Chapter 51 - Description of Sun-gods Called Aruṇa, Vṛddha etc.

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Note: This chapter describes the legend of the following Sun-gods. Their names and locations are noted as below:
1. Aruṇāditya — In Trilocana Temple;
2. Vṛddhāditya — South of Viśālākṣī Temple at Mīrā Ghāṭa;
3. Keśavāditya — In Ādi-Keśava Temple;
4. Vimalāditya — In Jaṅgambāḍi area—south of Goduliā crossing;
5. Gaṅgāditya — At Lalitā Ghāṭa;
6. Yamāditya — At Yama Tīrtha near Vīreśvara.]

Obeisance to Śrī Gaṇeśa:

Agasti enquired:

1. O delighter of the heart of Pārvatī, O Lord born of the body of the Omniscient Lord, I wish to ask something. O Lord, it behoves you to explain it.

2. How did that chaste lady, a daughter of Patriarch Dakṣa, a wife of Kaśyapa and mother of Garuḍa become a slave?

Skanda replied:

3. I shall recount to you, O highly intelligent one, how that pitiable lady Vinatā got into slavery; listen.

4. Formerly Kadrū gave birth to a hundred sons of Kaśyapa and Vinatā to three, namely Ulūka, Aruṇa and Tārkṣya.

5. In view of his being the eldest, Kauśika (i.e. Ulūka) attained the kingship of birds; but since he was bereft of virtues, he was dethroned from the kingdom by all those birds.

6-7. “This (bird) is evil-eyed; he is blind by day; he is always crooked-nailed; his voice causes extreme alarm to everyone.” Thus those birds censured its qualities in various ways. Hence they did not select anyone else as a king. They moved about as they pleased.

8. Since Kauśika’s lot had been so, Vinatā was excessively eager to see a son. Hence she broke open the egg of the middle one.

9. The egg was to be broken after completion of one thousand years, O Pot-born Sage. But out of eagerness, the egg was broken open by her in eight-hundredth year.

10. By that time all the limbs of that highly refulgent child staying within that egg, had become full-fledged above the thighs only.

11. As soon as it came out of the egg, the mother was cursed by that child with semi-fledged limbs. The splendour of his face was Aruṇa (red) with rage.

12-13. “O my mother, the sons of Kadrū were seen playing in the lap of their mother gracefully by you and the egg was broken open. Hence, I have become one with incompletely developed limbs. I, therefore, curse you. O bird! Be the slave of those very children born of your co-wife.”

14. Trembling due to that curse, the bird spoke thus, “O Anūru (thighless one), my son, tell me the end (redemption) of the curse, unto your mother.”

15. Anūru said: “Do not break open that third egg. It is unfledged like mine. He who is to be born out of this egg, will redeem you from slavery.”

16. After saying thus, Aruṇa flew unto the sacred place called Ānandakānana, where Viśveśvara bestowed blessedness even on that crippled one.

17. Thus the cause of the slavery of Vinatā has been recounted to you as per your query. O sage, incidentally I shall tell you the origin of Aruṇāditya.

18. This child was called Anūru because he had no thighs. He was known as Aruṇa because his (face) had become red in colour due to anger. Penance was performed by him at Vārāṇasī and the Sun-god was propitiated.

19. That Lord too became pleased and granted boons to that Anūru. The Sun-god became known as Aruṇāditya after his name.

The Sun-god said:

20. O Anūru, son of Vinatā, stay forever in my chariot in front of me, dispelling the darkness for the welfare of all the worlds.

21. If men worship the idol installed by you here in Vārāṇasī, to the north of Mahādeva idol, they will have nothing to fear from anywhere.

22. Neither misery, nor poverty, nor sins will affect those who always worship me designated as Aruṇāditya.

23. By resorting to Aruṇāditya they can ward off the affliction from all ailments. They are not affected by evil phenomena, nor are they burned by the fire of grief.

24. Thereafter the Sun-god made Aruṇa mount his chariot and took him away. Even today Aruṇa rises at dawn in the solar chariot.

25. Whence can there be fear from misery unto him who gets up in the morning everyday and offers obeisance to Aruṇa along with the Sun-god?

26. If any excellent man listens to the greatness of Aruṇāditya, he will never incur any sin.

Skanda said:

27. Listen to the greatness of Vṛddhāditya. I shall narrate it to you. The very act of listening to it makes a man avoid sinful acts.

28. Here at Vārāṇasī formerly an old great sage named Hārīta propitiated the Sun-god for the sake of great abundance of penance.

