Chapter 66 - The Greatness of Nṛsiṃha Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The author narrates the story of Nṛsiṃha Avatāra of Viṣṇu to glorify this Tīrtha. The story is given in Nṛsiṃha Purāṇa, chapters 40-44.

Sanatkumāra said:

1-3. Listen further, O Vyāsa, to (the story of) an excellent Tīrtha, the most excellent one among all the Tīrthas. That Tīrtha which destroys all sins is that of the noble-souled Nṛsiṃha. Merely by seeing it one crosses all the sins.

Formerly there was a great king of Daityas well-known as Hiraṇyakaśipu. The entire Earth was once captured by that wicked one. Oppressed by the armies of the wicked Daityas, it became over-burdened. Hence she was afflicted with grief.

4-12. She (Earth) assumed the form of a cow with the face filled with tears. Along with the Devas, the Earth sought refuge in Brahmā.

On seeing the Earth overwhelmed with the burden, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds, spoke thus with sweet words, in order to remove her fatigue: “O Earth, of great merit, what is helpful to you may be heard. I shall tell you the truth and what is befitting the time and place.

Formerly a severe penance, very difficult of all embodied beings to be performed, was performed by this demon. With the self severely controlled, the Upāsanā of Gāyatrī was performed by him. I too was delighted in mind and hence a boon was granted to him: ‘Neither during the day nor at night, neither in the atmosphere nor on the ground, neither by means of a very dry thing nor by a wet one, nor by striking with missiles and weapons, neither by Devas nor by Asuras, neither by Gandharvas nor by Yakṣas nor by Serpents nor by Kinnaras, neither by Piśācas, nor by Guhyakas and others, never by Rākṣasas, never by men nor by flocks of birds should my (Hiraṇyakaśipu’s) death occur. The heroic one who will kill me along with my family, army and vehicles, with a single blow of the palm of hand shall be my ultimate death.’

I told him, ‘So be it.’ with the self excessively delighted at that time, O Earth. Then I went back to my world. That Daitya wields a severely terrible administration. With incomparable valour, he has become the ruler of all the world.

13-19. Only those who were authorized by him in the world became free from worries. The Lord of all the Daitya folks enjoyed the three worlds forever. Hence, you all go to Mahākālavana of the great Lord. A great Tīrtha, the most excellent one among the Tīrthas, is there, to the south of Saṅgameśvara and to the north of Karkarāja. It was on the splendid bank of Śiprā in an excellent region. It was on a par with Vaikuṇṭha. There is a great holy spot named Nṛsiṃha. This Tīrtha is established there.

O excellent Suras, go there and perform Snāna, Dāna and other holy rites immediately. All of you will regain your worlds.”

On hearing his words, the Devas reached Mahākālavana with Indra as the leader. It was there that Śiprā of profuse waters flowed. They stayed near the banks of Nṛsiṃha Tīrtha for many years and performed Snāna, Dāna etc., and the worship of Nṛsiṃha also. By doing all this in accordance with the injunctions, they attained great Siddhis and departed from here.

20-26. In the middle of the Assembly Hall, O Vyāsa, the leading Dānava was killed by Hari, the destroyer of his enemies, in the form of Man-lion. Hiraṇyakaśipu was killed with a single blow of the hand. Thereafter, all the groups of Suras regained all their rightful positions.

Ever since then all the Suras perform the midday Upāsanā of Hari at the Tīrtha where he killed the enemy.

Such a Tīrtha exists in Avantī on the earth. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, those meritorious men who perform Snāna, Dāna and other rites attain the greatest goal. Always, at all times, this Tīrtha is excellent and bestows great merit.

Even if one casually performs the worship of the intelligent Nṛsiṃha on the fourteenth lunar day which happens to be the day of Nṛsiṃha, after performing the holy ablution if a man worships with great concentration and mental purity the Lord of Devas i.e. Nṛsiṃheśvara, the goddess of fortune shall undoubtedly be within the grasp of that devotee.

27. Thereafter, the devotee should visit Lord Agastyeśvara with great concentration and mental purity. O Vyāsa, nothing is seen as inaccessible to him on the earth.

28-31. It was here that Hanumān, the son of the Wind-god, attained great Siddhi. He is stationed here for the purpose of the attainment of all desired objects as Brahmacārī (celibate), an ascetic of chaste conduct and the achiever of all objects. He is a knower of the highest deity.

The son of Mitrāvaruṇa (i.e. Agastya) performed a severe penance very difficult to be performed by others, formerly near a Vaṭa tree for the sake of Siddhi. It is now called Bodhi Nyagrodha (‘enlightening tree of Nyagrodha’) and Agastivaṭa.

A man should perform Sāvitrī Vrata in the company of his wife. O scorcher of enemies, from Sāvitrī, he always obatins the great fortune.

32-35. In this Tīrtha, the man should perform holy ablution and make the gift of Saubhaga (good fortune) i.e. a bamboo basket filled with eight auspicious things (gold, ghee etc.) along with fragrant clothes. It must be given together with seven types of grains and embellished with five gems, and also scents, garlands, Maulisūtra etc. (crestjewel). A gold image of Sāvitrī should also be made in accordance with one’s capacity and be given to an intelligent (Brāhmaṇa) well-versed in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. He obtains vast wealth capable of giving splendid enjoyment. After enjoying various pleasures, he shall attain heaven.

36. A woman who performs Sāvitrī Vrata becomes a favourite wife of her husband, chaste and highly fortunate. She shall never be a widow.