Chapter 126 - The Greatness of Ayoniprabhava Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. Thereafter, O great king, one should go to the great Tīrtha called Ayonija. A man, merely by a holy plunge therein, ceases to face the danger of being in a womb.

A man should take his holy bath there in the Tīrtha and worship Lord Iśvara, uttering this Mantra: “O great Lord Parameśvara, just as you are one not born of a womb, so also release me from the inevitable (possible) calamity of being in a womb.” He who worships with scented flowers, incense etc. shall be rid of all sins.

He who devoutly covers the Liṅga with rice mixed with curds shall reside in the world of the Lord of Devas, in proportion to the number of grains of (that) boiled rice (covering the Liṅga).

The devotee should bathe Mahādeva with scented water in the Ayonija Tīrtha. He may bathe with honey, milk or curds also. He shall attain great glory.

On the eighth day in the bright half or fourteenth day in the dark half he should worship Mahādeva and delight him with vocal and instrumental music. He shall reside in the world of Śiva.

Those who celebrate festivals reside in the world of Śiva until the annihilation of all living beings.

8-16. Uttering this Mantra always and submitting his plaint, the devotee should circumambulate the Lord with great devotion: “O great Lord Parameśvara, just as you are one not born from a womb, so also release me, O Śarva, from all possible calamities (befalling one lying) in a womb.”

Traditionally men have stated the following good results received from the Lord of Devas. Listen with mental concentration.^[1]

Of what avail are the many Mantras that merely make his throat more and more parched? If the Mantra oṃ namaḥ śivāya is uttered in the vicinity of the Lord, it is as good as he has studied everything, heard everything and performed everything.

The repetition of the Mantra oṃ namaḥ śivāya should be well practised and stabilised. The benefit that is attained by uttering the six-syllabled Mantra cannot be attained by a Brāhmaṇa from any other god or gods.

If the devotee takes his bath there in the Tīrtha and worships a Śivayogin, he will reap the bruit of feeding more than ten thousand Brāhmaṇas.

Or if the devotee consecrates the alms and gives it to one who has controlled his sense-organs, the benefit thereof is more.

Water should be given in the hand (palms) of the ascetic, then the alms and then water again. The alms is on a par with Meru; the water on a par with the ocean.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

For the sake of continuity in narration verse 10 is taken after 8 and verse 9 follows verse 10.