Chapter 85 - The Greatness of Somanātha Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The story of Dakṣa’s curse to Soma (Moon-god) for his special attention to Rohiṇī and neglect of other wives and his redemption from it by a bath in the confluence of Sarasvatī and Western Sea is given in Mahābhārata, Śalya 35.45-86. Here the credit of the redemption is given to a bath in Narmadā to commemorate which Somanātha was installed.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-10. Then, O great king, one should go to the age-old Tīrtha of Narmadā that destroys even the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter. It is on a par with Vārāṇasī.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

O Brāhmaṇa, let the wonderful thing that happened on the banks of Narmadā be recounted. O venerable Lord, how is it on a par with Vārānaṣī? Do tell me. My kingdom is taken away from me. I have sunk in the ocean of misery, O excellent Brāhmaṇa. Along with my kinsmen I have become rid of sorrows after having bathed in the water of your speech.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

Excellent! Excellent! O mighty-armed one who are an ornament unto the lunar race, I have been asked about a very rare and inaccessible Tīrtha that has to be kept as the utmost secret.

At first there was the Pitāmaha (Grandfather Brahmā), the Lord of the entire universe. Ten leading sages were mentally born unto him, viz. Marīci, Atri, Aṅgīras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu and Nārada.

The highly refulgent Prajāpati named Pracetas begot Dakṣa. It is well-known that fifty daughters were born to Dakṣa.

He gave ten of them to Dharma and thirteen to Kaśyapa. The illustrious one gave twenty-seven to Moon-god (Indu).

Among those girls there was one named Rohiṇī. She was the greatest beloved of Moon-god. Due to his compassion for the remaining ones, Dakṣa cursed Moon.

By the power of the curse of Dakṣa, the Prajāpati (Patriarch), Candra (Moon-god), the Lord of the night, became afflicted by consumptive disease and lost all splendour.

11-20. Soma (Moon-god), the nectar-rayed one, went trembling to Pitāmaha and prayed: “O Lotus-born One, obeisance to you. O Vedagarbha (having the Vedas in the womb), obeisance to you. I have sought refuge in you. Protect me, O Lotus-seated One.”

Brahmā said:

O Lord of the night, you appear to be bereft of your Kalās (digits) and hence lacking lustre. O dear one, what is the reason for which you have become dejected in mind?

Soma said:

“O Brahmā, O Lord of the universe, lack of lustre in me is due to the curse of Dakṣa. O Pitāmaha, may the expiation for this curse be suggested to me.

Brahmā said:

Revā is easily accessible everywhere but at three holy spots viz. Oṃkāra, Bhṛgukṣetra and the confluence with Aurvā it is difficult of access, O Lord of the night, go there where Revā has its bank (i.e. go to the banks of Revā).

He hurriedly went to the place where there is the confluence of Revā and Aurvī.

Soma who was at the terminal stage of sickness meditated upon the Enemy of Tripuras. When a hundred years were complete Maheśvara became pleased (with him). The Bull-seated Lord, the Consort of Umā, appeared before Somarāja who prostrated before the Lord and prayed loudly: “Be victorious, O Śaṃbhu, I make obeisance to you. Be victorious, O Śaṅkara; obeisance to the destroyer of sins. Be victorious, O Īśvara, O Lord of the universe, obeisance to you. Be victorious, O Lord having Vāsuki as an ornament. Obeisance. Be victorious. Obeisance to the Lord holding trident and skull. Be victorious, O destroyer of the body of Andhaka. Obeisance to the slayer of the groups of Dānavas. Be victorious, O Niṣkala (without Kalās, parts). Obeisance to the Sakala (with Kalās). Be victorious, O Kāla. Obeisance to the burner of Kāma. Be victorious. Obeisance to the one having blue neck. Be victorious. O subtle one, O unsullied one, O Lord of sound! Obeisance to you. Be victorious, O primordial one, O beginningless one, O endless one. O Śaṅkara, obeisance. Be victorious, O Īśa, save me, the servant.”