29. Endowed with firm devotion, he installed the image of the Sun towards the south of Viśālākṣī. The image had all auspicious characteristics and was intended to bestow auspiciousness.

30. Bradhna (the Sun-god), being pleased with him, granted a boon unto that old austere sage. He said, “Do not delay. Request me. What boon should be given by me to you?”

31. That sage chose the boon from the delighted Sun-god, the jewel of firmament: “If the Lord is pleased, grant me youth once again.

52. Since I have reached old age, I have no capacity to perform penance. Having regained my youth, I shall perform an excellent penance.

35. Penance alone is the greatest virtue. Penance alone is the greatest wealth. Penance alone is the great (Puruṣārtha called) love. Penance is certainly salvation.

34. Prosperity and riches can be obtained anywhere without penance. Good position was obtained by Dhruva and others only on the strength of penance.

35. Thanks to your liberal gift of the boon, I shall regain youth honoured by all and thereafter perform penance that bestows greatness in both the worlds.

36. Fie upon old age of living beings here! Thereby all become estranged because even women do not remain under one’s control, when one’s sense-organs are afflicted with old age.

37. Even death is preferable to old age that causes excessive misery. Death is painful for a moment, but the pain of old age occurs every moment.

38. Men who have conquered their sense-organs, desire longevity for the sake of long continued penance, wealth for the purpose of donation, a wife for procreating a son, and intellect for attaining salvation.”

39. Bradhna (the Sun-god) removed the senility of the old man immediately and granted him youth that produces charm and becomes the means of attaining merit.

40. After attaining youth from Bradhna thus, that great old sage Hārīta performed a fierce penance in Vārāṇasī.

41. Thereafter that deity Ādītya [Āditya?] who dispels senility is remembered as Vṛddhāditya, because he had been propitiated by the old sage Hārīta.

42. Many have attained supernatural powers, O Pot-born One, by propitiating in Vārāṇasī, Vṛddhāditya, the destroyer of old age, wretchedness and ailments.

43. By bowing down to Vṛddhāditya at Vārāṇasī on a Sunday, a man shall obtain the desired benefit. He will not meet with wretchedness.

Skanda said:

44. Hear, henceforth, O sage, about the excellent Keśavāditya and how the Sun-god attained (spiritual) knowledge after associating with Keśava.

45. Once, Ādikeśava was seen worshipping the Liṅga of Īśvara by Saptāśva (seven-horsed one = the Sun-god) who was proceeding ahead in the firmament.

46. Out of curiosity, Ravi descended from heaven and sat silently, motionlessly, steadily near Hari and was greatly amazed.

47. Desirous of asking Hari something and awaiting the opportunity thereof, he bowed down to Hari when the latter had concluded the adoration. He kept his palms joined in reverence.

48. “Welcome to you”, said Hari with great respect. He made the Sun-god who had bowed down, sit near him.

49. Seeing that it was a suitable opportunity and having got the permission of the destroyer of Asuras, Lokacakṣus (‘the eye of the world’—the Sun) bowed down to Adhokṣaja (Viṣṇu) and submitted as follows:

Ravi said:

50. O Viśvaṃbhara, O Lord of the universe, you are the immanent soul of all the worlds. O Mādhava, worthy of being adored by the universe, is there anyone worthy of being adored here, even by you?

51. O resort of all the worlds, all this (visible world) manifests from you. Everything gets dissolved in you. You alone are the protector of the entire universe.

52. I have come to you after seeing this surprising thing. What is this that is being worshipped, O Lord, by you, the destroyer of the distress of worldly existence?

53. On hearing this speech of the thousand-rayed Sun, Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord Viṣṇu) stopped the Sun-god with a gesture of his hand as though saying, “Do not speak loudly.”

Śrī Viṣṇu said:

54. The Blue-throated Consort of Umā, the great Lord, the Lord of Devas alone is worthy of being adored here. He is the cause of all causes.

55. If anyone of deficient intellect worships someone other than the Three-eyed Lord, he should be considered as one devoid of eyes, though actually he may have eyes.

56. Mṛtyuñjaya alone is worthy of being adored. He removes birth, death and old age. Indeed, by worshipping Mṛtyuñjaya, Śveta (ketu) was able to vanquish death.

57. By propitiating Kālakāla (Śiva), Bhṛṅgī vanquished Kāla (god of Death). Mṛtyu (god of Death) spared the son of Śilāda (Nandi) and others who worshipped Mṛtyuñjaya.

58. Who will not become the most adorable of all by worshipping Bhūteśa who vanquished the Tripuras sportingly by discharging a single arrow?

