Chapter 183 - The Greatness of Kedāreśvara (kedāra-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-8. Thereafter, O great king, a person should go to the Tīrtha called Keḍāra. After going there he should perform Śrāddha and drink water after worshipping the Lord of the chiefs of Devas. He will obtain the benefit arising from (such pious acts performed at) the Kedāra shrine.

Yudhiṣṭhira said:

O excellent one among Suras (on the earth?), how did the Tīrtha named Kedāra itself come to the northern bank of Narmadā? Recount this in detail.

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

Formerly at the beginning of Kṛtayuga, Śaṅkara was propitiated by Bhṛgu at Bhṛgukacchaka. It was cursed by Śrī saying, “This spot is devoid of sanctity. It will be bereft of all Vedas.” After saying this, O excellent king, the Beloved of Hari went away.

Bhṛgu performed an elaborate penance for a thousand years without taking any food. He took in air alone. He was reduced much and the veins were visible spreading over his body.

Thereupon Maheśvara appeared before him in the form of a Liṅga. Piercing through the seven nether worlds, he suddenly came before him. Bhṛgu saw the Lord like a bud of lotus. He eulogized the three-eyed Lord Sthāṇu. On being eulogized thus, the Lord laughingly said again and again, “O sage, what for do you wish to request me?”

Bhṛgu said:

9-17. O Lord, this holy spot extending to five Krośas (5 x 3 Kms.) has been cursed by Padmā (Lakṣmī). After saying “This holy spot will become unholy and bereft of all the Vedas”, the goddess went to heaven. O Maheśāna, please do see to this that this excellent holy spot becomes sacred once again, if you are pleased, O Śaṅkara.

Īśvara said:

O Brāhmaṇa, this Liṅga named Kedāra shall be the first one; including this there will be ten primordial Liṅgas. The eleventh one shall be invisible and it will be in this Kṣetra.

The all-pervading Lord Himself, the eleventh one, will sanctify the Kṣetra.

Similarly, by my grace the twelve Sun-gods (Ādityas) who remove ailments and miseries shall stay at Bhṛgukṣetra.

(In addition to them) there will stay eighteen Durgā-goddesses and sixteen Kṣetrapālas (Guardians of the Kṣetra), Vīrabhadra and Mother-deities at Bhṛgukṣetra. This Kṣetra shall become permanently sanctified.

One who conquers his sense-organs, takes his holy bath early in the morning in the month of Māgha and worships Kedāra for a whole month shall go to Śiva’s place. O descendant of Bharata, one who takes his holy bath in that Tīrtha and performs Śrāddha with the Pitṛs in view, in accordance with the injuctions, makes his grandfathers pleased.

Thus the holy spot named Kedāra has been described to you in full details. It is meritorious and destructive of all sins. It dispels all miseries.