Chapter 132 - The Greatness of Ādivārāha Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. Thereafter, O great king, one should go to the Tīrtha named Vārāha which dispels all sins. It is situated on the northern bank of Narmadā.

It is there that Lord Viṣṇu, the sustainer of the universe and the Lord enabling people to cross the ocean of worldly existence, assumed the form of a Boar and stationed himself for the sake of the welfare of the worlds.

A devotee should take his holy bath there in that Tīrtha and worship Dharaṇīdhara (i.e. Lord Viṣṇu) by means of specially prepared scented garlands. He should indulge in loudly shouting “Victories unto the Lord” and similar auspicious activities.

O excellent king, he should observe fast on the twelfth lunar day. He should shun the very touch of Vṛṣalas of sinful activities as well as Andhapiśācins (blind ghostly beings), since sin will be transmitted by them if they talk, touch their body and take food along with them. Even when they breathe out, sin is transmitted.

On the other hand, Brāhmaṇas should be duly and devoutly adored in accordance with one’s capacity. During the night, the devotee should keep awake listening to pious stories.

Those who have conquered bad temper and take holy bath in the pure Tīrtha, should visit the Lord, the preceptor of the universe. Thereby they will be rid of all sins.

8-13. On seeing the face of the Lord in the form of a Boar, all sins perish quickly just as on seeing Suparṇa (Garuḍa) serpents perish discharging their poison and terrifying fiery nature.

Just as on seeing the Sun, the most excellent one among Devas, the darkness in the sky perishes, so also the sins very difficult to counteract perish on seeing the face of Dharādhara (Lord Viṣṇu), O son of Kuntī.

Of what avail are numerous Mantras to a person who has devotion to Lord Janārdana! The very Mantra namo nārāyaṇāya is the means of achieving every object.^[1]

Even a single obeisance offered to Kṛṣṇa is on a par with the valedictory bath after ten Aśvamedhas. A person who performs ten horse-sacrifices takes birth again, but one who makes obeisance to Kṛṣṇa is not reborn.

Those persons who have conquered the sense-organs and the noble souls who meditate upon the Nārāyaṇa form of Hari and cast off their body there in the Tīrtha attain that place devoid of impurities, not available even to Suras. That is the greatest region of Viṣṇu free from Kṣara (perishable) and Akṣara (imperishable).

This shows the influence of or leaning to Pāñcarātrism.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This shows the influence of or leaning to Pancaratrism.