Chapter 36 - Greatness of Citreśvarī Pīṭha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1-4. Do describe to us the extent and the power of this Pīṭha named Citreśvara created by Sage Agastya.

Sūta said:

O Brāhmaṇas, it is impossible to describe the greatness of that Pīṭha in the course of a thousand years by ten thousands of mouths.

Hundreds and thousands of Yogins of esteemed holy vows, fully endowed with meditation, have attained Siddhi there.

Within a day Yogins certainly attain that Siddhi which is attained in other Pīṭhas after practice for a year.

5. One who, with ardent faith, performs the Japa of Atharvaṇa Mantras certainly attains the entire fruit stated in the Mantras.

6. A man who is desirous of a son and performs the Japa of Pulliṅgas (masculine names) shall obtain desired sons though he may be old.

7. A man desirous of sons should recite the Grabhopaniṣad there. He shall beget sons even by cohabiting with barren women.

8. If a devotee recites Śatarudriya with the aim of the destruction of enemy hosts in that Pīṭha, his enemies meet with destruction immediately.

9. A man who recites Vāmadevya Sāman for the sake of protection from evil spirits, ghosts and vampires and the like shall be rid of all torments.

10. A man who performs the Japa of the Ṛk beginning with ko’dāt. While meditating upon a virgin of his choice shall undoubtedly obtain her.

11. If a devotee constantly recites IMAM DEVĀ for gaining favour of the king, he shall have the favour of the king unhindered.

12. O Brāhmaṇas, if a person recites the Mantra TAM PATNĪBHIḤ for getting his own wife’s affection, his wife shall be a chaste lady with abundance of love for him.

13. If one performs the Japa of Aditi for obtaining the blessings of people, he will have a profitable affection of the people.

14. O Brāhmaṇas, if a man seeking wealth repeats Śrī Sūkta there, riches will move unto him from all directions.

15. If a devotee performs the Japa of the Sāman Mantra bhūmi for the sake of realm there, that man shall certainly be the lord of earth even if he is of low birth.

16. If a man for the sake of vehicles performs the Japa of the Rathantaram Sāman there, he obtains splendid and swift vehicles.

17. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, if a devotee who seeks elephants repeats the Mantra gaṇānām etc. there, that man obtains elephants that flood the ground with their ichor.

18. If a man repeats the Mantra na tadrakṣa etc. for the sake of security, he will obtain it from everywhere when chances are favourable or adverse.

19. One who repeats with concentration and mental purity the excellent Ṛk beginning with saptarsayaḥ for the destruction of ailments, is rid of ailments.

20. If people oppressed by malefic Planets perform the Japa of the Mantra beginning with yadubhī there, undoubtedly the Planets become favourable to them.

21. If a man assailed by the affliction of evil spirits repeats the Bṛhat Sāman, the evil spirits and even the god of Death becomes like a father unto him.

22. If a person repeats the Śakuna (pertaining to omens) Sūkta for successful conclusion of his journey, he shall accomplish it even if he is impoverished.

23. If a man recites the Sarpa (pertaining to serpents) Sūkta for the destruction of serpents, they do not at all enter his abode.

24. One who is endowed with ardent faith and performs there the Japa of the Mantra beginning with uttistha for the purpose of quelling poison, will find that the poison is immediately dispelled.

25. Whether poison arises from an immobile being or a mobile being or if it is artificial, it goes away even when his name is uttered, like darkness at the rise of the Sun.

26. If a devotee with ardent faith, performs there the Japa of Vyāghra Sāman, pythons, tigers etc., become gentle in regard to him.

27. If a devotee performs there the Japa of the Mantra lāṅgalāni etc. for prosperous increase in agricultural work, even when the whole world is without rain, cultivation will be achieved by him.

28. For the destruction of Ītis (natural calamities) a man should perform there the Japa of the Mantra devavrata. Thereby, mere utterance Ītis get destroyed.

29. When the world is affected by drought a devotee should perform there the Japa of Pañcendra Mantra. If Homa is performed by himself with his own hands repeating those Mantras, there shall be the coming in (supply) of water.

30. If a man afflicted by thieves and robbers recites the Mantra beginning with daṃṣṭrābhyām, never will he be tormented by thieves.

31. For success in argument, a devotee should perform there the Japa of the Mantra beginning with saṃsṛṣṭam. Even if he is a sinner, he will win the argument.

