Chapter 80 - The Greatness of Nandikeśvara (nandika-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-11. Then a person should go to the excellent Tīrtha called Nandikeśvara, O great king. It was here that Mahānandin became a Siddha (enlightened one). I shall narrate everything to you.

Formerly Nandin, the Lord of Gaṇas, faced Revā and proceeded from Tīrtha to Tīrtha performing austerities and achieving victory^[1]. When he left Dadhiskanda and Madhuskanda, Mahādeva became pleased and spoke to Nandinātha.

Īśvara said:

O Nandīśa, I am delighted. Choose any boon that you desire. I am pleased with your penance performed in the course of your pilgrimage.

Nandīśvara said:

I do not covet wealth nor do I desire a family and progeny. Excepting your lotus-like feet, I do not desire anything else. Whether I am born amidst worms, insects and locusts or as a brute of lower order, let my devotion be steady towards you in all my births.

Saying “So it shall be” with great tenderness, O king, Mahādeva held that enlightened one by the hand and went to his abode.

A man who takes his holy bath in that Tīrtha with great devotion and worships the Three-eyed Lord, attains the benefit of Agniṣṭoma Yajña.

If a person bathes in the Tīrtha and casts off his life, then he becomes Śiva’s attendant and rejoices for everlasting Kalpas. After a great deal of time, he will be born in a pure family well-conversant with the principles of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. He will live for a hundred years.

Thus, O dear one, the excellent greatness of the Tīrtha has been narrated to you. It is difficult of access for human beings but it destroys all sins.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Here ‘Jaya’ seems to be a misprint for ‘Japa’. There is no propriety of ‘achieving victory’ as there is no enemy to be defeated. In Devanāgarī script pa (प) and ya (य) appear alike and the printed text if emended as ‘jaapam kurvan’, ‘performing Japa’ is more suitable in the context.