Chapter 133 - Origin of Ajāgṛhā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: For protecting his subjects against diseases, Aja converted them as goats and kept them confined in a fold. Once a Brāhmaṇa-pilgrim ignorantly slept there and contracted leprosy. King Aja performed penance and propitiated the Kṣetra Devatā. The Devatā advised the Brāhmaṇa to take a bath in the Candra Kūpikā nearby which cured his disease. Hence the Devatā came to be known as Ajāgṛhā.

Sūta said:

1. Further, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, there is another deity there well-known as Ajāgṛhā. It is destructive of all ailments.

2. When Ajāpāla who was engaged in what is beneficial to all the worlds, was the king, O Brāhmaṇas, all the ailments used to go away in the form of goats. He used to bring them back during the night and place them at that holy spot.

3. The place being their (of the ailments) resort came to be remembered as Ajāgṛha. By visiting it once, people residing on the surface of the earth, get (their) ailments destroyed.

4. I shall recount unto you all, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the Aiśvarya (lordly glory) that existed there formerly. It should be listened to with great concentration.

5. A certain Brāhmaṇa in the guise of a sage came to that holy spot in the course of his pilgrimage. He came there at night and he was awfully tired.

6. He saw that a flock of goats was kept there comfortably. They were chewing the cud in a carefree manner without any fear from aṇy quarter.

7-9. He knew that undoubtedly some person must be present there. Cattle or beasts are not kept at night in a desolate forest. He repeatedly shouted at the sky but there was no response. He went to sleep thinking: ‘Certainly for the protection of these animals some man should soon come from somewhere. So I shall stay here fearlessly.’

10. While he was asleep thus in utter exhaustion, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, the night passed off quickly.

11. In the morning when he looked all over his body, he found it covered by leprosy and other ailments.

12-13. He was unable to move even a step from that place. He became lustreless on account of the terrible ailments. He began to think: ‘What is the cause? My body has become like this suddenly with this ailment. I am unable to move.’

14. Even as that Brāhmaṇa was thinking thus, a person resembling twelve suns in lustre came there instantly.

15. He called and grouped that flock naming them specifically. He had a stick in his left hand and he was separating them.

16. Then he saw that Brāhmaṇa completely overpowered by ailment and unable to move anywhere. Then he spoke to him respectfully.

17-19. “O excellent Brāhmaṇa, who are you and whence have you come to this spot in such a plight? In my kingdom clearly no one suffers from any disease anywhere. I am a king named Aja. Perhaps you have heard about me. For the sake of the people, I segregate the ailments in the form of goats. Hence, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, tell me what is the sickness that has overcome your body? Tell me so that I can control it.”

The Brāhmaṇa said:

20. I am engaged in pilgrimage. I am wandering all over the earth. In due course, I have come to this holy place of Hāṭakeśvara.

21-22. O excellent king, I came here at nightfall. On seeing these animals, O King, I thought there should be human beings around and decided to stay here. O king, I went to sleep by the side of these animals.

23. When it dawned, I saw my body completely covered with leprosy and other ailments.

24. In fact I do not know of any other cause. Let it go, O excellent king. Why should we talk much? Do something so that my body shall be free from disease.

25. The Ailments were told by King Ajāpāla: “By whom was my command broken? Who should be killled by me?”

The Ailments said:

26. O king, do not be angry at all in this matter wherein this Brāhmaṇa has now been assailed by three Ailments.

27. The three Ailments, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, are consumptive disease, leprosy and scabies. All these three defects (diseases) are proclaimed till today as contagious.

28. The first two of these Ailments are remembered as irremediable either through medicines or through Mantras. The others can be destroyed.

29. There is curse of Brahmā on these two. Hence there is no question of their removal. O excellent king, do whatever is within your power in this matter.

30. O king, all these three have been touched by this Brāhmaṇa. Hence undoubtedly these have entered his body.

31. Further, O king, listen these words issuing from our mouths for the benefit of all creatures and for increasing your glory.

32. O king, a permanent spot had been made there on the ground where excreta have been dropped (by the goats). Therefore, the ground has been broken down and rendered uneven immediately.

