Chapter 230 - The Series of Tīrthas Enumerated

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: This is an old way of presenting ‘Table of Contents’.

1-10. After saying this to the son of Pāṇḍu, the saintly son of Mṛkaṇḍa, the wise sage who remembered the events of seven Kalpas, stopped.

Everything connected with the excellent greatness of Revā has been recounted to you, O excellent ones, in the way it was recounted to the son of Kuntī by Sage Mārkaṇḍa.

This meritorious, excellent river Revā, the sole sanctifier of the universe, was born of the body of Rudra. It accords freedom from fear unto all living beings.

To the son of Dharma who had requested him (to narrate), the scion of the family of Bhṛgu narrated the different confluences and Tīrthas from Oṃkara [Oṃkāra?] to Jaladhi (from the shrine of Oṃkāreśvara to the ocean).

O sages, I shall briefly tell you. How can all the sixty crore sixty seven thousand Tīrthas be recounted by any one? Even in the course of hundreds of years it is not possible.

Yet, O excellent sages, in the manner it was narrated to the son of Kuntī, I shall enumerate the auspicious series of Tīrthas beginning with the holy place Oṃkāra. Even as it is being enumerated briefly, O great sages, be pleased to listen.

After bowing to Maheśāna along with Umā, after bowing down to both Brahmā and Acyuta, Sarasvatī, Gaṇeśāna, the lotus-like feet of Vedavyāsa, all the preceptors of yore, the knowers of seen and unseen objects, after bowing down to the divine river Narmadā, I shall enumerate this series of holy spots.

Oṃ obeisance to Oṃkāreśvara, the omni-formed one, the immanent soul of all, beginning with whom, O Brāhmaṇas, I shall enumerate the series of Revā Tīrthas.

11-20. In this splendid and auspicious series of Revā Tīrthas enumerated by Mārkaṇḍa the following are dealt with one by one: the chapters on Purāṇasaṃhitās: The description of the hermitage of Mārkaṇḍa; then the Praśnādhikāra (the section of questions asked); then the praise of Narmadā; the glorification of the fifteen flowing currents;

The clarification of the names; the origins of the Kalpas; the enumeration of the names of twenty-one Kalpas;

The characteristic features of the seven Kalpas experienced by Mārkaṇḍeya; the greatness of Revā as well as that of Śiva and Viṣṇu;

Characteristics of Saṃhāra (Annihilation) and the origin of Oṃkāra; the greatness of Oṃkāra; the glorification of Amaraṅkaṭa;

Amareśvara Tīrtha; the great Dāruvana; Dārukeśvara Tīrtha and Carukeśvara Tīrtha;

Carukāsaṅgama confluence; Vyatīpāteśvara; Pātāleśvara Tīrtha and that (Tīrtha) which is called Koṭiyajña;

Varuṇeśvara Tīrtha and the hundred eight Liṅgas; Siddheśvara; Yameśa and Brahmeśvara thereafter;

Sārasvata; Aṣṭarudra; Sāvitra; that which is called Soma; the great Tīrtha Śivakhāta and Rudrāvarta, O excellent Brāhmaṇas;

The great Brahmāvarta Tīrtha; then Sūryāvarta; Pippalāvarta Tīrtha and the confluence of Pippalī;

21-30. The greatness of Amarakaṇṭa; the confluence of Kapilā (with Revā); the origin of Viśalyā; the glorification of Bhṛgutuṅga Mountain;

The meritorious confluence of Viśalyā; the confluence of Karamardā; Karamardeśvara Tīrtha; the excellent Cakratīrtha;

The confluence of Nīlagaṅgā; the annihilation of Tripuras; the glorification of Tīrthas and Dāṅa; the Madhūka Tṛtīyā Vrata;

Apsareśvara Tīrtha; the injunction regarding hurling of the body; the Tīrtha named Jvāleśvara Tīrtha the confluence of Jvālā;

Śakratīrtha; Kuśāvarta; Haṃsatīrtha; Aṃbarīṣa’s Tīrtha and Mahākāleśvara;

Matṛkeśvara Tīrtha; description of Bhṛgu Tuṅga; the greatness of Bhairava there; glorification of Capaleśvara;

The greatness of Caṇḍapāṇi, the confluence of Kāverī; Kubereśvara Tīrtha and the confluence of Vārāhī;

The confluence of Caṇḍavegā; Caṇḍeśvara Tīrtha; the meritorious confluence of Eraṇḍī; the excellent Eraṇḍeśvara Tīrtha;