21-25. On being eulogized thus by Somarāja, O son of Pāṇḍu, O excellent king, Mahādeva was pleased with him along with Śivā. Śaṅkara said:

Īśvara said:

O fair one, request for a boon from me, whatever may be in your mind. Very good! Very good! O mighty one, I am pleased with your penance.

Soma said:

O Maheśvara, I am burnt by the curse of Dakṣa and have become feeble without intrinsic strength. O Lord, stop the effect of the curse. O Lord, grant me welfare.

Īśvara said:

I have been captivated by your devotion. I, along with Umā, have been propitiated. You are Somanātha devoid of sins. By resorting to the Tīrtha you have become so (sinless).

Thus the Lord of the chiefs of Devas spoke (to Moon-god). After meditating for a while, the great Liṅga was installed by Indu. It is the bestower of cherished desires on all living beings in the world. It is destructive of all miseries. It is destructive of the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

26-35. O venerable Lord, tell me succinctly the power of Somanātha. You have come to us, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, as the saviour of those who are submerged in the ocean of misery.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

Listen to the efficacy of the Tīrtha.^[1] I shall briefly recount to you what happened on the northern bank at the confluence of Revā and Uri.

There was a king named Śaṃbara. Trilocana was his son and Kaṇva was the son of Trilocana. He was given to sinfulness.

He used to wander in forest everyday and looked for herds of deer. A herd of deer was killed by the son of Trilocana.

A Brāhmaṇa was wandering in the midst of the deer in the guise of a deer in the desolate forest. Due to his association with the herd of deer, the excellent sage was incidentally killed by Kaṇva.

Kaṇva who had thus incurred the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter roamed over the earth lustreless and feeble. In the course of his wanderings he reached Narmada at the confluence of Uri.

It abounded in trees like Kiṃśuka, Aśoka, Jaṃbīra, Panasa, Kadamba, Pāṭala etc. The beauty was enhanced by Bilva and Nāraṅga trees. There were tamarind and Caṃpaka trees too. An Agasti tree spread its shadow there.

The forest teeming with many living beings was splendid everywhere with beasts of prey like leopards, deers, cats, Śaṃbara and Śūkara (wild boars). It was full of rabbits, Gavayas (blue oxen), peacocks and wild asses.

Hardly did he enter the forest when Kaṇva was overwhelmed with thirst and extreme fatigue. He then took his holy bath in the meritorious waters of Revā at the confluence that destroys sins.

36-40. With great devotion, Somanātha was adored by him, O Yudhiṣṭhira. He drank the excessively pure waters that destroy all sins.

Along with his servants, he tasted various kinds of fruits. Utterly tired due to the hunting of deer, he slept soundly in the shade of the trees.

In the meantime a certain Brāhmaṇa came to that confluence in the excellent Tīrtha for bathing. The Brāhmaṇa wayfarer was urged by delight with (his) mind resting therein.

A woman said to him: “O excellent Brāhmaṇa, stop, stop!” Even as the frightened Brāhmaṇa looked all round in every direction, O king, he saw a woman clad in red garments, wearing red garlands, smeared profusely with red sandal-paste. She held a noose in her hands.

The woman said:

41-46. O Brāhmaṇa, may this message be heard. If you are going towards the confluence, my husband is staying there. Send him to me quickly saying, “Your wife is waiting alone in the middle of the forest.”

On hearing thus, the Brāhmaṇa repaired to the holy confluence, rare even to Suras. Kaṇva who was resting in the cool shade of the trees was seen by the Brāhmaṇa. Thereupon the excellent Brāhmaṇa spoke these words to him:

The Brāhmaṇa said:

A certain lotus-eyed maiden was seen by me in the middle of the forest. The maiden is clad in red garments. She has smeared her body with red sandal-paste. Wearing red garlands she appears highly splendid. The fawn-eyed damsel has a noose in her hands. Seated on the top of a tree, she spoke to me these words: “May my husband be sent.”

Kaṇva said:

O eminent Brāhmaṇa, in which holy spot is that fawn-eyed damsel? To whom does she belong? For what reason is she staying there? Tell me all this.