32. For the sake of driving away enemies a man should perform the Japa of Rudraśiras. Thereupon his enemies with crooked intellect will abandon that land and go away.

33. For the enchantment of the enemies, a devotee should perform the Japa of Viṣṇusaṃhitā. His enemies will certainly be deluded and enchanted.

34. For the purpose of captivating people, a man should perform the Japa of Kūṣmāṇḍīḥ Mantra. Even enemies will be under his control, to say the least about young women etc.

35. For the purpose of stunning and paralysing enemies, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, a man with ardent faith should perform the Japa of Prājāpatya and Vāruṇa Mantras. All his enemies become paralysed by means of these Mantras.

36. O Brāhmaṇas, for the purpose of drying up things a man should perform the Japa of the Mantra kālī karālī etc. Whatever the man thinks about, he can dry it up entirely.

37. This Mantra was repeated by the noble-souled Agastya then. By means of the power thereof the Lord of Rivers was dried up by him.

38. Such is the power of the Pīṭha that causes the Siddhi of Mantras. It yields worldly pleasures also. It has now been described unto you.

39. One who desires heavenly pleasures, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, should perform there the rites of holy bath, Dāna and Śrāddha in particular.

40. If, on the other hand, one is detached and wishes for liberation from the ocean of worldly existence, let him be contented and free from all desires. Let that sensible man perform penance there.

The sages said:

41. The great efficacy of the Japa of the Mantras has been described by you. But, O Sūtaja, how does this Japa of the Mantras become fruitful.

Sūta said:

42. In this context I shall tell you what has been heard from my father (i.e. Lomaharṣaṇa). He was expounding this to Sage Durvāsas.

43. O Brāhmaṇas, formerly our father was asked by Durvāsas in regard to Mantravāda. This, you do listen, with great mental concentration.

Durvāsas said:

44. I have observed Vratas and am practising a certain desired Mantra. Do tell me the procedure as laid down in the Śāstras for its success.

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

45. O good sage, the practice of Mantras is painful and difficult affair unto all. It is likely to be obstructed and it is full of loopholes.

46. Hence, O Brāhmaṇa, if you desire fruitful result of the practice of Mantras, it behoves you to go to the holy spot of Camatkārapura.

47. Citreśvarīpīṭha thereof has been created by Agastya. It is said to be one that brings about achievement of the fruit of Mantras retained in the heart

48. Due to the boon granted by all the heaven-dwellers, there is no possibility of any loophole there. There is no hindrance or impediment there, O Brāhmaṇa, nor lack of fulfilment.

49. That Pīṭha belongs to all the four Yugas. It accords Siddhi unto those who stay there, in accordance with the Yuga and that too instantaneously. Hence I speak so, Brāhmaṇa.

50. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, if a person wishes to practise (Japa) of any Mantra, he should at the outset perform the Japa of that Mantra a hundred thousand times.

51. Thereby he becomes a Siddha, a man of purity qualified for the Mantra. Then, O tiger among Brāhmaṇas, he should repeat it four hundred thousand times. A tenth of that is the number of Homas performed in a well-kindled fire.

52-53. Thereby the Siddhi originating from that Mantra is certain. In regard to gentle activities, the Homa is done by means of white mustards, Jāti flowers and the feeding of Brāhmaṇas.

O leading Brāhmaṇa, in regard to violent activities, it is done by means of red flowers along with Guggula (aromatic resin). Virgins should also be propitiated. Then the Homa shall be fruitful.

54. This mode of practising Mantras mentioned by me, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, is to be adopted in Kṛtayuga and by all Sādhakas (aspirants).

55. In Tretā Yuga, the practice of Mantras is reduced by a quarter. It should be performed to the extent of a half in Dvāpara and a fourth in Kali Yuga.

56. After attaining the Mantra-Siddhi there in that Pīṭha a man should employ it and accomplish any task.

57. He shall become equipped with capacity to curse or to bless. He shall be brilliant. He cannot be conquered by any living being. He will become one approved of by good people.

Sūta said:

58. On hearing all the speech of my father that good sage came to Citreśvara Pīṭha.

59. There with ardent faith, he practised (mastered) all the Mantras in the due order in accordance with the injunctions laid down in the scriptural texts.

60. After a successful practice of the Mantras thus, he went to Camatkārapura, O Brāhmaṇas, in order to request the Brāhmaṇas for the sake of plots of land.