Chapter 267 - Importance of Tulāpuruṣadāna (Tulāpuruṣa-dāna)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Tulāpuruṣadāna is a Mahādāna. In this the donor is to weigh himself against gold or silver in the other pan of the balance and distribute it to Brāhmaṇas. For details see Matsya P. ch. 274. See also Hemādri’s Dāna Khaṇḍa.

Sūta said:

1-3. Hence, O great king, this Śivarātri is to be observed by a wise man desirous of getting the benefit of both the worlds.

Ānarta said:

The greatness of Maṅkaṇeśvara has been listened to by me in its detail along with the celebration of Śivarātri as has been glorified by you. Now do describe to me entirely the glory of Siddheśvara in detail. O highly esteemed one, my eagerness is great.

Bhartṛyajña said:

4. O king, there is a Mahādeva shrine well-known as Siddheśvara. its origin has been listened to by you from my statement.

5. Now I shall tell you the fruit of a visit to that deity. It is the same as accrues to an emperor when he makes a gift of his entire kingdom.

6. The gift called Tulāpuruṣa (donating gold or silver equal to one’s own weight) there, is being praised, O king. One who desires imperial power over the entire earth should make such a gift.

Ānarta said:

7. O great sage, tell me in detail the procedure for the Dāna called Tulāpuruṣa, that has been so glorified.

Bhartṛyajña said:

8-10. The proper time for Tulāpuruṣadāna is the event when a solar or lunar eclipse occurs, the two main transits of the Sun take place, the equinoxes and the waning of the Moon (i.e. the New Moon) occur. People praise the gift of Tulāpuruṣa in a holy spot.

The said gift is to be made to Brāhmaṇas of great self-control, good people who regularly practice the study of the Vedas, O king! They should be free from defects. The gift is not to be restricted to a single individual at all. It should be distributed among many.

11. A beautiful pavilion should be constructed by a wise person (the donor). It should be sixteen hands in extent. The place selected should be holy and pure and level with a declivity towards the north-east.

12. The Vedi (Altar) should be made in the centre. Its width should be four Hastas (hands), and the height, one Hasta of the donor.

13. Four Kuṇḍas (holy pits) should be dug in the four quarters. Each of them should be four Hastas in depth and one Hasta in girth.

14. On the north-eastern corner a splendid Vedi should be made. It should have a width of a Hasta and the height should be one Ratni (half of a Hasta, a span).

15. Two Ṛtviks should be placed in each quarter. They shall be posted in due order viz. two Bahvṛcas (Ṛgveda), two Adhvaryus (Yajurveda), two Chāndogas (Sāmavedins) and two Atharvaṇas).

16. The Homa to deities should be performed by them silently and with great concentration. O king, they should perform Japa in accordance with their capacity with Mantras signifying their purpose.

17. Two pillars are to be erected to the south and the north of the Vedi. The pillars should be four Hastas above the ground and they go down to one Hasta in the ground.

18-19. In the middle thereof one should fit in a log very firmly. This log should be of the same timber as that of the pillar. Eight different types of timber are recommended much for the purpose of a pillar, O excellent king, viz. Candana, Khadira, Bilva, Aśvattha, Tinduka, Devadāru, Śrīparṇī or Vaṭa.

20. The balance should have two pans and it should be placed therein. The devotee should have had his bath. He must be clad in white garments. He should wear garlands of white flowers and smear himself with white unguents.

21. At the outset he must adore the Guardians of the Quarters around in due order. Thereafter, he should worship the pillars with sweet scents, garlands and unguents.

22-23. O excellent king, he should adore the balance too and then recite the Punyāhavācana Mantras. The householder then keeps all his weapons on his person, stands at the western extremity (pan); facing the East with great faith with the palms joined in reverence he should utter this Mantra:

24-25. “It is the daughter of Brahma resorting permanently to the greatest truth. It is Kāśyapī by lineage and is well-known by the name Tulā.

O Tulā, you are the very truth by your very name. I shall make my desire auspicious. Be pleased now and be present.”

26-27. Thereafter, he gets on to one of the pans. O excellent king, he then places on the other pan what he has already thought of and collected together to the extent of his capacity for the purpose of the gift.

28-29. He then mentally approaches (thinks of) the deity loved remaining on the pan itself. He then drops a little water along with gingelly seeds, raw rice grain and gold in accordance with injunctions for the deity. He then gets down and distributes everything to the Brāhmaṇas.

30. Listen with attention to the fruit that is going to be obtained.

31. By the power of the Dāna, this man gets rid of all the sins committed (by him) knowingly or unknowingly.

32. O excellent king, as a result of the Puruṣadāna only that much of the sin already committed earlier is dissolved,

33. The Dāna pertaining to the weighing in the balance has been enjoined as Puraścaraṇa (preparatory rite) in the case of lordly ones afraid of physical strain.

34. This was performed by Dilīpa, Kārtavīrya, Pṛthu, Purukutsa and other kings as well, O king.

35. This Tulāpuruṣadāna is destructive of all torments. This is praiseworthy and meritorious. It grants to men all their cherished desires.

56. One will never have anxieties and ailments. Widowhood is averted. There will never be misery due to sickness. O excellent king, one will never be separated from one’s kinsmen. This has been cited as the fruit of offering Tulāpuruṣadāna.

37. O excellent king, it is impossible to express adequately the benefit that may accrue in Kali Age when Tulāpuruṣadāna is performed.

58. If a devotee approaches Lord Dakṣiṇāmūrti, O king, and offers it before Lord Siddheśvara, the benefit is thousandfold.

39. Hence, a man of discrimination should perform Tulāpuruṣadāna by all means after approaching Lord Siddheśvara.

40. On one side are all the Tīrthas, all the shrines, mentioned by the Self-born Lord in the holy spot of Hāṭakeśvara, and on the other is Siddheśvara, the most excellent of all Suras. O excellent King, if he is seen, touched and adored, the man obtains the benefit of all (in the manner) glorified.