Chapter 225 - The Greatness of Alikeśvara (alika-īśvara-tīrtha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

1-5. Thereafter, a devotee should go to the excellent Alikā Tīrtha within a distance of a Krośa (3 Kms.) therefrom.

There was a Gandharva female named Alikā. Her habits were foul and her mind crooked. She was granddaughter (daughter’s daughter) of Citrasena. She went to Sage Vidyānanda, wooed him and was accepted by him. She resorted to him for ten years.

For some reason, she killed her husband while he was asleep. She then went to her father Ratnavallabha and told him this.

Hence she was abandoned by her father and mother, O king, and rebuked by many: “You are the murderess of foetus and of husband. So do not show us your face. O murderess of a Brāhmaṇa, O sinful woman, go away. You have been abandoned. Go away from the house.”

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said:

6-13. Thus the deluded woman, on being sternly rebuked by both of them, felt inclined to cast off her body after resorting to some Tīrtha somewhere.

O Yudhiṣṭhira, she went on enquiring about various Tīrthas from Brāhmaṇas and heard that the Tīrtha at the confluence of Revā and the ocean was destructive of sins.

O son of Kuntī, she performed penance there and observed expiatory fasts such as Kṛcchra, Atikṛcchra, Pārāka, Mahāsāntapana etc.

Through the vows of Cāndrāyaṇa and Brahmakūrca she got her body emaciated. Thus, O king, a hundred and fifty years passed off in penance including meditations, adorations etc., of Śiva, since she desired (self-) purification.

After a few days, Śiva came to know of her ardent resolution. On being induced by Pārvatī, the delighted Śiva spoke to her:

Īśvara said:

O daughter, do not be rash. Now you are pure in your body. I am pleased now with your penance. Choose your desired boon.

Alikā said:

O Lord of Devas, if you are pleased, (and) if I am considered to be worthy of boons, do grant me perfect purity. I have already been awfully scorched by diverse kinds of fiery sins. I am helpless and you are my Lord. You alone are the preceptor of the worlds, the redeemer of the wretched and the helpless, the deity worthy of being refuge unto all a embodied beings.

Īśvara said:

14-22. O fair lady, you have become purified in body; do not feel acutely aggrieved. Instal me here designating me after your name. Thereby you will attain heaven.

After saying this, the Lord of chiefs of Devas vanished there itself. Alikā, thereupon, devoutly took her holy bath, installed Śaṅkara and made liberal gifts to Brāhmaṇas. She attained the highly exalted region.

O Yudhiṣṭhira, she went back to her father and mother. She was duly honoured by them as well as by her other kinsmen. Seated on an excellent aerial chariot and wearing divine garlands, O king, she went to the world of Gaurī. Even today she rejoices as the female companion of the goddess.

Ever since then, O son of Kuntī, that Tīrtha became famous as Alikeśvara. O Yudhiṣṭhira, any devotee, man or woman, who takes his holy bath there in the Tīrtha and devoutly worships Mahādeva accompanied by Umā, shall be rid of all sins. He attains the world of Śaṅkara.

By feeding Brāhmaṇas always, one gets rid of all sins, mental, verbal or physical. Whatever sin was committed before, gets dissolved.

By offering lamps to the deity, one can avert attacks of ailments. By offering incense, utensil, ornamental frame, bell and waterpot to the deity, O great king, one shall obtain the world of Śaṅkara.