Chapter 93 - Greatness of Gomukha Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-3. Then, there is another excellent Tīrtha named Gomukha. It is destructive of all sins. The name was obtained on account of (its resemblance to) the face of a cow.

Formerly there was a Brāhmaṇa cowherd in Camatkārapura. He was afflicted with leprosy and was utterly emaciated.

Once upon a time, a herd of cows came that way at midday when the Moon was in conjunction with the Citrā constellation.

4. It was the eleventh lunar day. The Sun was in the zodiac of Taurus. The herd was extremely thirsty. One of the cows saw from a distance a blue spot excessively dark in colour. She was highly delighted.

5. She dug it up with her teeth, O Brāhmaṇas, and pulled it (the grass) quickly. A current of water flowed through the passage of the roots.

6. The cow grazed the grass and confidently drank the tasty water that was like milk.

7. Even as the cow drank the water rapidly, a deep and wide pit took shape on the. ground. It was filled with water.

8. Thereafter, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, hundreds of other cows also drank the pure nectar-like water as she did when distressed with thirst.

9. As the cows went on drinking the water, the pit grew in size due to the contact with the mouths of the cows.

10. As the entire herd of the cows quenched their thirst, the thirsty cowherd too entered the water-pond.

11. He washed his body, drank the water and quickly came out of the water. He then saw his body as lustrous as a group of twelve Suns.

12. He was wonder-struck. After going to his abode he mentioned the incident fully to all the people.

13. He told them how the clump of grass was pulled out by the cow with force, how the water gushed out and how he plunged therein.

14. On seeing the divine water-pond, all men, especially those who were diseased, took their holy bath with great mental concentration and purity.

15. They were rid of their ailments and sins instantly. Freed from sins, they went to heaven at the same moment.

16. Ever since then that Tīrtha became well-known by the name Gomukha, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, because it originated through the mouth of a cow.

17. Thereafter, the Thousand-eyed One observed that it yielded heavenly pleasures to men without any pain or exertion on their part. He became afraid thereby and filled it with dust particles.

The sages said:

18. What was the cause of such a flow of water from that place? O son of Sūta, do narrate it to us.

Sūta said:

19. Here king Aṃbarīṣa had performed a penance. Formerly when he was overwhelmed by the bereavement of his son, the Garuḍa-emblemed Lord was propitiated by him.

20. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, somehow he begot a son during his old age. This son was very well-known as Suvarcas.

21. Even as a child that son was afflicted with the foul disease of leprosy as a result of his previous Karinas. He caused much distress to his father and mother.

22. Thereupon, the king went to that holy spot that yielded desired benefits. On behalf of his son, he performed a great penance to get rid of his ailment.

23. Janārdana became pleased. He himself granted his vision and spoke graciously these words:

24. “O dear one, I am very much pleased with you. Request for whatever is desired by you in your heart. Dear son, undoubtedly I shall grant you the boon.”

The king said:

25. O Keśava, this well-esteemed son of mine has become afflicted with leprosy, though he is still a young boy. Do get his leprosy cured completely.

Śrī Bhagavān said:

26. He was formerly a king named Meghavāhana. He was a person who esteemed Brāhmaṇas. He was grateful. He had mastered all the scriptural texts.

27. Once a Brāhmaṇa entered his female apartment for adultery. He was therefore killed (by the king).

28. When he saw him in the morning after the sunrise, with a sacred thread, he realized that he was a Brāhmaṇa.

29. He was certain that he was a Brāhmaṇa. He got distressed and became disgusted with his own action. He went to the city of Kāśī later and performed a penance with great concentration and mental purity.

30. He installed his son in the kingdom. After becoming utterly disgusted with worldly life, he observed all restraints and restricted his diet to the alms he received by begging.

31-32. In due course of time he reached Yama’s abode. Though he was otherwise sinless, he had all the signs of having committed Brāhmaṇa-slaughter. So the king in his rebirth became a leper even in his childhood. In the case of men who appear in the world suffering from leprosy, it is certain that Brāhmaṇa’s slaughter was committed by them in the previous birth.

33. One who goes to the holy place of Hāṭakeśvara and performs Śrāddha unto all the Pitṛs shall be free from indebtedness to them.

34. The fell disease of leprosy afflicts none except’those who committed the slaughter of a Brāhmaṇa. Even as I say this, O king, know that this is the truth.

Aṃbamrīṣa said:

35. It is for this, O Lord of Suras, that you have been worshipped by me. If you are pleased, O Lord of Devas, there is nothing which cannot be achieved on the earth.

36. On being told thus by him, Lord Madhusūdana remembered through his mental absorption the water of the Jāhnavī of nether-worlds.

37. On being meditated upon thus by the powerful Viṣṇu, she suddenly made a subtle crevice and gushed through it instantly.

38-39. Then the Four-armed Lord spoke these words to Aṃbarīṣa: “Let your son dive into this extremely meritorious water of the Jāhnavī. Thereby he shall instantly be rid of the leprosy as well as the major and minor sins of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter.”

40. At the same time, the king brought his son and made him bath in the waters thereof in the very presence of the Lord having Śārṅga as his bow.

41. Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, immediately after his bath, the boy was rid of the fell disease of leprosy. He attained the refulgence of the morning Sun.

42. Thereafter, O Brāhmaṇas, he bowed down to the Lord with great joy. Then he went to his abode along with his son.

43. When the king went away along with his son Hari instantly filled up that hole lest anyone should see it.

44. It is for this reason that the water that had formerly dispelled all sins became manifest once again through the mouth of the cow.

45. Even today, if anyone on the earth gets himself sanctified by touching that water and takes the holy ablution on a Sunday at the time of sunrise, all ailments of his such as goitre (enlargement of the thyroid etc.) become destroyed.

46. Other ailments of very terrible symptoms, such as scabies, itches etc., swellings etc., arising from contact etc., become destroyed.

47. A man having no desire, who takes his holy bath devoutly there shall go to the world of the Discus-bearing Lord of Devas.

48-50. The day on which Gaṅgā was brought by Viṣṇu coincided with the transit of the Sun to the zodiac of Taurus; the Moon was in the Citrā constellation. It was the eleventh lunar day, that of the Sārṅga-bowed Lord of Devas. On the day (i.e. eleventh day in the bright half of Vaiśākha) when the clump of grasses was pulled out by the cow’s mouth, the Yoga (combination) of the Planets etc.., was the same.

Hence, anyone who takes his holy bath there on any similar day with great devotion shall obtain the benefit thereof.