Chapter 8 - Ratikuṇḍa and other Holy Tīrthas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agastya said:

1-6. To the west of Ghoṣārkatīrtha, O Brāhmaṇa-sage, is situated a Tīrtha well-known as Rati Kuṇḍa.^[1] It is destructive of all sins always. By taking holy bath here and by making charitable gifts, one shall attain excellent splendour.

To the west of that is situated a Tīrtha named Kusumāyudha Kuṇḍa. This is matchless and famous. It is conducive to the attainment of all desired objects. By taking holy bath here and by making charitable gifts in accordance with the injunctions a man obtains physical form on a par with that of the god of Love. O sage, there is no doubt about it.

One who faithfully takes holy bath, O Brāhmaṇa, in Ratikuṇḍa as well as Kusumāyudhakuṇḍa, shall attain the highest happiness.

Couples who take holy bath in both the Kuṇḍas will become famous like Rati and Kama. They will be handsome and charming permanently.

Hence holy bath in accordance with the injunctions should be taken by those who desire Dharma. Charitable gifts should be given in accordance with one’s capacity for the propitiation of Rati and Kāma.

7-10. Rati and Kāma shall invariably be pleased with them. Holy bath taken here on the fifth day in the bright half of Māgha bestows auspiciousness.

Couples must first take their bath in Ratikuṇḍa and afterwards in Kandarpakuṇḍa on that day very scrupulously, O Brāhmaṇa. The worship of Rati and Kandarpa should be specially performed. A Brāhmaṇa couple should be honoured with ornaments, garments etc. The devotee shall attain all desires. There is no doubt about this.

11. The devotee should worship the Brāhmaṇa couple with sandal-paste, agallochum, camphor, musk, saffron etc., with different kinds of clothes and with flowers.

12. When this is performed for the propitiation of Rati and Kandarpa, there is no doubt, O Brāhmaṇa, that the couple shall be on a par with Rati and Kandarpa.

13-14. A holy spot well-known as Mantreśvara^[2] is situated to the west of Kusumāyudhakuṇḍa. It is very rarely accessible. If persons take their bath in that Tīrtha and visit Lord Mantreśvara, they will never return (to the earth) even in hundreds and crores of Kalpas.

15-18. Formerly Rāma of pure holy rites completed the task of the Devas. Then the king had consultation with Kāla in regard to going back to heaven. Where the Lord who had conquered the sense-organs took his bath, he installed a Liṅga well-known as Mantreśvara.

To the north of it there is a beautiful lake adorned with lilies and blue lotuses. Taking holy bath there and making charitable gifts bestows various benefits. It is very excellent.

The annual festival is to be celebrated on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Cakra. By taking the holy bath, by making charitable gifts and by worshipping Brāhmaṇas, one attains infinite bliss in heaven. There is no doubt about this.

19-2la. The greatness of Mantreśvara cannot be adequately described by anyone, O Brāhmaṇa. The Lord is the bestower of excellent benefit. A Liṅga on par with Mantreśvara has never existed before nor will there be another.

The deity should be worshipped carefully by means of fragrant flowers, incense etc., unguents and other things. It is the bestower of all desired objects. If everything is performed thus, undoutbtedly, salvation is within his reach.

21b-22. To the north of this, O sinless one, is the Goddess Śītalā^[3] stationed. By worshipping that goddess a learned man is liberated from all sins. The goddess can be worshipped always but particularly on Mondays the worship is to be performed by men with great care for the attainment of all objects.

23. When there is fear of the outbreak of smallpox etc. her worship is to be performed by men. It is destructive of the eruption of the disease etc.

24-28. There itself, to the north of it, is the goddess well-known as Bandī. Merely by remembering her, one is rid of the fear of being fettered.

Those who are bound with chains by an infuriated king, shall become liberated instantaneously on remembering Goddess Bandī.

A festival should be celebrated in her honour strenuously by men particularly on Tuesdays. It bestows all desired objects.

She is to be ardently and carefully worshipped by means of perfumes, flowers, incenses, lights and food offerings of various kinds, O sage of holy rites. In order to propitiate Bandī, O excellent sage, Brāhmaṇas should be fed. If this is done, one shall attain all desires. There is no doubt about it.

29-32. There itself, to the north of it, is the goddess well-known on the earth as Cuḍakī. By remembering her, men can achieve great Siddhis.

When success in undertakings is doubtful, when there is an imminent fear, men shall remember her. They will achieve everything.