Pitṛtīrtha there itseīf and the origin of Oṃkāra there; the greatness of the five Liṅgas of Oṃkāra, O leading sages;

The greatness of Koṭi Tīrtha; and Kākahrada Tīrtha; Jaṃbukeśvara Tīrtha; and Sārasvata Tīrtha thereafter;

32-40. The confluence of Kapilā and Kapileśvara Tīrtha; Daitya-Sūdana Tīrtha and Cakra Tīrtha; Vāmana Tīrtha;

They know of a hundred thousand Tīrthas in the eastern confluence of Kapilā; then the characteristics of Svarga and Naraka as described by the sage;

The structure and internal arrangement of the human body; the description of the gift of a cow; Aśokavanikā Tīrtha and the description of Mataṅga’s hermitage;

Aśokeśvara Tīrtha; the excellent Mataṅgeśvara; the meritorious forest of deer; Manoratha Tīrtha there;

The confluence of Aṅgāragartā; the excellent Aṅgāreśvara; Meghavana Tīrtha; the enumeration of the names of the goddess;

The confluence of Kubjā; Kubjeśvara Tīrtha; Bilvāmraka Tīrtha; the Pūrṇadvīpa Tīrtha thereafter;

The confluence of Hiraṇyagarbhā of meritorious glorification; the Tīrtha named Dvīpeśvara; the meritorious Yajñeśvara;

Māṇḍavyāśrama Tīrtha; the confluence of Viśokā; the Tīrtha named Vagīśvara; the meritorious confluence of Vāgu;

Sahasrāvartaka Tīrtha there; Saugandhika; the confluence of Sarasvatī; the excellent Īśāna Tīrtha;

Devatātraya Tīrtha; Śūlakhāta thereafter; Brahmoda; Śāṅkara; Saumya; and Sārasvata thereafter.

41-50. Sahasrayajña Tīrtha; Kapālamocana; Āgneya; Aditīśa; the excellent Vārāha Tīrtha;

Devapatha Tīrtha; Yajñasahasraka Tīrtha; Śukla Tīrtha; Dīptikeśa; Viṣṇu Tīrtha; Yodhana;

Narmadeśvara Tīrtha; Varuṇeśa; Māruta; Yogeśa; Rohiṇī Tīrtha; and Dārutīrtha, O excellent ones;

Brahmāvarta; Patreśa; Vāhna; Saura glorified: Meghanāda; Dārutīrtha; Devatīrtha; Guhāśraya;

The Tīrtha called Narmadeśvara; the excellent Kapilātīrtha; Karañjeśa; Kuṇḍaleśa; Pippalāda thereafter;

Vimaleśvara Tīrtha; the confluence of Puṣkariṇī; the praise of Śūlabheda; there itself the exploit of Andhaka;

The offer of solace unto the Devas; and the complete subjugation of Andhaka; the origin of Śūlabheda; the testing of the deserving ones; the praise of Dānadharma (munificence and piety); the glorification of Ṛṣiśṛṅga; the attainment of Svarga by Dīrghatapas; the inclination of Bhānumatī;

The departure of Śabara to heaven; the greatness of Śūlabheda; Kapileśvara Tīrtha; Mokṣatīrtha thereafter;

The confluence of Mokṣanadī river; Vimaleśvara Tīrtha; Ulūka Tīrtha; the confluence of Puṣkariṇī;

51-60. Ādityeśvara Tīrtha; Saṅgameśvara Tīrtha; the confluence of Bhīmakulyā; the auspicious Bhīmeśvara Tīrtha;

Mārkaṇḍeśvara Tīrtha; Pippaleśvara; Karoṭīśvara Tīrtha; auspicious Indreśvara Tīrtha;

Agastyeśa; Kumāreśa; the excellent Vyāseśvara; Vaidyanātha; Kedāra; the Tīrtha named Ānandeśvara;

Mātṛtīrtha; Muṇḍeśa; Caura; Kāmeśvara; the confluence of Anudhūhī; the two Tīrthas viz. Bhīma Tīrtha and Arjuna Tīrtha; the Tīrtha named Dharmeśvara; Luṅkeśvara thereafter;

Then Dhanadatīrtha; Jaṭeśa; Maṅgaleśvara; Kapileśvara Tīrtha; the excellent Gopāreśvara;

The Tīrtha named Maṇināgeśvara; the confluence of Maṇinadī; Tilakeśvara Tīrtha; Gautameśa thereafter;

The Mātṛtīrtha there itself was described by the sage, O leading sages; Śaṅkhacūḍa; Kedāra; Pārāśara thereafter.