59. The propitiation of the Three-eyed Lord is the noblest act, since he is the cause of the victory over the three worlds. O Bradhna, who does not adore the enemy of Smara, who is the vital essence of all?

60. To whom is Lord Śiva not the most adorable one? This whole universe becomes shrunk (destroyed) when his eyelashes close and becomes full-fledged when his eyes open.

61. By worshipping the Liṅga of Śaṃbhu here, a man attains all the four aims of life immediately. No hesitation need be entertained in this respect.

62. Certainly after worshipping Śaṃbhu’s Liṅga here, a man instantly gets rid of heaps of sins acquired in the course of hundreds of births.

63. Undoubtedly what things—sons, wives, lands, heaven, liberation from Saṃsāra, will not happen (be obtained) by worshipping (Śiva)?

64. O Thousand-rayed One, by the sole worship of Śivaliṅga the riches and prosperities of all the three worlds have been attained by me. It is true, it is certainly true all the times.

65. This alone is the greatest Yoga, this alone is the greatest austerity, this alone is the greatest wisdom whereby Śivaliṅga is worshipped.

66. In this wide world, the receptacle of misery, whence can there be the fear of misery unto those by whom the Liṅga of Pārvatī’s Lord has been worshipped even once?

67. O Ravi, O Divākara, even great sins do not harass him who has sought refuge in the Liṅga forsaking everything else.

68. O Bhāskara, interest in the worship of the Liṅga here, shall occur only in those persons whose severance from the mundane existence, Maheśvara wishes to bring into effect.

69. There is nothing else in all the three worlds more meritorious than the propitiation of the Liṅga. One shall have (the benefit of) having the holy bath in all the Tīrthas by resorting to the holy water with which the Liṅga is bathed.

70. Hence, O Arka, you too worship the Liṅga of Maheśvara in order to acquire the greatest glory increasing with the greatest refulgence.

71. On hearing these words of Hari, the Thousand-rayed Lord made a crystal Liṅga, O sage, and has been worshipping it ever since and even today.

72. Vivasvān (Sun-god) chose Ādikeśava as his preceptor and is worshipping there to the north of Ādikeśava.

73. Hence that Liṅga is called Keśavāditya. He is the destroyer of the darkness of devotees. On being adequately worshipped, he shall bestow for ever everything desired in the mind.

74. By propitiating Keśavāditya in Vārāṇasi, a good man acquires highest wisdom whereby he attains salvation too.

75. In the holy Tīrtha Pādodaka at the confluence of Gaṅgā and Varaṇā, one should perform the ritualistic offering of water to one’s predecessors and should visit Keśavāditya. He is liberated from congenital sins.

76-77. O Agasti, on the Rathasaptamī day (seventh day of the bright half of Māgha) coinciding with a Sunday, a devotee should take bath early in the morning in the Pādodaka Tīrtha in front of Ādikeśava. He should observe silence and worship Keśavāditya. Instantaneously, he shall be absolved of the sins incurred in the course of seven births.

78-81. Three Mantras:

“(a) May the Saptamī of the month of Makara dispel all my sins acquired in the course of seven births and the illness and grief attending them. (b) May these seven types of sins: (i) committed in the current birth, (ii) acquired in the previous birth, (iii) mental ones, (iv) verbal ones, (v) physical ones, (vi) known ones, (vii) unknown ones, be dispelled, (c) O Saptasaptikā (the Solar Śakti), the Saptamī of Makara destroys these seven forms of sins, by my holy bath. Dispel them along with the seven ailments.”

By repeating these three Mantras and by taking the holy dip in Pādodaka and also by visiting Keśavāditya a man shall be free from sins instantaneously.

82. One who listens to the greatness of Keśavāditya with faith, is never smeared with sins. He acquires devotion unto Śiva.

Skanda said:

83. Henceforth, listen O sage, to the excellent Vimalāditya stationed in the beautiful forest of Harikeśavana in Vārāṇasī.

84-85. Formerly, there was a Kṣatriya named Vimala in the ‘Ucca Deśa’ (in the country called ‘Ucca’ or in a hilly country). Though he abided by the path devoid of impurities, he contracted the foul disease of leprosy as a result of the previous Karmas. He left his wife, home and riches. The sensible man repaired to Vārāṇasī and propitiated Bradhna (the Sun-god).

