a very severe penance was performed by Brahmā who was desirous of creating (the universe). He performed the penance for a thousand and five hundred years.

3. Śaṅkara, the Lord of Pārvatī, was completely satisfied by that penance. He granted to the maker of the worlds the boon that he had desired.

4. The grandfather (i.e. Brahmā) who was contented in having fulfilled his mission, became delighted and joyous. After knowing the greatness of the holy spot, he himself made a Liṅga.

5. He dug a meritorious lake named Brahmasaras. It was located to the east of Mahīnagara. It was very splendid and destructive of great sins.

6. The Lord installed the great Liṅga on its bank. It is said that Lord Śaṅkara himself is present there.

7. The holy spot named Brahmeśa is superior to Puṣkara, O Phālguna. One should take his holy bath there and offer rice-balls (to Pitṛs) devoutly.

8. He should offer charitable gifts in accordance with his capacity, especially in the month of Kārttika. He should devoutly worship Lord Brahmeśa with a delighted heart.

9-10. His Pitṛs become satisfied till the annihilation of all living beings. By plunging into this holy Tīrtha, the devotee obtains that benefit which is obtained in the holy Tīrthas including Gaṅgā by men, as well as the merit obtained in Puṣkara and Kurukṣetra during solar eclipse.

11-12. Listen to the extremely wonderful greatness of Mokṣa-Liṅga, O son of Pṛthā. For the sake of the welfare of the holy region, I propitiated Maheśvara and installed the excellent Liṅga of Hara named Mokṣeśvara. Thereafter, O son of Pṛthā, I dug up a well by means of the tip of a blade of Darbha grass.

13. After propitiating Brahmā, Parameṣṭhin, the maker of the worlds, Sarasvatī was brought from the Kamaṇḍalu (‘water pot’) of Brahmā.

14-15. For the liberation of the ghosts of people, a man should take bath in the well of Mokṣanātha on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Kārttika and (after bath) offer therein balls of gingelly seeds intended for the ghosts of the dead persons. It will certainly result in (the attainment of) the fruit of (visiting) the Mokṣa Tīrtha (i.e. liberation from ghost-hood).

16. There will never be a ghost in his family, O son of Pṛthā. There is no doubt about it. By the power of this holy spot all the ghosts obtain liberation.

17. After scrupulously taking his holy ablution in the excellent well of Jayāditya and bowing down to Garbheśvara no devotee has to enter into wombs (i.e. has to be reborn).

18. Thus, O son of Pṛthā, the greatness of the Guptakṣetra has been succinctly recounted to you by me. He who listens to this wholly shall become pure. What shall I tell you further?