Chapter 136 - The Greatness of Ahalyā Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Here the Ahalyā episode is the same as in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (VR), Sargas 48-49. But Ahalyā’s penance and installation of a Liṅga on Narmadā is a new feature.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-7. Thereafter, O king, one should go to the excellent Ahalyeśvara Tīrtha where the blessed ascetic lady Ahalyā received redemption and fulfilment formerly.

There was a Brāhmaṇa named Gautama who was like another Brahmā. He was endowed with truthfulness and piety. He was engrossed in the Vānaprastha stage of life.

His blessed wife named Ahalyā was very famous in all the three worlds as a woman endowed with beauty and prime of youth.

Śatakratu, the king of Devas, was infatuated by the exceptional beauty of Ahalyā. The Slayer of Bala, therefore, tempted her.

“O beautiful lady of uncensured features, resort to me, the king of Devas. Sport about with me. You shall be one honoured in all the three worlds. What will you do with this Brāhmaṇa who has become lean and emaciated due to his over-zealous-ness for purity and conventional rites and austerities and Vedic studies! O lady of beautiful eyes, you must be rather undergoing sufferings now.”

On being told thus, the beautiful lady, very fickle by nature as all women are, became confused and defiled by the god of Love. Mentally she became overwhelmed by Śakra.

8-16. Sensing her emotional upheaval the Lord who slew Pāka was so overcome by wicked intentions that he deceived Gautama.

Getting an opportunity, he assumed the excellent guise of the sage and carnally delighted Ahalyā who believed (that he was Gautama) in the inner apartment.

Within a moment thereafter, O descendant of Bharata, the excellent sage hurriedly entered the apartment.

On seeing Gautama come Purandara became terrified and he went out. Seeing him he thought (knew) that it was Śakra. So Gautama became highly enraged and he cursed Devendra: “Since you could not control your senses, be one with a thousand vaginal apertures.” On being cursed thus, Devendra was instantly covered with a thousand vaginal apertures. He became bereft of all glory. He left the kingdom and the Suras too. He performed elaborate penance on the earth.

Ahalyā too was cursed by Gautama: “Since you have been caught red-handed in your wicked actions, since you have carnally delighted Śakra within my view, you shall be turned into a rock. At the end of a thousand years you will see Rāma, the renowned one, who would be coming here during his pilgrimage. Thereby you shall be rid of your sins.”

17-24. As the stipulated period of time elapsed she was seen by the intelligent Rāma in the company of Viśvāmitra. She absolved herself of her rocky form and adored Rāma duly. Thereby she became free of sins and malignant features. She came to the Tīrtha on the banks of Narmadā and duly took her holy bath.¹

For a month she performed the Cāndrāyaṇa rites and thereafter the Kṛcchra rites for another month. Mahādeva became pleased and granted her excellent boons. Umāpati vanished and sported about for a long time.

When the Lord went away, Ahalyā installed the preceptor of the universe by the name Ahalyeśvara and went back to her abode.

He who takes his holy bath there in the Tīrtha and adores Parameśvara, shall obtain heaven after death. He will sport about in the place where Lord Maheśvara is present in that Loka.

The performer of great penance, at the end of a thousand years, will be reborn in human form endowed with wealth and food-grain in plenty and be accompanied by sons and grandsons. He will be born in a pure family and be the receptacle of Vedic lore. Intelligent and handsome; he will be very fortunate. He will live for more than a hundred years afflicted with no ailments as a result of his resorting to Ahalyā Tīrtha.