Chapter 77 - The Greatness of Kedāra

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Note: ‘Kedāra’ means ‘field’. The Kedāra-Liṅga is not a smooth-surfaced shaft set into a Pīṭha but a rough mound with a white line in the middle like a mound of Khicharī cut at half. For king Māndhātṛ offered his half of Khicharī to Śiva in the guise of a guest, when the whole mound turned into a stone Liṅga.

The temple is at the top of Kedāra Ghāṭ on Gaṅgā and was providentially saved from Aurangzeb’s destruction. Kedāreśvara is said to be senior. The section of Kedāra in Vārāṇasī is regarded as the most sacred part of Kāśī. (BCL 136-142)]

Pārvatī said:

1. Obeisance to you, O Lord of the chiefs of Devas. O ocean of kindness for those who bow down, do narrate the greatness of Kedāra out of compassion for the devotees.

2. The great love you show to that Liṅga in Kāśī is superb. The devotees thereof, O Lord of Devas, are persons of great intelligence.

Devadeva said:

3. Listen, O Aparṇā, I shall narrate to you the details of the tale of Kedāreśvara, on hearing which even a sinner becomes instantly rid of all sins.

4. If a man is desirous of going to Kedāra and if he has so resolved in his mind, all his sins acquired since his birth perish instantly.

5. If a man has set out from his house with an intention to go in the direction of Kedāra, the sins acquired in the course of two births go away from his body.

6. As soon as he reaches half the way, the sins committed in the course of three births get out of their abode in his body and go away in despair sighing grievously.

7. One who continues to stay in the house repeating “Kedāra, Kedāra, Kedāra” thrice in the evening, shall certainly attain the benefit of the pilgrimage (to Kedāra).

8. By visiting the mountain peak of Kedāra, and by drinking the water (of Kedāra Tīrtha) a devotee shall undoubtedly be rid of the sins acquired in the course of seven births.

9. By taking the holy ablution in Harapāpa Hrada and by worshipping Kedāreśa, a devotee is undoubtedly rid of the sins acquired in the course of a crore of births.

10. After bowing down to Kedāra once and performing all water libation rites in the Harapāpa Tīrtha, a devotee shall fix the Liṅga in the lotus-like heart. On death he will attain salvation.

11. He who performs Śrāddha with great faith in Harapāpa Hrada, redeems seven generations. He will then attain my world.

12. O Aparṇā, listen with great attention to what happened formerly in the Rathantara Kalpa. I shall describe it to you.

13. The son of a Brāhmaṇa came here from Ujjayinī. After the investiture with the sacred thread had been performed by his father, he adopted the vow of celibacy.

14-16. He visited the holy spot of Kāśī of Paśupati and saw it all around. It was full of Brāhmaṇa followers of Paśupati, adorned with crown-like matted hairs. They regularly adored the Liṅgas. Their bodies were embellished with holy ash. They were contented with the meals got by way of alms. They nourished themselves with the nectarine waters of Gaṅgā. He became highly delighted in his mind and got initiated in the most excellent Vrata called Mahāpāśupata by the preceptor Hiraṇyagarbha.

17-18. That disciple Vaśiṣṭha (of that name, or having perfect control of sense-organs) became the most excellent one among the Pāśupatas. Everyday he got up early in the morning and took his bath in Harapāpa Hrada. He took the bath with Vibhūti (holy ash) and also adored the Liṅga three times everyday. He never differentiated between Śiva Liṅga and his preceptor.

19. That disciple Vaśiṣṭha aged roughly twelve years went on pilgrimage to Kedāra in the great Mountain, the father of Gaurī.

20. After going there and imbibing the water in the form of Liṅga, the devotees assume the form of Liṅga and they never become grief-stricken like worldly men.

21. After reaching the mountain Asidhāra, the preceptor named Hiraṇyagarbha of the ascetic Vaśiṣṭha passed away.

22. Even as the sages were watching, the attendants (of Śiva) joyously took him to Kailāsa in an aerial chariot covetable unto all.

23. He who has started from his house towards Kedāra but casts off his vital airs midway without any trace of cowardice, shall live in Kailāsa for a long time.

24. On observing this miracle, the ascetic Vaśiṣṭha decided that Kedāra alone is worthy of the greatest honour among all Liṅgas.

25-26. After concluding the pilgrimage to Kedāra he returned to Vārāṇasī. He took up a resolve and later acted accordingly: ‘As long as I live I shall certainly visit Kedāra on the Pūrṇimā day every year in the month of Caitra while residing in the city of Vārāṇasī.’

27. He joyously and perfectly made sixty-one such pilgrimages staying as a celibate religious student in Ānandakānana permanently.

28-31. On the next Caitra month also he made preparation for the pilgrimage with great pleasure and enthusiasm, though he was assailed by old age and greying hairs and though he was dissuaded by the (other) ascetics who suspected that he would die and also by other associates with hearts full of compassion. Still there was no loss in his enthusiasm because his mind was steadfast. The pure sage Vaśiṣṭha decisively resolved in his mind thus: ‘Even if I die midway I shall have salvation like my preceptor.’ Further he never took in food given by Śūdras. O Caṇḍikā, hence I became pleased with him.

32-36. Vaśiṣṭha, the excellent sage, was told by me in dream: “O ascetic of steadfast vow, I am pleased. Know that I am Kedāra. Unhesitatingly request for any desired boon froṃ me.” Even when I said thus, he insisted that the dream was false. Thereupon, he was again assured by me: “It is a dream of persons who are not pure that is false; but not so in the case of people like you who behave in the manner befitting their name (i.e. Vaśiṣṭha = having full-control of the senses). Tell me the boon you will have. O Brāhmaṇa, leave off your doubts regarding the dream. There is nothing which I cannot or will not give you who are full of Sattva quality.” On hearing this statement of mine, Hiraṇyagarbha’s disciple, the most excellent one among saints, choose the boon thus:

37. “If you, the Lord of Devas, are pleased, then all these people along with their followers, O Trident-wielding Lord, should be blessed. This alone is my boon.”