The Brāhmaṇa said:

47-54. She is in the park itself half a Krośa away from the confluence.

The king could not understand (who she was) merely through these words of the Brāhmaṇa.

Thereupon, King Kaṇva commanded his own messenger.

Kaṇva said:

Do go there and ask her from which place she has come and where will she go.

The messenger thus sent hurriedly went near the woman.

He saw the maiden seated on the tree and told her, O excellent king: “My master asks you who you are and where will you go?”

The girl said:

A preceptor instructs and trains those who possess Ātman (i.e. those who are good). A king chastises those with an evil-Ātman (i.e. the evil-minded ones). Here, Yama, the son of Vivasvān (Sun-god) is the chastiser of those who commit sins secretly. The sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter has befallen through the killing of the Brāhmaṇa in the guise of a deer. Though possessed by me, your king is liberated by the power of īhe Tīrtha.

Within a distance of half a Krośa the sin of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter cannot gain entry. Such is the power of Somanātha. It is remembered as one on a par with Vārāṇasī.

Do go; let the king be sent here quickly and without any hesitation.

The servant hurriedly came back trembling and greatly agitated. He recounted everything that happened earlier. At the statement of the servant the king fell on the ground.

The servant said:

55-63. O Lord, why do you grieve? Whether it is auspicious or inauspicious, it has already been acquired.

On hearing his words the king spoke these words: “I will cast off my life in the vicinity of Somanātha. May fire and plenty of fuel be brought.”

Presently everything was brought by the servants who were under his control. The king took his holy ablution in the splendid water at the confluence that is destructive of sins. He adored Somanātha with great devotion. He circumambulated three times the blazing fire. After meditating in his heart upon Janārdana, the Lord clad in yellow garments and wearing matted hairs(?) and a crown, Kaṇva, the king, jumped into the fire.

He meditated upon the Lord who was accompanied by Śrī and was seated on Garuḍa, the Lord who held conch, discus and club and who invariably slew Asuras. (He prayed:) “May beatitude be attained by me.”

A voice said: “Excellent! Excellent! O prince!” and a shower of flowers fell.

The servants witnessed the unprecedented miracle and looked at one another. They too meditated on Gadādhara (Lord Viṣṇu holding a mace) in their hearts and died by jumping into the fire. Thereafter, O son of Pāṇḍu, all of them were seen seated in aerial chariots.

By the power of Somanātha they were freed from sins and went to heaven as the Brāhmaṇa was meditating on the Bull-emblemed One.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

64-70a. This is the power Somanātha.

Listen with attention to the ritual (of worship). The days for observance of fast are the eighth and the fourteenth lunar days. At all times the fast can be undertaken on Sundays especially in the bright half if Sunday coincides with the seventh lunar day. The man should observe fast and at night he should devoutly keep awake.

He should bathe Parameśvara with milk products and Pañcāmṛta. Thereafter he should apply sandal-paste and offer flowers, incense etc. The lamp shall be lighted with ghee therein and there should be dance and music.

In the morning of Monday and the eighth lunar day, Brāhmaṇas should be honoured. They should have great control on anger and be self-possessed. They should have avoided censuring others. They should be handsome in every limb. They should be worthy of being praised. They should be those who looked after their wives very well. They should be regularly reciting Gāyatrī. They should never indulge in prohibited rites. If a remarried widow, Vṛṣalī and Śūdrī frequent anyone’s abode, he (such a Brāhmaṇa) should be abandoned even from a distance by one who wishes for one’s welfare. In the course of Vrata, Śrāddha and Dana, the following should be avoided even from a great distance: those deficient in any limb, those who have additional limbs and those who have no proper antecedents.

70b-78. Brāhmaṇas bereft of Vedic study are like maidens of steel. Undoubtedly they cause the downfall of themselves along with those on whose behalf they perform holy rites.

Brāhmaṇas regularly performing the six Karmas are on a par with the rafts made of Śālmali tree (silk-cotton tree). They themselves cross and enable the donor too to cross (the ocean of existence).

