Chapter 52 - Greatness of Rudrakoṭi

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-3. Umā and Maheśvara were installed there by that king after building a great mansion (shrine) that gave pleasure to the eyes of righteous people.

In front of it, an auspicious holy Kuṇḍa (pit, small pond) was made and filled with clear water and adorned by clusters of lotuses.

A man who devoutly takes his holy bath there and visits (the idols) then, with mental concentration and purity, on the fourteenth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Māgha, is not reborn.

4. To the eastern side thereof and near Agastyakuṇḍa, there is a highly meritorious tank that destroys all sins.

5. A man who takes his holy bath therein on the eighth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Phālguna and observes fast, obtains all desired benefits.

6. River Kapilā flows on its southern side. It was there that Kapila attained Siddhi (spiritual perfection) through the practice of Sāṅkhya philosophy.

7. The region to the east of Kapilā is glorified as Siddhakṣetra (Holy land of those who have attained spiritual fulfilment). Formerly hundreds and thousand of Siddhas had attained fulfilment there.

8. A man who cherishing any desire performs penance there, shall certainly realize it within six months.

9-10a. Beneath it, O Brāhmaṇas, there is a splendid, square, Vaiṣṇavī slab. It whirls and is destructive of all sins. It is perpetually washed by the waters of the great river. It bestows salvation on men.

10b-12. River Sarasvatī flows in between Gaṅgā and Yamunā. The Triveṇī (three rivers) thus flows in front of it. It yields worldly pleasures and salvation.

If Brāhmaṇas are cremated on its banks they will certainly obtain salvation. A Goṣpada (cow’s foot) becomes visible in the ashes of their pyre. After seeing it, obsequies of dead Brāhmaṇas must be performed.

13. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Rudrakoṭi is to the northern side thereof. It is adored by noble-souled southern Brāhmaṇas.

14-15. The excellent Brāhmaṇas of the south had heard that the Consort of Umā was himself present in the form of a great Yogin in the holy place called Camatkārapura. Endowed with great faith and urged by curiosity ten million of them rushed in with a desire to visit the Lord.

16. Everyone of them said, “I will visit Lord Hara first.” They took oath thus on going there.

17. “The last person among these who visits the great Yogin Īśvara will become a sinner.”

18. Lord Maheśvara understood their intention and he was pleased with their devotion. So for their convenience and benefit, he established himself there in ten million forms.

19. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, he was thus visited very easily by all of them. Ever since then, that holy spot became well known as Rudrakoṭi.

20. Nārada was delighted on seeing this circle (multiplicity) of Rudras, O excellent Brāhmaṇas. Then he recited a verse on that event.

21. “Only blessed people on the earth will obtain (a view) of Rudrāvarta (Rudrakoṭī [Rudrakoṭi?]) on the fourteenth day of the months of Āṣāḍha, Kārttika, Māgha and Caitra.

22. Even after committing sins on the earth in the course of hundreds and thousands of births, a man shall be freed from those sins on viewing Rudrāvarta.

23. A man who goes to Rudrāvarta and views Hara, the Yogin Lord, on the fourteenth day in the bright half becomes certainly free from sins.”

24. O Brāhmaṇas, one who performs Śrāddha at Rudrāvarta, the city of the great Yogin, obtains the merit of a hundred Yajñas.

25. A man who observes fast and keeps awake at night (i.e. performs Jāgaraṇa) goes to heaven in an aerial chariot that can go wherever one pleases.

26. One who gifts a tawny-coloured cow to a Brāhmaṇa who preserves the holy sacred Fires (Āhitāgni) shall undoubtedly become a Gaṇa and a favourite of Hara.

27. If a devotee sits in front of the great Yogin and repeats the six-syllabled Mantra, he will get six times the merit of Rājasūya.

28. One who repeats Śatarudriya devoutly in front of the Lord, shall obtain the merit of reciting all the four Vedas.

29. A man who sings and/or dances in front of him (the Lord) shall undoubtedly obtain the merit of all Yajñas.”

30. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, after saying thus the sage horn of Brahmā (i.e. Nārada) stopped. Pleased much, he quickly proceeded on pilgrimage.