Chapter 100 - The Greatness of Mārkaṇḍeśvara (mārkaṇḍa-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-9. Thereafter, O king, one should go to the extremely splendid Tīrtha on the southern bank of Narmada, well-known as Mārkaṇḍeśa.

Dear son, it is the most excellent of all the Tīrthas, saluted by Devas. It is to be kept as the utmost secret of all secrets. It has not been told to anyone by me.

It was installed by me formerly and it is like a flight of stairs unto heaven. Knowledge dawned upc.n me there itself, with the favour of Śaṅkara.

Anyone else who goes there, and recites the Drupadā prayer under the waters becomes liberated from all sins, verbal, mental or physical, O son of Pāṇḍu. Clasping the Piṇḍī (of Śiva Liṅga) the devotee should face the southern quarter and devoutly worship the Trident-bearing Lord with a form having thirty-two hands. I àm sure, O king, that after the fall of the body he will go to Śiva.

At night on the eighth lunar day, O descendant of Bharata, he should light lamps (filled) with ghee and he will attain the heavenly world. So said Śaṅkara.

O prince, thereby the Pitṛs become contented until the time of the annihilation of all living beings and they become pleased with him too.

A person should offer libations there with Iṅguda, Badara, Bilva, raw rice-grains or mere water to the ancestors of his family. He shall obtain the benefit (fruit) of his birth.