Bhīmeśvara; Candreśa; the confluence of Aśvavatī; Bahvīśvara; Nāradeśa; Vaidyanātha; Kapīśvara;

Kuṃbheśvara; Markaṇḍa; Rāmeśa; Lakṣmaṇeśvara; Megheśvara; Matsyakeśa; what is called Apsarā Hrada;

Dadhiskanda; Madhuskanda; Nandikeśa; Vāruṇa; Pāvakeśvara Tīrtha; Kapileśvara;

61-70. The Tīrtha called Nārāyaṇa; the excellent Cakratīrtha; the great Caṇḍāditya Tīrtha; the excellent Caṇḍikā Tīrtha;

The Tīrtha called Yamahāsa; the auspicious Gaṅgeśvara, what is called Nandikeśvara; what is named Naranārāyaṇa;

Naleśvara; Mārkaṇḍa; Śukla Tīrtha thereafter; the great Vyāseśvara Tīrtha there and Siddheśvara;

Koṭitīrtha; Prabhā Tīrtha; the excellent Vāsukīśvara; the confluence of Karañja; the excellent Mārkaṇḍeśvara;

The Tīrthas named Koṭīśvara, and Saṅkarṣaṇa; Kanakeśa; Manmatheśa; the Anasūyaka Tīrtha;

The meritorious confluence of Eraṇḍī; the splendid Mātṛtīrtha; the Tīrtha called Svarṇaśalākā; Aṃbikeśvara;

Karañjeśa; Bhārateśa; Nāgeśa; Mukuṭeśvara; Saubhāgyasundarī Tīrtha; the excellent Dhanadeśvara;

Rohiṇya; Cakratīrtha; what is called Uttareśvara; Bhogeśvara; Kedāra; Niṣkalaṅka thereafter;

Mārkaṇḍa; Dhautapāpa; Āṅgiraseśvara Tīrtha; the confluence of Kotavī; the meritorious Koṭitīrtha there;

The great Ayonija Tīrtha; the excellent Aṅgāreśvara; Skānda; Nārmada; Brāhma; what is called Vālmīkeśvara;

71-80. Koṭitīrtha; Kapāleśa; Pāṇḍutīrtha; Trilocana Tīrtha, Kapileśa; Kaṃbukeśa; Prabhāsa; Kohaneśvara;

Indreśa; Vālukeśa; Deveśa; Śākra; Nāgeśvara; Gautameśa; the excellent Ahalyātīrtha;

Rāmeśvara; Mokṣatīrtha; Kuśeśvara and Laveśvara, Narmadeśa; Kapardīśa; Sāgareśa thereafter; the great Ghaurāditya Tīrtha; Aparayonija Tīrtha; Piṅgaleśvara Tīrtha, the excellent Bhṛgvīśvara;

Daśāśvamedhika Tīrtha; Koṭitīrtha, O excellent ones; Mārkaṇḍa; Brahmatīrtha; the excellent Ādivarāha;

The Tīrtha named Āśāpūra; Kaubera; Māruta; Varuṇeśa Yameśa; Rāmeśa; Karkaṭeśvara;

Śakreśa; Somatīrtha; the excellent Nandāhrada; the Vaiṣṇavacakra Tīrtha; the ones called after Rāma and Keśava;

Rukmiṇī Tīrtha; the excellent Śiva Tīrtha; Jayavārāha Tīrtha; the Tīrtha called Asmāhaka;

Aṅgāreśa; Siddheśa; Tāpeśvara thereafter; again the Tīrtha named Siddheśvara; Varuṇeśvara;

The meritorious Parāśareśvara; the excellent Kusumeśa; Kuṇḍaleśvara Tīrtha and Kalakaleśvara;

81-90. What is called Nyaṅkuvārāha; the excellent Aṅkola Tīrtha; Śvetavārāha Tīrtha; Bhargala; the excellent Saura Tīrtha;

Huṃkārasvāmi Tīrtha; the splendid Śukla Tīrtha; the confluence of Madhumatī; Saṅgameśvara Tīrtha;

Narmadeśvara; the confluence of three rivers; Anekeśvara Tīrtha; Śarbheśa named after Mokṣa;

The meritorious confluence of Kāverī; the Tīrtha called Gopeśvara; Mārkaṇḍeśa; Nāgeśa; the confluence of Udaṃbarī;

The Tīrtha called Sāṃbāditya and the confluence of Udambarī; Siddheśvara (Mārkaṇḍa) as well as that created by Siddheśvarī;

