Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The Greatness of Kamada Tirtha which is chapter 106 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the one hundred sixth chapter of the Reva-khanda of the Avantya-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 106 - The Greatness of Kāmada Tīrtha
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:
1-7. Thereafter, O king, one should go to the excessively excellent heavenly Tīrtha that is conducive to conjugal bliss and fascinating to both men and women.
O excellent king, if an unfortunate man or a woman in wretched state takes the holy bath and adores Umā and Rudra, conjugal bliss accrues to him or her.
The person should control his sense-organs and observe fast for a day and a night on the third lunar day. He should devoutly invite a Brāhmaṇa of handsome features along with his wife.
He should be adorned with fragrant garlands and rendered sweet-smelling with incense etc., and clad in good garments.
He should be devoutly fed with milk pudding and Kṛsara (milk, gingelly seeds and rice mixed and cooked well) and then duly circumambulated.
He should recite in his mind this Mantra: “May the bull-emblemed Mahādeva along with his wife, be pleased with me. O Lord of the chiefs of Devas, be kind to me and see that there is no separation at any time (between us), just as there is none in your case.”
If this is done, the merit that is said to accrue to him I shall recount entirely to you, as has been stated by the Lord.
8-19. O Yudhiṣṭhira, none of the following (evil things) shall occur to him in the course of seven births: misfortune, wretchedness, penury, grief-incurring bondage and infertility.
He who devoutly goes there (specially) on the third lunar day in the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha and practises the penance of the five fires, undoubtedly becomes free from all sins.
The devotee should have full concentration of the mind and burn Guggula (fragrant gum-resin). If in the vicinity of Gaurī, the devotee splits his body and if this ends in the departure of the soul, even as he is engaged in that activity, he shall go to Svarga on death here. So said Śaṅkara.
Regarding the Brāhmaṇa couple (woman and man) as Gaurī and Śiva in physical form, he should honour them with splendid garments of white, red and yellow colours. He should adore them duly with different kinds of ñowers and splendid, fragrant incense. A golden necklace should be offered. They should be smeared with saffron. After giving them a fine appearance thus, gifts are offered, such as bangles, earrings, necklaces and rings. Seven kinds of cereals are gifted and they are fed, O excellent king.
The devotee may make other gifts as well at that Tīrtha. There is no doubt about this that he will attain that merit which is incurred by making the gift of everything (all possessions). Everything becomes a thousand-fold in merit.
He enjoys pleasures of great excellence in the company of Śaṅkara. He then derives immense conjugal bliss. There is no doubt there (about this).
He who is sonless gets a son; one without wealth gets wealth. O great king, the Tīrtha that fulfils cherished desires is established on Narmadā.