Chapter 211 - The Greatness of Muṇḍi Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-9. What was done by the Lord of Devas in regard to those residing on the banks of Narmadā, was something very surprising to the entire world. I shall recount it to you fully. The Lord assumed the form of a leper and begged of some miserly Brāhmaṇas at the time of Śrāddha. He had smeared himself with red sandal-paste as unguent.

There were bubbles of exudation from his limbs. He was fully covered with worms and flies. He had a foul face and his skin was sorely infested. He was stinking and he faltered at every step.

He went to the abode of a Brāhmaṇa and stumbling at the door said thus: “O householder, I wish to take well-cooked and consecrated food today at your house along with these Brāhmaṇas.”

On seeing the Brāhmaṇa with foul effusions all over the body, the Brāhmaṇas in the company of the householder said: “Fie upon you! Fie upon you! O stinking fellow, get out. O base Brāhmaṇa, get away from this house quickly. Since you looked at it, this consecrated foodstuff has become unworthy of being eaten by everyone.

“That is so”, said Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas. Even as he was being watched by the excellent Brāhmaṇas, he rose into the clear sky. When the Lord later vanished, the Brāhmaṇas took bath and sprinkled themselves with water all around.

When they were about to take their food separately in the different platters, they saw worms and worms wherever they looked.

10-17. On seeing it, all of them were amazed and said: “What is this?” Then one of them said: “This Brāhmaṇa is Brahmā himself; he has many good qualities.”

Another said: “He had come here before in the assembly of many Brāhmaṇas somewhat hesitatingly. He is Parameśvara, the great Yogin.

This transformation of foods is his playful practical joke, the result of our rebuking him, not of anybody else. It is declared by the scriptures that a guest should be honoured. If not, the result would be unpleasant. He is worthy of adoration, being the supreme Soul and a guest in particular. If anyone does not honour a guest who comes at the time of Śrāddha, Piśācas and Rākṣasas spoil it undoubtedly.

In regard to a guest, we should not considered whether he is handsome or ugly, dirty or wearing dirty clothes, Yogīndra or a Cāṇḍāla.”

On hearing these words, the Brāhmaṇas with the householder as their leader, rushed to all the directions in search of the Brāhmaṇa guest.

Somehow someone saw him hidden in a thick forest and shouted: “He is seen.” All of them came there and saw the Brāhmaṇa standing steady like a post.

18-22. He did not flicker or move, shout or see. Some of them lamented piteously; others began to pray with pleasing words. Thus the Three-eyed Lord was eulogized. Then they requested: “O Lord of Devas, the cooked food of the hungry Brāhmaṇas is utterly spoiled. It behoves you to make it good.”

O Yudhiṣṭhira, on hearing the words of those Brāhmaṇas, the Lord became pleased and said to them with great compassion:

“O highly esteemed ones, I have become pleased. So I have made that same food of yours pure like nectar. May the Brāhmaṇas eat it along with their kinsmen and servants. Let them worship my Maṇḍala (mystical circle) everyday.

Thereat, O son of Kuntī, that shrine became famous by the name Muṇḍi. On the day of the Kārttikī festival it is particularly on a par with Gayātīrtha.