Chapter 169 - Greatness of Dhārā Devī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1-5. Why is she well-known all over the earth by the name Dhārā? Why is she said to be the deity specially delighting the Nāgaras?

Sūta said:

Formerly, there was an ascetic woman well-known by the name Dhārā in Camatkārapura. She was an excellent Brāhmaṇa lady, a chaste Nāgara woman. Formerly, she was a close friend of the highly intelligent Arundhatī.

When she (Arundhatī) came at the outset to the splendid Camatkārapura along with Vasiṣṭha in order to take her holy bath in Śaṅkhatīrtha, she had met the lady who eschewing all food was performing a penance with the sole intake of air. The lady endowed with a divine physical form was standing on the tip of her big toe.

The chaste lady was asked by Arundhatī: “Who are you? O splendid lady, whose daughter are you? Why are you practising this severe penance? O splendid lady, do tell me.”

Dhārā said:

6. I am daughter of a Nāgara Brāhmaṇa named Devaśarman. I became a widow during even childhood.

7. On hearing the greatness of Śaṅkha Tīrtha and that of Śaṅkheśvara, I permanently settled here engaged in propitiating the same deity.

Arundhatī said:

8. Merely at your sight I am having a great affection for you. Hence, do come. Let us go to my splendid penance-grove.

9. On the splendid banks of Sarasvatī that is destructive of all sins, stay there with me devoted to the discussion of the scriptural topics.

10. After taking the permission of her father, mother and kinsmen, the ascetic lady started along with her (Arundhatī).

11. Their friendship continued for a long time. Once that Śakti too came there.

12. (You may remember that) she had been created by Viśvāmitra for killing Vasiṣṭha. She was rendered paralysed by

Vasiṣṭha and turned into a goddess worthy of being adored by Devas and human beings. The splendid deity accorded protection unto all.

13. A palace (-like shrine) comparable to the peak of Kailāsa was built by Dhārā unto the deity, O Brāhmaṇas. It was wonderfully inlaid with different kinds of Jewels.

14. Then the ascetic lady eulogized the goddess:

15. “O supreme Brāhmī, obeisance to you. O Dhārā Yoga (Yoga of continuous flow), obeisance, obeisance. O greatest void! O half of a Mātrā! O Supreme Śūnya! A moiety of half thereof! Obeisance to you.

16. Obeisance to you, O basic support of the universe. Obeisance to you, O support of all living beings. Obeisance to you, O deity with eyes resembling lotus petals Obeisance to you, O deity lustrous like gold.

17. Obeisance to you, O deity having the Leonine vehicle. Obeisance to you, O deity of great arms. Obeisance to you, O deity granting the desire of Devas. Obeisance to you, O destroyer of the Daityas.

18. Obeisance to you, O deity with a shattered head and a body assailed by Ṃahiṣa. Obeisance, O deity liking to stay in Vindhya to whom liquor and meat are the favourite oblations.

19. You are Lakṣmī; you are Śacī; you are Gaurī; you are Siddhi (perfect achievement). You are Vibhāvarī (night, excellent in lustre). You are Svāhā. Your are Svadhā. You are Tuṣṭi (Satisfaction) You are Puṣṭi (Nourishment). You are the goddess of Suras.

20. O goddess, you are in the from of Śakti. You are the cause of creation and dissolution. All these, the entire group of the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings, are seen in you.

21-22. Just as oil latent in gingelly seed, ghee present in curd and fire present in wood are all well concealed and cannot be seen, so also, O goddess of Devas, you cannot be perceived though you are omnipresent.”

Sūta said:

23. She continued her adoration day after day for many years, remembering the great goddess through this important prayer.

24. Once, on the eighth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Caitra, the deity was bathed in the river and adored.

25. After offering the oblations and performing the worship she eulogized the goddess by means of the prayer quoted above. Thereupon, the deity manifested herself and she spoke to the ascetic woman:

26. “Dear daughter, welfare unto you. I am pleased at this eulogy, O sinless one, choose a boon. I shall give you the desired thing.”

Dhārā said:

27. O goddess, if you are pleased with me, if a boon has to be granted to me, then let my name be yours too only in this palace.

28-29. Another thing: If a Nāgara devotee circumambulates you three times, offers you three fruits, eulogizes you with this prayer and bows to you on that particular day, then for the period of the whole of that year, all his ailments should be prevented by you.

30. A barren woman-devotee should be blessed with sons. An unfortunate woman shall become a woman enjoying conjugal felicity; an ugly one should become beautiful; and a sick woman should be rid of her ailments. She must have every happiness.

The Devī said:

31. For the sake of enhancing your reputation I shall become well-known as Dhārā in the palace built by you. There is no doubt about it.

32-33. O ascetic lady, if a Nāgara comes here, makes three circumambulations and offers me three fruits, he shall be rid of all ailments for the period of a year.

After saying thus the goddess vanished.

34. Dhārā stayed there permanently accompanied by Arundhatī. Even today she is visible in the sky very near her (Arundhatī).

35. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, one who glorifies this story of the origin of Dhārā or listens to it shall be rid of the sins of that day.

36. Hence, it should be read with all efforts and listened to with great devotion by every one, especially by the Nāgaras.