Chapter 103 - Greatness of Ānartaka Tīrtha Kūpikā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1. O Sūtaputra, you have said that Liṅgas were installed by the Rākṣasas as well as the monkeys. This is indeed surprising.

2- Hence do narrate it in detail where and how the (particular) Liṅgas were installed by them. What were the holy spots where they installed these?

Sūta said:

3. Sugrīva wandered over the entire holy spot and reached Bālamaṇḍanaka. There he took his holy bath with great mental concentration and purity. He installed the Mukhaliṅga of the Trident-bearing Lord there.

4. Similarly, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Mukhaliṅgas of the Trident-bearing Lord were installed by all the other monkeys as they wished, as their respective tokens.

5. One who applies Ghṛtakaṃbala (coating the Liṅga with ghee) to those Mukhaliṅgas with the Sun in the zodiac Capricorn, goes to Śivaloka.

6. Then, O Brāhmaṇas, in the western area of that holy place four-faced Liṅgas were installed by the Rākṣasas.

7. In the eastern area, five palaces (temples) were erected with great devotion by Rāma. They are destructive of all sins.

8. Similarly a Kūpikā (small well) was dug by him in the southern area near the Ānartīya lake. It is destructive of sins.

9. One who performs Śrāddha there in the course of Dakṣiṇāyana (southern transit of the Sun) obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice and is honoured in the world of Pitṛs.

10. O Brāhmaṇas, one who offers oil-lamps there in the month of Kārttika never sees the twenty-one dreadful Narakas. Wherever he is reborn, he never becomes blind.

The sages said:

11. By whom was that Ānartīya lake made there? what is its power? O Sūtaputra, narrate this completely.

Sūta said:

12. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the greatness of Ānartiya [Ānartīya?] lake cannot be described adequately by means of a single mouth even in the course of hundreds of years.

13. With great mental concentration and purity, one should lake his holy bath on the fourteenth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Āśvina and duly offer libations to Devas and Pitṛs.

14. Then on the day of the Festivities of Lamps, he should perform Śrāddha with concentration, worship Dāmodara and Yama and then devoutly offer the lamp.

15. Dharmarāja should be worshipped with sweet scents, flowers and unguents. Pulses and gingelly seeds should be offered saying “May Govinda be pleased.”

16. By the offering of gingelly seeds and pulses and by the propitiation of Brāhmaṇas, Lord Puruṣottama along with Yama is pleased.

17. O Brāhmaṇas, one who does like this at the Tīrtha named Ānarta obtains the benefit of a horse-sacrifice and is honoured in the world of Brahmā.

18. On the day when Rāma very joyously reached that place, excellent Brāhmaṇas approached him. All of them respectfully said to him:

19. “O Raghunandana, the excellent Sage Agastya stays here. Do go and see that leading Brāhmaṇa born of Mitra and Varuṇa.”

20. On hearing their words, the lotus-eyed Rāma joyously went there immediately along with the monkeys and Rākṣasas.

21. Raghūttama bowed down to him and made Aṣṭāṅga (prostrating with eight limbs touching the ground) obeisance to him. The delighted noble-souled sage embraced him closely.

22. With palms joined in reverence, he sat on the ground humbly, not far from him.

23. On being asked by the sage, Rāma narrated in detail all the events connected with himself and his departure to heaven.

24. He narrated everything about how Sītā was banished by

himself, how Lakṣmaṇa gave up his life on being exiled by himself.

25. He told him how he went to Sugrīva and Vibhīṣaṇa; how he conversed with them; how they arrived there and how Puṣpaka became motionless.

26. Then Sage Agastya told him diverse wonderful stories of ancient saintly kings (who ruled) before him; citing many examples.

27. At the end of the narration, the sage observed that Raghūttama was emotionally upset. He then gave him an excellent ornament studded with jewels.

28. Such a jewel was never in the possession of even Devas, Yakṣas, Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Nāgas and leading Rākṣasas. No question of its being with humans arises.

29. From that ornament rainbow-like clusters of refulgence emerged in the thousands. Even during the night of the dark half its lustre resembling the solar light could be seen.

30-31. Rāma took it and gazed at it with eyes wide open with wonder. Out of curiosity he asked: “Where did you get this from, O sage? This necklace made of very wonderful jewels dispels darkness. There is no similar thing anywhere in all the three worlds. Tell me where you got this from.”

Agastya said:

32. O most excellent one among the descendants of Raghu, this excellent lake which you see near my hermitage is created by the Lord of Devas.

