Chapter 62 - The Greatness of Karoḍīśvara (karoḍī-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. Then, one should go to the excellent Tīrtha named Karoḍīśvara, O great king. O dear one, it was there that Dānavas along with their followers were killed by the delighted Devas led by Indra who always thought of victory. The Dānavas were killed in battle by the infuriated groups of Devas. Remembering again and again the previous enmity, sons and grandsons (of Dānavas) too were killed.

Remembering the kinship (with them) all the Devas including Indra gathered together their heads and cast them into the waters of Narmadā. All the Suras took their holy bath there and installed Umāpati (Śiva). All the Suras delighted in their minds went to their region in the firmament.

O blessed one, an excellent crore of the Dānavas was slain. Ever since then that Tīrtha is well known over the earth as Karoḍī. O son of Pāṇḍu, it is destructive of sins.

A devotee should observe fast devoutly on the eighth and fourteenth days of either half of a month and keep awake before the Trident-bearing Lord at night, engaged in reading (listening to) the stories of the good (meritorious stories) and in reciting and studying the Vedas.

8-16. In the morning he should then worship Tridaśeśvara. The idol (Liṅga) should be bathed in Pañcāmṛta and smeared with sandal-paste. He should with concentration offer worship with excellent sprouts (of Bilva tree) and flowers.

Facing the southern direction, he should recite the Mantras of various types. In accordance with the injunctions a handful of gingelly seeds should be offered by way of libation to the dead in the water coming upto the navel. Turning towards the southern direction, he should control his sense-organs and offer Śrāddha to the (departed) Brāhmaṇa. Śrāddha should be performed through Brāhmaṇas of uneven number eagerly engaged in the study and recitation of the Vedas. The Brāhmaṇas should be propitiated with gold, cows, foodstuffs, betel leaves, ornaments and a pair of sandals, O son of Pāṇḍu. His rite shall be effective a crore-fold more. No doubt need be entertained.

O king, listen to the merit that accrues to one who duly casts off his body in the Tīrtha.

That man of righteous soul resides in the rarely accessible Śivaloka as long as the bones remain in the waters of Narmadā.

After a long time, he may fall down therefrom and be born as a human being here. He shall then be glorious and owner of a lot of wealth. He shall be honoured by kings.

17-23. He shall be endowed with all piety. He shall be intelligent and have sons to perpetuate his line. The man shall be well-known all over the earth and long-lived. He will remember the Tīrtha once again, O excellent king, will go to that Tīrtha, worship Karoḍeśvara and attain the greatest goal.

Tridaśeśvara was installed by Indra, Candra, Yama, Rudra, Ādityas, Vasus and Viśvedevas on the northern bank of Revā with a desire for the welfare of all the worlds.

If a man endowed with devotion erects a palace (shrine) in that Tīrtha, O excellent one among men, he shall attain the goal of the good.

He should erect the same by means of timber, stone and bricks, all with wealth legitimately acquired.

Whether he be a Brāhmaṇa, a Kṣatriya or a Vaiśya or a Śūdra or even a woman, he should do everything within his capacity. When Śaṅkara is duly worshipped all those men too go to their respective goals.

If a person always listens to the greatness of the Tīrtha with devotion, his sins perish within six months.