38. O goddess, on hearing these words of that (sage) by nature helpful to others, I became extremely pleased and said to him, “It will be so.”

39. By his further act of rendering help to others, his penance became doubly effective. On account of that merit, he was further urged by me, “Choose (another) boon.”

40. That highly intelligent Vaśiṣṭha, steadfast in his Pāśupata vow, O goddess, requested for my stay here away from the mountain Himālaya.

41. Then, attracted by his penance I stationed myself there on the Himālaya Mountain with only a sixteenth of my power but here with the full-complement thereof.

42-43. Then, when the day dawned, even as all were watching,

I eulogized by Suras and sages, started from Himālaya keeping Vaśiṣṭha in front accompanied by all of his followers. After arriving here. I stationed myself in the Harapāpa Hrada Tīrtha for obliging him.

44. All these persons who offered libations with water in Harapāpa and propitiated me, have attained Siddhi with their own physical forms with my favour.

45. Ever since then I have been stationed in this Liṅga in the great holy spot of Avimukta for conferring Siddhi on the aspirants especially in the age of Kali.

46. By seeing Kedāra in Kāśī one obtains seven times as much merit as obtained by visiting Kedāra after climbing Himālaya.

47. In Kāśī we have everything that is there in Kedāra, like Gaurī Kuṇḍa, Haṃsa Tīrtha devoid of impurities and Madhusravā (‘honey-pouring’) Gaṅgā.

48. This Harapāpa Tīrtha is destructive of the sins acquired in the course of seven births. Afterwards when it mingles with Gaṅgā it becomes destructive of the sins committed in crores of births.

49. Here (in the Haṃsa Tīrtha), formerly two ravens who were fighting in the sky had fallen. Even as the people assembled there were watching, they transformed themselves into swans and came out.

50. O Gaurī, formerly you had taken your bath in this great Hrada. Ever since then, it is well-known as Gaurī Tīrtha. It is the most excellent of all excellent Tīrthas.

51. The Amṛtasravā (nectar-pouring) Gaṅgā here dispels the darkness of great delusion. It destroys the ignorance produced in the course of many births.

52. The Holy Mānasa lake performed a great penance here formerly. Hence among the people, this has become renowned as Mānasa Tīrtha.

53-57. Formerly here men became liberated merely by taking their bath. Afterwards, I was propitiated by the Devas who had difficulty in attaining salvation, by saying, “All should become liberated.” (Then I said) “If Devas or human beings take their holy bath in Kedāra Kuṇḍa, they will have progress (and salvation). So it will grant salvation to people of all castes, stages of life and righteousness practised merely by casting off the bodies here and not otherwise.” Then at his importunity, I said, “So be it.” Ever since then, O great goddess, I am granting salvation to those who cast off their bodies elsewhere too, if they take bath in Kedāra Kuṇḍa, devoutly worship me and repeat my names.

58. If a devotee takes bath in the Kedāra Tīrtha and offers balls of rice without hurrying through the rites, a hundred and one generations of his family cross the ocean of worldly existence.

59. When new-moon day coincides with a Tuesday, one should go to Kedāra Kuṇḍa and offer Śrāddha. If so, of what avail is Gayā Śrāddha?

60. Advice should be given thus to a person who is desirous of going to Kedāra (i.e. in the Himālaya) by other men: “Touching Kedāra (Liṅga) in Kāśī, you will be one who has done his duty.”

61. On the fourteenth day in the dark half of Caitra, a devotee should observe fast and drink three mouthfuls of water. He thus occupies the Hṛllinga.

62. There is no doubt about this that men and women will obtain that benefit here itself that is obtained there, by drinking the water of Kedāra.

63. By honouring, adoring a devotee of Kedāra with clothes, food, monetary gifts etc., one dispels the sin committed ever since the birth and goes to my abode.

64. Yama and other guardians of the worlds will bow down always to that person who bows down to Kedāreśa three times a day, for a period of six months.

65. In the Kali age, anyone and everyone will not understand the greatness of Kedāra. A man of meritorious soul who understands that, will certainly understand everything.

66. By visiting Kedāreśa even once, O goddess, a man becomes my follower. Hence one shall assiduously visit Kedāreśa in Kāśī.

67. Citrāṅgadeśvara Liṅga is to the north of Kedāra. It is very auspicious. By continuously worshipping it, a man enjoys heavenly pleasures.

68-72. To the south of Kedāra is Nīlakaṇṭha. By visiting it one who is bitten by the serpent of worldly existence, need not be afraid of the poison i.e., misery. To the north-west thereof is Aṃbarīṣeśa. A man who visits it is never compelled to stay in a womb in the miserable worldly existence. By worshipping Indradyumneśvara Liṅga in its vicinity, a devotee goes to heaven in a luminous vehicle and enjoys. The man will visit Kālaṅjareśvara Liṅga to the south thereof. He will conquer old age and Kāla and live in my world for a long time. By visiting Kṣemeśvara Liṅga to the north of Citrāṅgadeśvara, a devotee obtains welfare everywhere, both in this world and elsewhere.

Skanda said:

73-74. O Enemy of Vindhya, the supreme greatness of Kedāra was thus recounted by the Lord of Devas formerly to Aṃbā. It has been recounted to you by me. A man becomes contented and blessed by listening to the origin of Kedāreśvara Liṅga. He becomes rid of sins instantly and attains Śiva’s world.