The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Creation of Dhara Tirtha which is chapter 170 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the one hundred seventieth chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 170 - Creation of Dhārā Tīrtha
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Sūta said:
1-4. Further, O Brāhmaṇas, another wonderful incident occurred there. That Śakti was discharged towards Vasiṣṭha by Viśvāmitra for the purpose of killing that saintly Brāhmaṇa. It was rendered motionless and steady by the intelligent Vasiṣṭha through the Atharvaṇa Mantras. Then he began to perspire profusely.
The sweat flowed down as cool water. When it flowed out of the feet it appeared visible like a cool stream of water that had broken through the ground. It was devoid of impurities. It flowed like the crystalline clean Gaṅgā water.
5. Gaṅgā herself appeared accompanied by all the Tīrthas. The Kuṇḍa was filled with water. It was auspicious and cool.
6. Even in the terrible Kaliyuga, O Brāhmaṇas, a barren woman who takes her holy bath therein shall immediately be blessed with a son.
7. Anyone else who takes his bath there shall obtain the benefit of all the Tīrthas.
8. A man who takes the bath and then duly visits the goddess, shall obtain wealth, food-grain, sons and the happiness arising from a kingdom.
9. Even an unfortunate barren woman shall become endowed with sons. On the eighth lunar day in the bright half of Caitra she should offer a ball (Piṇḍikā) of oblations with great devotion at the time of Mahāniśā (between its second and third watches).
10. She may offer it herself or through a joyous virgin. A woman who grasps the Piṇḍikā of oblations also gets the benefit.
11. If a woman of advanced age of even a hundred years eats the Piṇḍikā she shall become endowed with sons.
12. This is all the more so in the case of youthful women enjoying conjugal felicity? Any woman merely by means of the sight (Darśana) of the goddess gets the happiness of having sons.
13. She is the hereditary deity of the fifty-two and eight Gotras of all Nāgaras. She is the deity remembered through devotional fervour.
14. For this reason the religious procession (Yātrā) performed by Nāgaras is more effective. Without the Yātrā performed by Nāgaras, the goddess of Suras does not become pleased.