Chapter 35 - The Greatness of Agastyeśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sanatkumāra said:

1. If a man takes his holy bath in Svarṇakṣura and visits Lord Maheśvara, he acquires merit more than that of a gift of a hundred Kapilā cows.

2. A person with the sense-organs controlled, who takes his holy bath goes to Brahmaloka in a vehicle drawn by swans.

3. He who offers nocturnal oblations to the Mātṛs named Taila (Paula) achieves Siddhi immediately. On death he goes to Śivapura.

4. A man who takes his holy bath in the tank Viṣṇuvāpī in the month of Caitra or Phālguna with control over his sense-organs, observes fast and keeps awake at night, gets rid of all sins and goes to Viṣṇuloka.

5. A devotee of well-controlled mind who witnesses the series of worships of Lord Abhayeśvara with devotion goes to Rudraloka.

6. O sage, a man who goes to Agastyeśvara with mental concentration is reborn on the earth as an emperor ruling the whole of the earth.

7. One should observe fast and control one’s sense-organs. He should visit Lord Agastyeśvara at the time of the rise of Agastya (Canopus) (on the 7th day of the dark half of Bhādrapada). He becomes rid of all sins.

8-9. A gold or silver image of Agastya is made in accordance with one’s capacity.^[1] It is fitted with five precious gems and wrapped with a cloth. The deity is to be worshipped then in accordance with the injunctions. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, I shall describe what those injunctions are in regard to all the four castes.

10-13. There are seven types of principal cereals and as many fruits. One (variety of cereal) and one of fruits should be given up at the outset, O sage, and this Vrata is to be continued for seven years. The Arghya Mantra is as follows:

“Obeisance to you, O Pot-born One, O son of Mitra and Varuṇa, originating from Agni and Māruta (Wind-god), O deity resembling a Kāśa flower.”

Listen with attention, O Vyāsa, to the benefit that is derived when Arghya is offered. He becomes blessed with sons and wealth. There is no doubt about it.

14-15. On death he attains Svarga and is reborn in a rich family. After coming to the mortal world, he shall become a great Yogin. He who listens to this always and recites with concentration, becomes rid of all sins. He rejoices in the world of ascetics.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 8 ff show that there was a sort of Agastya cult in pre-tenth century A.D., in the Avantī area.