86. He worshipped the Sun-god with the fragrant flowers of Japā, Karavīra, excellent Kiṃśuka, red lotuses and Aśoka.

87-89. He offered garlands of Pāṭala and Caṃpaka flowers with exquisite workmanship. He offered red sandal mixed with saffron, agallochum and camphor. He offered Devamohana incenses filling the whole atmosphere with profuse perfume, lights with Karpūra, lamps with wicks and also milk and ghee puddings for Naivedya. He offered different kinds of arghyas, repeated hymns and prayers of the Sun-god in accordance with the (specific) injunctions. While he was propitiating thus, the Sun-god became the bestower of boons.

90. He said: “O Vimala of spotless activities, mention the boon you would have. Let this leprosy of yours disappear. Request for another boon.”

91-94. On hearing these words of the Sun-god, Vimala bowed down in prostration on the ground, with hairs standing on end due to exhilaration. He submitted to the Sun-god having monowheeled chariot: “O eye of the universe, O incomprehensible soul, O dispeller of great darkness, if the holy Lord is pleased, if a boon may be granted to me, then let there be no leprosy in the whole family of those who are steadfast in devotion unto you. O Thousand-rayed One, let there not be other ailments too; let there be no poverty and let there be no distress unto your devotees.”

Śrī Sūrya said:

95. Let it be so, O highly intelligent one. Listen to another excellent boon. This idol has been adored by you, O extremely intelligent one.

96. I will never leave off the vicinity of this idol. This image will be popularly known after your name.

97. Its name shall be Vimalāditya. It shall always be the bestower of boons on devotees. It shall dispel all ailments and all sins.

98. After granting these boons, the Sun vanished there itself. Vimala, with a clean spotless body went to his abode.

99. Thus is the Vimalāditya at Vārāṇasī the bestower of auspiciousness. Merely by visiting him, the foul disease of leprosy becomes completely destroyed (cured).

100. A man who listens to this story of Vimalāditya attains spotless purity. He gets rid of all mental impurities.

Skanda said:

101. There is another (deity) Gaṅgāditya to the south of Viśveśa. A man attains purity merely by seeing it.

102. When Gaṅgā arrived with Bhagīratha leading her, the Sun-god stationed himself there in order to eulogize Gaṅgā.

103. Even to this day, Bhāskara faces Gaṅgā day and night and eulogizes her. He is delighted in his soul and bestows boon on the devotees of Gaṅgā.

104. An excellent man who propitiates Gaṅgāditya in Vārāṇasī, never attains wretchedness at any place. Nor does he fall ill.

Skanda said:

105. O blessed one, listen to another thing connected with Yamāditya. On hearing it, a man never sees the world of Yama.

106. By visiting Yamāditya, O sage, to the west of Yameśa and to the east of Vlreśa a devotee never sees the world of Yama.

107. After taking bath in Yama Tīrtha on a Tuesday coinciding with the fourteenth lunar day, the devotee should visit Yameśvara. He is quickly absolved of all sins.

108. Formerly Yama performed pure penance in Yama Tīrtha. Then he installed Yameśa and Yamāditya that bestow supernatural powers.

109. O Pot-born One, since Āditya was installed there by Yama, he is known as Yamāḍitya and he removes the torture arising from Yama.

110. One who bows to Yameśa and Yamāditya installed by Yama and takes his holy dip in Yamatīrtha does not see the world of Yama.

111. One becomes free from indebtedness to Pitṛs by performing libations and offerings of balls of rice in Yama Tīrtha on the fourteenth lunar day on a Tuesday with Bharaṇī constellation.

112-114. The Pitṛs dwelling in Narakas always desire thus: “If this excellent combination of a Tuesday with Bharaṇī and the fourteenth lunar day occurs and if some highly intelligent (scion of our family) takes his holy bath in Yama Tīrtha at Kāśī and offers libations along with gingelly seeds, it shall be conducive to our liberation. If Śrāddha is performed in this combination at Yama Tīrtha at Kāśī, of what avail is the pilgrimage to Gayā and Śrāddhas with enormous Dakṣiṇās?”

115. One should be free from indebtedness to the Pitṛs by performing Śrāddha in Yama Tīrtha, adoring Yameśvara and bowing down to Yamāditya.

Skanda said:

116. Thus (the propitiation of) twelve Ādityas who dispel sins has been explained to you. On listening to the origin of these, a man does not fall into a hell.

117. O Pot-born Sage, there are many other Ādityas too installed in Kāśī such as Guhyakārka etc., by devotees of the Sun-god.

118. By listening to these holy Adhyāyas (chapters 45 to 51) explaining the twelve Ādityas and by narrating them to others a man can avert disasters. He never attains wretchedness.