In front of her, men should make the sound of snapping the fingers and the thumb. Lights should be offered carefully by persons of controlled selves. The offering of lamps is honoured. It bestows all desired objects on men. Her festival is to be celebrated on ail Caturdaśī days.

33. To the east thereof is an excellent Tīrtha well-known as Mahāratna. It is the most excellent of all splendid Tīrthas.

34. By taking holy bath here, by making charitable gifts and by worshipping Brāhmaṇas, there shall be the attainment of all desired objects. There is no doubt about it.

35-37. The annual festival is to be celebrated on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Bhādrapada.

It is learnt that the main festival is well-known as Mahāratna. Hence the excellent Tīrtha is well-known as Mahāratna. There, charitable gifts giving satisfaction to Brāhmaṇas should be made. The festival of Jāgaraṇa (keeping awake) should always be celebrated, O Brāhmaṇa-sage, by women too for the sake of valour, good fortune, prosperity and all sorts of happiness. Holy bath should be taken faithfully and carefully by men.

38-42. To the south-west of it are the two auspicious lakes Durbhara and Mahābhara. They are liberal in bestowing auspicious merits.

By taking a holy bath there a man always attains the region of heaven. Many kinds of wealth and garments should be given away (at those Tīrthas). Worship of Śiva should be performed by men after taking bath in both the lakes. One should be endowed with ardent devotion and different kinds of (noble) sentiments.

Maheśvara, the blue-throated lord, should be worshipped with splendid flowers, sweet scents etc. The Enemy of Andhaka is worthy of being propitiated by even Yogins.

After meditating on Śiva thus, along with (Goddess Pārvatī), a pure man devoid of sins attains all desires immediately. He shall reside always in the world of Śiva.

43. By doing this, O Brāhmaṇa, a man is liberated from all sins.

44-45. At the excellent Tīrtha called Mahābhara and at Durbhara, on the fourteenth day in the dark half of Bhādrapada, one should devoutly and according to injunctions, perform the worship of Śiva and especially of Brāhmaṇas.

A man who performs this with devotion happily resides in Śiva’s world. A person who does it thus is never deluded.

46-47. The eternal Lords Viṣṇu and Rudra become greatly pleased with him. Merely by remembering these two one is liberated from all sins.

Therefore, of what avail is much talk? O Brāhmaṇa, this Tīrtha is excellent; it suppresses all sins. It always brings about all the desired objects.

48. Henceforth I shall recount another auspicious Tīrtha, where without good fortune it is impossible to celebrate festivals or to make charitable gifts.

49-50. To the north-east of the holy spot of Durbhara there is a great Tīrtha named Mahāvidyā. (Merely) by visiting it Siddhis will be within the reach of men. After taking holy bath in the lake in front of the deity, a man who visits Mahāvidyā with faith and devotion shall attain the greatest goal.

51. Similarly Siddhapīṭha is very well-known. It inspires confidence and faith. O Brāhmaṇa, worship should be performed there with great devotion.

52-56. The pure devotee should, with concentration of mind, always practise and repeat with faith any Mantra which may be Śaiva, Śākta (pertaining to Śakti), Gāṇapatya or Vaiṣṇava. O learned Brāhmaṇa, he shall achieve permanent Siddhi. It will be an astonishing show.

Hence Japa etc. should be performed without any lethargy. There should be had monthly festivals on the eighth and ninth days. Various kinds of fruits and cooked rice in plenty should be given away. The deity should be bathed with milk. It should be ardently worshipped.

At this place even wicked black magical mantras especially Uccāṭana (spells for eliminating the enemy) and Mohana (spells for deluding the enemy) become perfected and mastered.

57. At the place called Siddhasthāna, the mastering of Mokṣa is the best. Japa, Homa, charitable gifts (everything) shall be of infinite benefit.

58. O Brāhmaṇa, O sage of auspicious rites, a man who goes there during the nine days in the bright half of the month of Āśvina is liberated from all sins.

59-65. After conquering Rāvaṇa who had made the worlds cry aloud, the leading scion of the family of Raghu returned in the company of Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa. In order to receive Rāma, Bharata went to this place on foot. Endowed with good fortune and accompanied by his followers (Bharata) had halted here.

The divine cow appeared there with milk flowing from her udders in profuse quantity. On seeing the milk falling on the ground, the monkeys and the Rākṣasas were struck with wonder. They asked Rāma (the lord of) mobile and immobile beings: “O great king, what is this?” The great scion of the family of Raghu said to them: “Vasiṣṭha knows everything. We shall ask that sage.” On being told thus, all of them with the king as their leader, stood in front of Vasiṣṭha and asked him with palms joined in reverence. Vasiṣṭha meditated for a short while. Addressing Rāma in front of all, the sage said to him calmly:

Vasiṣṭha said:

66-68. Listen, O mighty Rāma. This is the auspicious Kāmadhenu. Out of affection for you, she has come down here with milk flowing from her udders.