33. I shall tell you, O Raghunandana, a mysterious thing seen by me on its banks. Listen.

34. Once, O Rāghavaśreṣṭha, I got up at midnight and saw a sun-like refulgence passing through the sky.

35. It was an aerial chariot shining with groups of celestial damsels. There was a young main in the centre thereof. A blind king it was, riding therein. He was being eulogized by Kinnaras.

36. In physical charm he was like another Kāmadeva. He was wearing this pure jewel-studded ornament shining like twelve suns.

37. Getting down from the excellent aerial chariot, O Raghūdvaha, with the support of the shoulders of a divine messenger, he fame down to the water level.

38. He pulled up from the water a corpse of a man and immediately began to chew it with his teeth.

39. O Rāghava, even as he continued to eat the human flesh the body regained its original form once again.

40. After a long time, he became satisfied. Gladly he purified himself, got out of the water and was about to get into the Vimāna (aerial chariot).

41. By that time, I hastened to him out of curiosity. Even as he continued to be attended upon by the Gandharvas with keen intellect all round, I asked him:

42. “O excellent one among the travellers of aerial chariot, wait for a while. I am a Brāhmaṇa named Agastya, the son of Mitra and Varuṇa.”

43. On hearing it he faced me and bowed down to me along with all those attendants in the aerial chariot, Kinnaras and others.

44-45. The king bowed down and stood before me when I asked: “Who are you with such a glorious body, seated in an excellent aerial chariot? You are being attended upon by the celestial damsels, Gandharvas and Kinnaras. You have come to this lake and have eaten the human flesh! How did you get blind in the eyes?

The Vaimānika (Aerial Passenger) said:

46. Weill Well! O excellent sage. It is good that you have come to me. indeed Vidhi (Fate) is favourable to me as you have come.

47. The sight of saintly men (meeting with good men) is meritorious. Good men are indeed better than Tīrthas. The benefit of a Tīrtha is achieved in due course, but a contact with good men yields the fruit instantly.

48. Hence, O great sage, I shall narrate my story, how my diet came to be a despised thing despite such affluence and splendid riches.

49. O great sage, I was formerly a king named Sveta, the ruler of Ānarta. The sinner that I was, I harassed all the people.

50. Nothing was given as religious gift by me earlier. I never performed Homa in the sacred fire. Nor did I accord protection to people. Those who sought refuge in me were not saved by me.

51. Whenever I saw any jewel on the earth, I took possession

thereof forcefully. I took away everything belonging to any embodied person. ₉

52. After a long time I became overwhelmed with old age. My kingdom was seized with force by my own son. I became despised and was banished.

53. Overwhelmed with old age, I became disgusted with the world. O leading Brāhmaṇa, I wandered here and there and ultimately reached this place.

54. Parched in my throat with hunger and thirst, I took my bath in the auspicious water here. Afflicted with hunger I died as soon as I entered the water.

55. Since I entered the holy, meritorious water and died, an aerial chariot came there at the very instant.

56. The divine servants took me with them investing me with another body in the aerial chariot. They then proceeded towards the abode of Brahmā.

57. I wore divine garlands and clothes. I was smeared with divine scents and unguents. I had divine ornaments and I was eulogized by Kinnaras.

58. Thereafter, blind as I was, I was presented in front of Brahmā by those attendants of Devas in the centre of the assembly of Brahmā, without eyes, in the same form as before.

59. I was looked at with evident surprise on their faces by all those who were in the assembly. They looked at one another too. A few others censured me and uttered the word Dhik (“Fie upon youl”).

The Kinnaras said:

60. This is Lord Brahmā of four faces. This is his assembly. All the groups of Devas are here. Let him be bowed down to.

61. Then I made an humble bow to that Lord accompanied by Devas. I set in the middle of the assembly with the head lowered due to shame.

62-63. O Pot-born One, as the discourses of the Devas, Brāhmaṇas and kings on Dharma (righteousness) continued on the floor of the hall of the assembly, my hunger too kept on increasing. I knew I was even ready to gobble up stone or wood.

64. I gave up the feeling of shame, O excellent sage. After bowing down repeatedly, I said aloud to Prapitāmaha:

65-66. “O Prapitāmaha, hunger overwhelms me now. I am unable to see anything. Hence give me something to eat. There are no weaknesses like hunger and thirst felt by you here. How then do they harass me though I am stationed in Svarga?”

Pitāmaha said:

67. O evil-minded one, you never gave anyone any bit of food down there on the earth. Therefore you hunger goes on increasing here too.

68. Further, whatever gem or jewel you set your eyes on, you used to seize it. Hence you have become blind, though you have come to my world.

69. Listen to it attentively. I shall explain how you could come to my palace despite being very sinful.

70. The Lord of Śvetadvīpa is present in the water where you cast off your life. O sinner, The Lord abides there because he is afraid of Kali.