Gopeśa; Kapileśa; the excellent Vaidyanātha; Piṅgaleśvara Tīrtha; the great Saindhavāyatana;

The Tīrtha called Bhūtīśvara; thereafter Gaṅgāvāha; Gautameśvara Tīrtha and Daśāśvamedhika;

The meritorious Bhṛgutīrtha and the well known Saubhāgyasundarī; Vṛṣakhāta there itself; Keḍāra; Dhūtapātaka;

Dhūteśvarī Tīrtha; Eraṇḍī Saṅgama; Kanakeśvarī Tīrtha, Jvāleśvara Tīrtha thereafter;

The Tīrtha named Śālagrāma; the excellent Somanātha; Udīrṇavārāha Tīrtha; Candraprabhāsaka;

91-100. Dvādaśāditya Tīrtha; the Tīrtha that is named Siddheśvara; Kapileśvara Tīrtha, the auspicious Traivikarma Tīrtha;

The Tīrtha called Viśvarūpa; that which is created by Nārāyaṇa; Mūlaśrīpati Tīrtha; what is called Caulaśrīpati;

Devatīrtha; Haṃsatīrtha; the excellent Prabhāsa Tīrtha; Mūlasthāna; Kaṇṭheśa; the Aṭṭahāsa Tīrtha thereafter;

Bhūrbhuveśvara Tīrtha; the well known Śūlesvarī; Sārasvata; Dārukeśa; the excellent Tīrtha of Aśvins;

The unparalleled Sāvitrī Tīrtha; Vālakhilyeśvara; Narmadeśa; Mātṛtīrtha; the excellent Devatīrtha;

Macchakeśvara Tīrtha, the splendid Śikhitīrtha; O excellent sage, Koṭitīrtha and Mṛḍā named Koṭīśvarī;

The Tīrtha named Paitāmaha; (Tīrtha) called Māṇḍavyeśvara; Nārāyaṇeśa there; Akrūreśa thereafter;

Devakhāta; Siddharudra; the excellent Vaidyanātha; Matṛtīrtha; Uttareśa thereafter;

Narmadeśa; Mātṛtīrtha again; Kurarī Tīrtha; Ḍhauṇḍheśa; Daśakanyaka;

Suvarṇabindutīrtha; Ṛṇapāpapramocana; Bhārabhūteśvara Tīrtha; Muṇḍīśvara;

101-110. Ekaśāla; Ḍiṇḍipāṇi; the great Āpsarasa Tīrtha; Munyālaya; Mārkaṇḍa Tīrtha named Gaṇitā-Devatā;

Amaleśvara Tīrtha; Kantheśvara Tīrtha; Āṣāḍhī Tīrtha; Śṛṅgī Tīrtha;

Bakeśvara Tīrtha; Kapāleśa; Mārkaṇḍa; Kapileśa; the confluence of Eraṇḍī;

Eraṇḍī Devatā Tīrtha; Rāmatīrtha thereafter; the great Tīrtha of Jamadagni, the confluence of Revā and the ocean;

Loṭaṇeśvara Tīrtha; Tīrtha named Luṅkeśa; Vṛṣakhāta Kuṇḍa also, O excellent sages;

Haṃseśvara; Tilāda; Vāsaveśvara; Koṭīśvara Tīrtha; the excellent Alikā Tīrtha; Vimaleśvara Tīrtha in the confluence of Revā and the ocean.

Thus the highly meritorious series of the Tīrthas has been described by me, O great sages. The meritorious pearl necklace of the Tīrthas has been wreathed through the string in the form of the banks.

It is purified by the waters of Narmadā. It has been made by Mārkaṇḍeya for embellishing good people and for the welfare of all the worlds.

It suppresses the darkness of sins. It should always be worn by the seekers of piety. By repeating this once, sin committed in the course of a day and night is destroyed.

By repeating this three times, the sin arising in the course of a month is destroyed. By repeating it before Śiva, sin committed in the course of three months is destroyed. By repeating it for a month, sin of a year is destroyed and by repeating it for a year, sin of a hundred years is destroyed.

111-113. If a devotee recites the meritorious series of the Tīrthas, standing before Brāhmaṇas taking food at the time of Śrāddha, he would be on a par with one who performs Gayāśrāddha.

If he recites this with faith in front of the deities at the time of worship, he will delight all the Devas and sanctify the entire family.

Thus the meritorious series of Tīrthas situated on the banks of Revā has been recounted by me, O sinless excellent sages. Listen further.