In the middle of the flowing milk Rudra has come up. He has come to see you, the excellent (warrior) who have conquered the enemy and who have fulfilled the task of Devas. Worship him quickly near this Kuṇḍa. Without any delay worship this auspicious Śiva ardently. In this Kṣīrakuṇḍa he is the holy deity well-known as Dugdheśvara.

Agastya said:

69. Then the glorious scion of the family of Raghu worshipped that Liṅga, known as Dugḍheśvara, in accordance with the injunctions of Vasiṣṭha.

70-73. Since that Kuṇḍa where the milk flowed, was honoured by Sītā, that Kuṇḍa attained a matchless reputation as ‘Sītākuṇḍa’ from that time onwards.

Men who take their holy bath in Sītākuṇḍa and visit Lord Dugdheśvara are liberated from all sins. There is no doubt about this. Holy bath taken, Japa, Homa performed and charitable gifts offered here shall bestow infinite merit.

By worshipping Sītā and Rāma at Sītākuṇḍa along with Lakṣmaṇa and by worshipping Dugdheśvara one shall attain all desires. The annual festival is to be celebrated on the fourteenth day in the month of Jyeṣṭha.

74-78. One who is very righteous and merciful and performs the rites like this duly, goes to the greatest abode, after reaching which one does not become grief-stricken.

There on the eastern side is the great Tīrtha of Taponidhi (‘Storehouse of penance’) made by Sugrīva. It is an auspicious Tīrtha that is situated nearby. One who takes the holy bath there, makes charitable gifts and carefully worships Rāma, shall attain all desires on that very day.

To the west of it is the holy spot Hanumatkuṇḍa. To the west of it, O Brāhmaṇa, is the splendid lake named Vibhīṣaṇa Saras. By taking a holy bath in both of them, by making charitable gifts and by worshipping Rāma there itself in accordance with the injunctions, one obtains (fulfilment of) all desires.

This is that extremely pure Ayodhyā. It is known as Dharmanidhi (‘Storehouse of piety’).

79-81. On being told thus^[4] all of them with Vibhīṣaṇa as their leader humbly asked sage Vasiṣṭha with great respect: “O sage, O storehouse of great penance, recount this rare story. Describe the glory of Ayodhyā, so that after hearing the excellent greatness, we will be able to undertake the pilgrimage in accordance with the injunctions. Take pity on us, O storehouse of penance, and recount it.”

Vasiṣṭha said:

82. May all the sages listen to the wonderful glory of Ayodhyā^[5]. On listening to it, one is rid of all sins. There is no doubt about it.

83. This exceedingly great, secret, holy spot named Ayodhyā is very excellent. It always causes salvation to all living beings.

84. In this (holy spot), Siddhas and Devas have adopted the Vaiṣṇava Vrata. They regularly wear different kinds of symbols and are desirous of the world of Viṣṇu.

85-88. They practise the great Yoga. They have just controlled the Prāṇas (vital airs); they have subdued their sense-organs. This holy spot is full of different kinds of trees and is the abode of many kinds of birds. It is beautified by many lakes full of the beauty and splendour of lotuses and lilies. It is frequented by groups of celestial damsels. This is the holy spot of Hari. This great place (city) named Ayodhyā is an excellent holy spot.

89-91. By taking holy bath or by residing in Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, Gaṅgādvāra and Puṣkara salvation is not attained (as easily as) it is obtained here. For that reason it surpasses all other holy spots. Either at Prayāga or here, one will attain salvation by resorting to Hari. This alone is known as greater than all other excellent Tīrthas.

Salvation which is considered difficult to have is obtained in this holy spot by all Siddhas, great sages and ascetics of unmanifest symbols.

92-94. Hari grants them Yogic power and excellent glory and even Sāyujya with himself. This excellent holy spot is desired (by all).

Brahmā accompanied by celestial sages, Śrī, Vāyu (Wind-god), Divākara (Sun-god), the Lord of Devas (i.e. Indra) known as Śakra and other heaven-dwellers—all these noble souls worship Hari everywhere with great respect. Other Yogins, Siddhas of great holy rites identical with the holy spot, worship Hari with their minds not diverted to anyone else.