33. Even on later occasions, those men who come to this region and touch the ground will become like this.

34-35. We, the remaining ailments, O great king, are amenable to Mantras and medicinal herbs. We should be set free by you, not these two uncontrollable ones cursed by Brahmā.

36-37. On hearing it the king too settled down in that place. He told the Brāhmaṇa again: “O Brāhmaṇa, you should not be afraid. I will protect you from this gruesome disease. At my behest, therefore, wait here for some time.”

38. After saying thus he performed very great penance for that purpose, propitiating the presiding deity of the holy spot perfectly with great devotion.

39. O Brāhmaṇas, he untiringly recited the various Sūktas of Atharvaśīrṣa such as Muṇḍa, Kṣetrapālottha and Vāstusūkta.

40. The king performed Homa with white mustard and red flowers rendered well fragrant with incense. Then he (recited) the Nīlarudra Sūktas particularly.

41-42. The presiding deity of that holy spot, the goddess attracted by the Mantras, pierced the earth towards the close of the night at the conclusion of the Homa and came out. She spoke to the king:

43-44. “O king, by the power of this Homa of yours, I have risen up from the surface of the earth. I am the only one remembered as the presiding deity of this holy spot. Hence, O highly esteemed one, tell me. What task of yours shall I carry out? I have attained the greatest pleasure. Hence, speak out what is desired by you.”

The king said:

45. O goddess, you must stay particularly in this holy spot forever so that the defects of this land arising from the contact of the ailments, may disappear.

46-47. From now onwards, O goddess of Devas, let this policy be adopted. Otherwise men will become afflicted with diseases due to contagion, like this Brāhmaṇa seen in front. For a long time these diseases were contained by me here. Otherwise it would undoubtedly be a fault of mine.

48. Further, O goddess of Suras, let this Brāhmaṇa be rid of this disease, with your favour. You must stay in this place forever.

The Kṣetra Devatā said:

49. The entire spot has been rendered free from the blemish of disease by me. I shall stay here forever.

50. Whoever comes here afflicted with sickness and worships me devoutly, will become free from sickness.

51. Hence, let this leading Brāhmaṇa respectfully worship me today. He must possess great devotion. He must be clean. He must have great concentration and mental purity.

52. There is another quite well-known well in this holy spot named Candrakūpikā. O king, let him duly take his holy bath therein everyday.

53. It was formerly dug up by Candra cursed by Dakṣa. The noble-souled one afflicted with the consumptive disease wanted this for the sake of his own holy ablution.

54. There is another deity stationed there named Khaṇḍaśilā. Let the Brāhmaṇa take the holy bath in the Saubhāgyakūpikā and then visit the deity.

55. This well was dug formerly be Kāmadeva who was afflicted with leprosy. He did it with great respect for his own ablution as well as for the destruction of leprosy.

56. O excellent king, there is a Kuṇḍa (holy pit) of Apsarās also here. One who bathes therein on a Sunday gets rid of scabies.

Sūta said:

57. Then the Brāhmaṇa went to the very sacred Candrakūpikā, took his bath and worshipped that goddess with devotion for a period of one month. Then he was immediately relieved of the consumptive disease.

58. Then he visited Saubhāgyakūpikā made by Kāma. After taking his holy bath, he visited Khaṇḍaśilā.

59. As before, he did this for a month and was rid of leprosy, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, by the power of the goddess as well as of the Kūpikā in particular.

60. Then on a Sunday, he took bath in the Kuṇḍa of Apasrās. He was rid of scabies like one immersed in worldly pleasures (but) who is rid of them by means of knowledge and good sense.

61. Then that Brāhmaṇa gained a lustre like that of twelve suns. He became extremely pleased. He gave a blessing to the king.

62. He bowed repeatedly to those two deities. On being permitted by the king, he went to the land of his choice.

63. The king realized the defect of the diseases in the form of the goats. On seeing the Brāhmaṇa healthy he became glad.

64. He himself went to the place where the Lord of Hāṭakeśvara was present in his own body accompanied by his beloved.

65. Since the presiding deity of the holy spot was stationed in Ajāgṛha, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, she became well known everywhere as Ajāgṛhā.

66. Even today a consumptive patient who worships well that goddess in accordance with the injunction shall quickly become rid of the sickness.