71. Since you touched that water, you are rid of all your sins. But one not giving food (to the hungry) gets afflicted with hunger.

72. Further due to the seizure of gems and jewels you incurred blindness. There is no other cause thereof. The truth has been mentioned by me.

73. Then, O excellent Brāhmaṇa. Brahmā was again addressed by me: “This Brahmaloka is no better than Naraka. Hence, O Lord send me there. What is here in this Brahmaloka?”

Brahmā said:

74. So you should have gone there! Why were you sent here? You cannot have a stay in Naraka even because of this Śvetadvīpa (where your sin is removed).

75. The greatness of the Śvetadvīpa would have perished. The scripture would have become untrue. Hence you remain here itself in the beautiful aerial car.

76. From here you go to that water tank riding in the aerial chariot—to the water tank where you had cast off your life. Then eat as you please your own body.

77. At my bidding that body within the water shall be

everlasting. You will gain vision (visual ability) as long as you continue to eat.

78. Ever since then, at his instance, I regularly come here at midnight on the day of the Festivity of Lights and eat my own body.

79. Then, remaining in this form, I feel satisfied for a divine day, that is to say for a human year.

80. O excellent sage, the storehouse of waters, the ocean, was turned into a handful of water and was drunk by you. There is nothing in all the three worlds, which cannot be accomplished by you.

81. Hence, O sage, take great pity on me and save me from this misdemeanour despised by all the worlds.

82. So, O excellent sage, grant me the gift of vision. I am disgusted with the state of blindness. I have no other place of refuge than you.

83. O Raghūttama, on hearing his words my mind melted with pity. Then I spoke these words:

84. “You give me this necklace in exchange for food. Thereby the hunger in your stomach will disappear.

85. Further, O wise one, from now onwards give the lamps of jewels of pure rays to Dāmodara on the banks of this very lake.

86. Thereby, at my instance, your vision shall be free from defects and permanent undoubtedly. I promise this solemnly on oath.

The king said:

87. O excellent sage, take pity on me and receive this excellent necklace studded with jewels.

88. Therefore, though I am a sage devoid of desire and I reside in the forest I accepted his gift because I was moved with pity.

89. Then he washed my feet and gave me this jewel in exchange for food, with great devotion. His soul became purified by good thought.

90. Then, O king, his hunger disappeared instantly. A satisfaction as though resulting from the divine nectar occurred within him.

91. His earlier body which became old and dried and later became everlastingly renewed in the water, disappeared forever.

92. Then, O most excellent one among the descendants of Raghu, he erected an excellent palace with great devotion, and installed Dāmodara at that holy spot.

93. With great faith, he offered regularly oil-lamps and his eyesight became clearer day by day.

94. Then within a month the king regained divine eyes. He became the most excellent king and the most likable one to good ones.

95. Then joyously he started towards heaven. He bowed down to me and with palms joined in reverence he spoke words choked with delight:

96-97. “O excellent Brāhmaṇa, with your favour the dreadful insatiable hunger of mine has vanished and I have regained divine vision. Permit me, O excellent sage, so that I can go to Brahmaloka, thanks to the power of this Tīrtha.”

98. Then he was sent away by me. After repeatedly bowing down to me he joyously went to the eternal Brahmaloka.

99. It was thus that his ornament came into my hands earlier. Realizing that this is worthy of you in every respect it has been given to you.

100. Ever since then, O great king, men regularly come here, take their holy bath here in the splendid waters in the month of Kārttika, offer lamps studded with jewels generously and go to the abode of Devas after death.

101. O Raghūttama, those with mental concentration and purity, who discard their life herein, go to Brahmaloka although they may be sinful.

102. On seeing the power of the holy water there the Thousand-eyed One (Indra) became agitated with fear and got it filled with dust particles.

103. Today happens to be the day of the Festivities of Oil Lamps. It is highly meritorious. At my bidding dig an excellent Kūpikā (well) here.

104. O Rāghava, take your holy bath therein and offer libations to the Pitṛs. Give excellent Ratnadīpas (jewel-studded oil-lamps) in front of the deity.

105. Thereby you will attain the Siddhi of reaching Brahmaloka with this very body. The truth has been told by me.

106. Then at the bidding of Rāghava all those Rākṣasas and monkeys dug Kūpikās containing waters devoid of impurities in that region.

107. They spent the entire month of Kārttikā there, taking holy baths, offering libations to the Pitṛs and placing Ratnadīpas. Then they started back to Ayodhyā.

108. Then by the power of that Tīrtha all of them except Vibhīṣaṇa and Hanumān, the monkey, went to Brahmaloka.