Chapter 2 - Brahmakuṇḍa and Sahasradhārā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1. After recounting the story pertaining to Cakratīrtha thus, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Sage Agastya began to narrate further the story of Lord Viṣṇuhari.

Agastya said:

2. After coming to know that Lord Hari, Acyuta, had become resident of Ayodhyā formerly, Brahmā, the creator of the universe, stationed himself too there.

3. After his arrival there Brahmā duly performed the pilgrimage. And after collecting the different requisites (of a sacrifice) he performed a sacrifice according to the injunctions.

4. Thereafter, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, made a Kuṇḍa known after his name.^[1] It was large and frequented by many deities.

5-6. It is a sacred pit that is destructive of sins. It is large; its water is full of ripples. It abounds in lilies, blue lotuses, red lotuses and white lotuses. It is very charming with swans, cranes, ruddy geese and other (water) birds. It is full of various other birds gracefully perching on the branches of the trees on the banks.

7-8. On taking their holy bath in that Kuṇḍa all the Suras became endowed with great purity. All their impurities disappeared and they attained refulgence. On seeing this great miracle all those Suras devoutly bowed down to Brahmā and said thus with palms joined in reverence:

The Devas said:

9-10. O Lotus-seated Lord, recount the entire glory of this Kuṇḍa accurately. It has been dug (by you) and its refulgence is free from impurities. By taking a holy bath herein all our impurities have gone away. We are surprised on observing this miracle, O excellent one among Suras. Hence do recount (it).

Brahmā said:

11-12. May all the Suras listen attentively to the efficacy of this Kuṇḍa along with the different kinds of benefit accruing therefrom. Listen to it, ye Suras who are (obviously) surprised. By taking the holy bath here in accordance with the injunctions even sinful creatures will be clad in fascinating robes. They will occupy an aerial chariot fitted with swans and go to the world of Brahmā. They will stay there till all the living beings are annihilated.

13. (Corrupt reading) O excellent suras, acquire merit here by performing charity, Homa, Tulādāna and Aśvamedha according to your capacity.

14-18. By taking the holy bath in this lake of mine, a man becomes glorious. Hence, if holy bath, charitable gifts, Japas etc. are performed here in accordance with the injunctions, they shall be on a par with all Yajñas and be destructive of all sins.

This holy pit shall attain renown of great excellence as Brahmakuṇḍa. I will always be present in this Kuṇḍa.

On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika, O excellent Suras, the annual festival of mine shall always be celebrated. It is conducive to auspiciousness and is destructive of heaps of great sins.

Gold should be gifted always with various kinds of clothes, O Suras. Brāhmaṇas should be propitiated in accordance with one’s capacity.

Agastya said:

19-20. After saying thus, Brahmā, the lord of Devas, the grandfather of the worlds, glanced at the Tīrtha (once more) and vanished along with the Suras, O ascetic. Ever since then that Kuṇḍa became exceedingly famous on the earth. That great Kuṇḍa is situated to the east of Cakratīrtha.

Sūta said:

21. After saying this, Agastya, the pot-born sage, who had accumulated a mass of penances was asked once again. The great sage thereupon continued to recount the story to Vyāsa.

Agastya said:

22. Listen to the efficacy of another Tīrtha, O highly fortunate one. It is a Tīrtha very difficult of access to persons of evil actions. It is called Ṛṇamocana^[2] (‘Liberator from indebtedness’) and it is adjacent to the banks of Sarayū.

23. O excellent sage, it is situated in the waters of Sarayū seven hundred Dhanus (i.e. about 700 metres) to the north-east of Brahmakuṇḍa.

24. Formerly, the excellent sage named Lomaśa came there during his pilgrimage. He performed the rite of holy bath in accordance with the injunctions.

25. Thereby he became free from indebtedness and got rid of his sins. On observing this great miracle, he gladly spoke to the sages.

26-31. Tears welled up in his eyes. He lifted up his arms and spoke out with great delight:

Lomaśa said:

May (the sages) see the merits of this great Tīrtha, the most excellent one among all the Tīrthas. This is the most excellent Tīrtha named Ṛṇamocana. By taking the holy bath here living beings will be able to repay all their debts of this world as well as of the world hereafter, the three-fold debt of men. All these perish instantaneously on taking bath in this Tīrtha.

This is the most excellent of all the Tīrthas. It immediately furnishes proof worthy of belief. Its benefit has been perfectly experienced by me. (I have got rid) of my indebtedness. Hence holy bath and charitable gifts must be made here in accordance with one’s capacity and in accordance with the injunctions, by persons endowed with faith and desirous of benefits. They must take bath and give away gold, clothes etc. according to (their) capacity.

Agastya said:

32. After mentioning the great efficacy of the Tīrtha thus, Lomaśa, the excellent one among sages, vanished while joyously eulogizing the Tīrtha.