95. Even a person whose mind is attracted towards sensual objects, even a man who has forgotten everything about piety and holiness, does not resume worldly existence after dying in this holy spot.

96. Those who are dependent on Nigamas (Vedas), those who abide by Sattras (sacrificial sessions), those who have conquered the sense-organs, those who observe holy rites without undertaking any other activities—all these are sanctified by Hari.

97. With the favour of Hari these intelligent ones devoid of attachment attain the greatest salvation after the disintegration (i.e. death) of the physical body.

98. A Yogin practising for thousands of births may not attain the great salvation. That salvation is obtained by dying here.

99. I shall succinctly describe the wonderful glory of this holy spot. This alone is the greatest holy spot. This alone is the greatest region. No other holy spot like this is seen elsewhere.

100. Persons desirous of merits should go to this holy spot on pilgrimage. O intelligent ones, the pilgrimage has to be performed by persons with great faith in accordance with the injunctions and in due order.

101-103. On the first day Upavāsa (holy fast) must be performed by a person of controlled self. Thereafter he should undertake holy bath and then (give) charitable gifts according to his capacity. The term Upavāsa means this: One who has abstained from sins has his Vāsa (residence) with good qualities. That is the correct interpretation of the word Upavāsa. Hence it means avoidance of all sensual enjoyments.

After observing the fast the man of good holy rites should take the holy bath and make charitable gifts according to his capacity.

104-107. One should perform all these in due order: After worshipping a Brāhmaṇa duly, he should visit Lord Viṣṇuhari. Then he should take bath at Svargadvāra and worship Viṣṇu with concentration. Then the devotee observing the Vrata shall have a shave in the holy spot named Dharma. Thereafter, he should take baths in Pāpamocanaka and Ṛṇamocanaka Tīrtha. Then he should visit Lord Candrahari and Lord Dharmahari. After visiting Cakrahari he should make charitable gifts according to his capacity. Then the devotee takes his holy bath in Brahmakuṇḍa for the purpose of achieving all desired objects. Then he should perform the Jāgaraṇa rite at night in the vicinity of Mahāvidyā.

108. When the day dawns clearly, the person observing the good holy rites should get up and duly take his holy bath at Svargadvāra carefully.

109-110. After performing the Śrāddha rite duly and making charitable gifts according to his capacity, the devotee should duly worship Viṣṇu and the Brāhmaṇas repeatedly. A couple should also be worshipped and honoured with garments etc. Plenty of monetary gifts too should be offered by persons endowed with great faith.

111-114. After honouring the Brāhmaṇas duly, the pure man should himself take his food. On the next day the devotee endowed with great faith, should get up (early in the morning) and visit Rukmiṇī Tīrtha and other Tīrthas in the proper order. In the different places the man should take his holy bath and make charitable gifts according to his capacity. Then he should worship Viṣṇu carefully. He shall be free from mental, verbal and physical impurities. Thus, with the self fully controlled, the devotee of pure holy rites should conclude his pilgrimage successfully. If at any place he may happen to die (during the performance of pilgrimage) he shall attain the great salvation.

Agastya said:

115-116. After listening to these words spoken by Vasiṣṭha thus those Rākṣasas and others with Vibhīṣaṇa as their leader performed everything in accordance with the injunctions. Then they became free from impurities.

Thus the (Monkeys etc.) with Sugrīva as their chief performed the pilgrimage in accordance with the detailed injunctions. They acquired plenty of merit. Due to their endeavour to go back to heaven all the dirt in their bodies vanished. They attained excellent bodies. All or them attained the full complement of good qualities.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 1-12 describe Rati Kuṇḍa and Kusumāyudha Kuṇḍa which lie to the west of Ghoṣārka Tīrtha. Its special day is the 5th day in the bright half of Māgha (known as Vasanta-Pañcamī).

[2]:

VV 13-20a give the importance of Mantreśvara installed by Rāma after his consultation with Kāla. Its special day is the 14th day in the bright half of Caitra.

[3]:

There are minor sacred spots and deities described like Śītalā, the deity of Smallpox (vv 21b-23), Bandī, the releaser of prisoners (vv 24-28), Cuḍakī (vv 29-37), Mahāratna (vv 35-37), Durbhara and Mahābhara (vv 38-47).

[4]:

All the verses from v 71 sītākuṇḍe narāḥ snātvā “Men who take their bath in Sītākuṇḍa” up to this verse constitute presumably Vasiṣṭha’s speech.

[5]:

After describing minor Tīrthas, the author stresses the importance of Ayodhyā and outlines the pilgrimage to Ayodhyā in vv 82-116.