One who performs a Śrāddha at Someśvara (of the departed ones) without feeling of jealousy, his ancestors, the departed ones, become deeply satisfied until the annihilation of all living beings.

This is my truthful statement that he who gifts cooked food, garments and gold to a Brāhmaṇa goes to the world of Saṅkara.

One should gift a full-fledged horse, young and white in colour. It may be red or yellow but shall have all characteristic features. The Brāhmaṇa as well as the horse should be smeared with Kuṃkuma, adorned with garlands and covered with a white cloth.

He should tell the Brāhmaṇa, “Keep your feet on my shoulders and get on to the horse.”

When the Brāhmaṇa is comfortably seated after mounting, the devotee should say, “May Bhāskara (Sun-god) be pleased.” He shall be rid of all sins and go to the world of Śaṅkara.

79-89. If a person with his sense-organs under control goes to Somatīrtha on a day of eclipse, he shall become a righteous king even after falling down from Satyaloka. His residence shall always be there. It never perishes. His son becomes long-lived. His wife is always favourably disposed towards him. He shall be free from all miseries and shall live more than a hundred years.

A person should observe fast and eschew anger and (then) offer a cow to a Brāhmaṇa along with her calf. The cow should be a milch one and should be covered with a white cloth. The cow may be of any of these colours: variegated, yellow, smoke-gray, blue and spotted, tawny etc. She should be embellished with bells and ornaments. The hoofs should be covered with silver. A pot made of brass should be given for milking. O king, the horns should be capped with gold.

By offering a white cow a donor gets the family increased; a red cow increases good fortune. Variegated and yellow ones are reputed as destroyers of misery.

A tawny-coloured one destroys sin acquired in the course of seven births. The donor of a cow attains Satyaloka, O king.

At the end of a fortnight, during Vyatīpāta and Vaidhṛti, at the time of the transit of the Sun, when the day comes to a close, when there is the Gajacchāyāparva (?), solar eclipse etc., the noble-souled devotees should go to the confluence rare even unto the Suras. After smearing oneself with clay he enters the water. With water upto the level of the heart, he shall perform the Japa of Gāyatrī, of Viṣṇu, Sun-god or Śiva as he pleases and perform Prāṇāyāma. They too are relieved of their sins. Thus spake Śaṅkara. If one circumambulates the area around Somanātha, it is as though the entire earth consisting of the seven continents has been circumambulated by him.

90-99. There is no doubt that a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, an imbiber of liquor, one who resorts to the wife of the preceptor, a killer of foetus, one who steals gold—all these are rid of their sins. A person with the sense-organs subdued, who listens to this narrative of the Tīrtha, becomes rid of the ailment if he is sick and if he is not sick attains happiness.

If your mind is burning with trouble you will do well, O Yudhiṣṭhira, to listen to me. In this world, O king, even a single foeticide is very difficult to get rid of. It is much more difficult, O son of Kuntī, in the case of Moon who was guilty of twenty-six sins of foeticide (due to his negligence of twenty-six wives). He too came to this Tīrtha, performed a very severe penance and became rid of all sins.

The Cool-rayed One thus became happy. O king, this ancient Gāthā (verse) is heard as sung by the great sages: “A single Liṅga installed duly shall dispel ten foeticidal sins.” Hence, O descendant of Bharata, Soma (Moon-god) installed three Liṅgas: The first Liṅga was installed at the confluence of Revā and Uri; the second one at Bhṛgukacchaka; after attaining great Siddhi he installed the third one at Prabhāsa.

Thus I have told you entirely the greatness of the Tīrtha. It is conducive to piety, good fame, long life and heavenly pleasures. It sanctifies men.

He who seeks sons, gets sons and one without desire attains heaven. After performing the pilgrimage to the Tīrtha, O king, one becomes relieved of all sins. Thus the entire benefit of Somanātha has been narrated. Undoubtedly one who listens to this gets a son and one who bathes, eight sons.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The story of Prince Kaṇva to illustrate the efficacy of this Tīrtha, is a special contribution of this author.