33-35. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, the Tīrtha named Ṛṇamocana has been described. By taking a holy bath therein the indebtedness of living beings perishes instantaneously. The Tīrtha called Ṛṇamocana is in the water of Sarayū in the East.

Within a distance of twenty Dhanus (1 Dhanu=3½ Hastas) therefrom is the Tīrtha named Pāpamocana^[3]. By taking holy bath therein one gets his soul rid of all sins instantaneously. No doubt need be entertained in this respect. O excellent sage, the great glory (of the Tīrtha) has been witnessed by me.

36. There was a Brāhmaṇa in the land of Pāñcāla, named Narahari. As a result of contact with bad people, he became a sinner.

37. On account of his association with sinners he became one who censured the path of Vedas. He committed different kinds of sins such as that of murder of a Brāhmaṇa etc.

38-43. Once he happened to be in contact with some good people engaged in pilgrimage. O Brāhmaṇa, that Brāhmaṇa, the perpetrator of great sins, came to Ayodhyā along with them.

Since he was in the company of good people, he took bath in the Tīrtha called Pāpamocana. The mass of his sins perished. He became free from sins in a moment. A shower of flowers fell on his head from heaven, O eminent sage. The Brāhmaṇa rode in a divine aerial chariot and went to the world of Viṣṇu.

After noticing this great miracle, O eminent Brāhmaṇa, the holy bath was specially undertaken by me with great faith. For the sake of dispelling all the sins the holy bath should be particularly undertaken on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Māgha by men. Charitable gift too should be made. (Even) on other occasions, if the bath is performed, all the sins will be dispelled.

44-46. To the east of Pāpamocanatīrtha and about a hundred Dhanus from it there is another excellent Tīrtha named Sahasradhārā.^[4] It is destructive of all sins. It was in this, that, at the behest of Rāma, the heroic Lakṣmaṇa, the slayer of enemy warriors, cast off his life by Yogic process and regained his original form of Śeṣa.

They know that the length of a Dhanu is equal to three and a half Hastas. Four Hastas constitute one unit that is called Daṇḍa.

Sūta said:

47. On hearing these words of the Pot-born Sage, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa asked him again out of curiosity.

Vyāsa said:

48. O sage of good excellent holy rites, narrate in detail the greatness of Sahasradhārā. My mind is not fully satiated by listening to the glory of the Tīrtha.

Agastya said:

49. Even as I recount the story, O sage, listen to it with rapt attention. I shall recount the origin of the Tīrtha Sahasradhārā, the story of which is conducive to great prosperity.

50. Formerly, Rāma, the leader of Raghus, completed the task of Devas. The great king met Kāla and began to discuss some matters with him.

51. He made the stipulation: “If anyone comes near us and sees us taking counsel together, he is to be punished by me immediately.”

52-53. While they were discussing and Lakṣmaṇa was standing at the entrance, Durvāsas, the great ascetic and storehouse of refulgence, came there. On his arrival, he immediately spoke to Lakṣmaṇa lovingly, as he was famished and agitated.

Durvāsas said:

54. O son of Sumitrā, go quickly and report to Rāma that I am here on a job. It does not behove you to disobey this (request of mine).

Agastya said:

55. As he was afraid of his curse, the son of Sumitrā hurried to their presence. He informed Rāma that Sāge Durvāsas, son of Atri, had come and sought an audience with him (Rāma).

56-58 Rāma took leave of Kāla and sent him off. Coming out he met the sage and bowed down to him with great respect. The Lord fed the excellent Sage Durvāsas himself and bade farewell to him. Afraid of violating his own vow, the heroic Rāma abandoned Lakṣmaṇa then.

Lakṣmaṇa, the great warrior, wanted to make the words of his elder brother true. The hero of great intellect came to the banks of Sarayū.

59-61. He went there, took his holy bath, resorted to meditation immediately and fixed his tranquil mind on the Soul of Perfect Consciousness. He stayed there thus.

Thereupon Śeṣa, the excellent Serpent, adorned with a thousand hoods, pierced the ground in a thousand places and appeared before him. Surendra from the world of Suras came there along with the immortal beings. Then, even as the Suras remained there watching, Śakra spoke these sweet words to Lakṣmaṇa of truthful words, who got merged into Śeṣa.

Indra said:

62-68. O Lakṣmaṇa, get up. Quickly go up to your own position. O heroic slayer of enemies, the task of the Devas has been accomplished by you. Attain the great eternal abode of Viṣṇu. Your own original form, Śeṣa, has come with his graceful hoods.

He pierced the earth in thousand places by means of his thousand hoods. Since they have come up by piercing a thousand holes in the earth, O prince of good holy rites, since the places were burnt (i.e. brightly lit up) by the crest jewels on the thousand hoods of Śeṣa, this splendid Tīrtha on the banks of Sarayū shall become well-known as Sahasradhārā. There is no doubt about it.

The extent of this holy spot is twenty-five Dhanus. By taking holy bath here and giving charitable gifts as well as by performing Śrāddha with sincerity one shall get rid of all sins in his soul and shall go to the world of Viṣṇu.

