Chapter 67 - The Greatness of Kuṭumbeśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sanatkumāra said:

1-6. Listen, O Vyāsa, to (the story of) a great Tīrtha which is very excellent and well-known. Maheśvara, the deity there, is well-renowned as Kuṭuṃbeśvara.

The Tīrtha there is very excellent and bestows the benefit of all the Tīrthas. By bathing in that Tīrtha a man shall certainly possess a large family.

Formerly Dakṣa, the patriarch, performed penance for the sake of a family. O Vyāsa, earlier his sixty sons had been rendered exiles (recluses) by Nārada. That pious soul (i.e. Dakṣa) was desirous of progeny and he performed the Vrata for a long time in the company of his wife. The brilliant patriarch abstained from food and controlled the sense-organs. He took his holy bath in this Tīrtha and became pure. He began to perform the Japa of the eternal Brahman. O Vyāsa, he continued his terrible penance for ten thousand years. By the power of the Tīrtha, he obtained a big family of progeny. Dakṣa of great exploits became renowned as Prajāpati (Patriarch).

7. Afterwards Brahmā too performed a very difficult penance there. Instantly Vidhi (i.e. the Creator) attained a form devoid of stigma and impurity.

8. Mahādeva too attained the state of Brahman there itself. O excellent one, the Liṅga having four faces is seen here even today.

9. The Goddess seated on the auspicious Pīṭha (pedestal) and well-known as Bhadrakālī, O Vyāsa, always enjoys (herself) there performing Vratas.

10-12. There itself, at the threshold, stands Bhairava, the Kṣetrapālaka. Earlier he had been afflicted by the foremost among the Daityas and had become lame. He was brought up by the Goddess like her own son. He stands at that place always.

All the groups of the Devas too are (established) installed in that Tīrtha. Sages of great fortune come to the lake that bestows many sons. During all the Parvas (festival days) they come there for performing Sandhyā prayers.

13. Those men of good conduct who take their holy dip in this Tīrtha will not find anything difficult of access in the course of any birth they may take.

14-16. At the time of great calamities and terrible pestilence, Havana is performed by his devotees with mustard, Rājika (black mustard), barley grain, milk pudding and different kinds of food offerings. No evil occurs to them. In the course of all adversities like famine, banishment from kingdom, severely terrible battle etc., one should with great concentration and mental purity worship Kṣetrapāla. Undoubtedly he becomes rid of all miseries.

17-18. After taking the holy bath in the Kuṭuṃbaka Tīrtha and worshipping Maheśvara, a person should make a gift of a Kūṣmāṇḍaka (a kind of white gourd) to an ascetic Brāhmaṇa along with gold, jewels, pearls, garments and ornaments. The man shall be blessed with a large family and endowed with wealth and foodgrain.

19. The fourteenth day in the bright half of Phālguna with a touch of Trayodaśī (thirteenth lunar day), O Vyāsa, is called Śivarātri.

20-22. On that day, a man should take his holy bath and keep awake at night. He should devoutly worship the great deity Giriśa along with his attendants, offering Bilvodaka (water with Bilva leaves), scents, many fruits and flowers, incense, lamps, Naivedyas, garments, ornaments etc. His sin becomes destroyed. He is honoured in Śivaloka. The man gets as much merit as one who observes the Ekādāsī Vrata twelve times.

23-25. For every moment of his keeping awake, he obtains the benefit of one horse sacrifice. Afterwards in the morning, he should get up early and perform Snāna, Dāna and other rites duly. O Vyāsa, he should duly worship Śiva and feed seven Brāhmaṇas.

Listen to the fruit of his meritorious act. He obtains the benefit of gifting fourteen thousand tawny cows along with their calves and also the benefit of a thousand Vājapeya sacrifices. Not otherwise.