The man who takes his bath here, intelligently worships Śeṣa, the immutable one, and duly adores the Tīrtha, shall attain the world of Viṣṇu.

Therefore, the rite of taking the holy baṃ here should be performed in accordance with the injunctions. Brāhmaṇas should be particularly worshipped and meditated upon as serpents in the form of Śeṣa.

69-73. Gold, cooked rice and clothes should be given by persons endowed with sincerity and faith. Holy bath, charitable gift and the worship of Hari—everything shall have infinite (merit). Hence this Tīrtha shall become a great Tīrtha always bestowing all desired objects on the earth. There is no doubt about this.

On the fifth day in the bright half of the month of Śrāvaṇa a grand festival with serpents in view, with the worship of Śeṣa as the main function, should be celebrated with great effort by good people. If the festival is celebrated in that great Tīrtha by men, if Brāhmaṇas are devoutly propitiated along with the worship of serpents, all the serpents will become delighted and will never harass men.

74. Those who take holy bath here with concentration and mental purity in the month of Vaiśākha, will never return to the earth even in hundreds and crores of Kalpas.

75-80. Hence in the month of Vaiśākha, holy bath, charitable gift, worship of Hari and propitiation particularly of Brāhmaṇas should be performed by men with great effort. If these are done by men, the holy spot bestows all desired benefits.

If, with Viṣṇu in view anyone were to give a milch cow along with her calf and befitting ornaments to a deserving Brāhmaṇa in this excellent Tīrtha, his residence shall be in the eternal world of Viṣṇu. By the holy bath in the Tīrtha a man shall enjoy infinite bliss in heaven.

Here in the month of Vaiśākha a Brāhmaṇa couple should be particularly adored with ornaments and clothes, by men endowed with faith, for the purpose of propitiating Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and particularly for the attainment of fortune.

In the month of Vaiśākha, all the Tīrthas situated on the earth join together and stay here. There is no doubt about this. Hence by taking holy bath particularly in the month of Vaiśākha here, one will get the great benefit of taking the holy plunge in all the Tīrthas.

Agastya said:

81-84. After saying this, O eminent sage, Indra installed Śeṣa,

i.e. Lakṣmaṇa who got merged into Śeṣa and who was capable of removing the burden of the earth, in that holy Tīrtha. He made Lakṣmaṇa sit in his vehicle and started for heaven.

Ever since then that Tīrtha attained great fame. The glory of the Tīrtha in the month of Vaiśākha is said to be very great, particularly on the fifth day in the bright half of the month of Śrāvaṇa. On other occasions such as Parvan days, one should take special holy bath in Sahasradhārā Tīrtha. The man shall attain heaven.

The intelligent and excellent man who duly performs holy bath and charitable gifts in the Tīrtha in accordance with his capacity, shall become a purified soul. He shall enjoy immense pleasures. By devotion he attains union with Śrīpati who sleeps on the serpent (Śeṣa).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 2-18 describe Brahma-Kuṇḍa. It is to the east of Cakratīrtha. It was created by God Brahmā after performing a sacrifice.

The annual festival at the Kuṇḍa is celebrated on the 14th Tithi of the bright half of Kārttīka (vv. 16-17).

[2]:

VV 22-23 describe Ṛṇamocana Tīrtha. It is to the north-east of Brahmakuṇḍa at a distance of 700 Dhanus (1 Dhanu = 3 1/2 Hastas) but it lies in the waters of Sarayū. The association of the name of Sage Lomaśa adds to the importance of the Tīrtha.

[3]:

VV 33-43 describe Pāpamocana Tīrtha (a Tīrtha absolvent of sins). It is at a distance of 200 Dhanus to the east of Ṛṇamocana Tīrtha. It lies in the current (water) of Sarayū but adjacent to the bank itself. Its annual festival is held on the 14th day in the dark half of Māgha.

[4]:

VV 44 ff describe the greatness of Sahasradhārā Tīrtha. Sahasradhārā Tīrtha is associated with the end of Lakṣmaṇa’s life at Rāma’s behest, for disobedience of his order of not admitting anyone during Rāma’s conference with Kāla, a story given currency by the author of the Uttara Kāṇḍa—a supplement to Rāmāyaṇa. Lakṣmaṇa was an incarnation of the thousand-hooded serpent Śeṣa. When Śeṣa came up for Lakṣmaṇa’s absorption in him, he made one thousand apertures (bores) in the earth (vv 64-65). Hence it is called Sahasradhārā. It lies at a distance of 100 Dhanus to the east of Pāpamocana Tīrtha. It is in the waters of Sarayū and is 25 Dhanus in area. The annual festival of the Tīrtha is celebrated on the 5th day in the bright half of Śrāvaṇa (observed as Nāgapañcamī elsewhere in India). Bath etc. in the month of Vaiśākha is also recommended.