Chapter 16 - Origin of Sunandā and Other Mother Goddesses

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Now listen to the greatness of the Pātālavivara (Crevice leading to the nether worlds). O great goddess, this was already asked earlier by Brahmā, the creator of the Universe.

When there arose prevalence of darkness, Rākṣasas were born there too. They were innumerable, very powerful. All of them hated Sūrya.

They had Dhūmra as their leader. On seeing the noble-souled Divākara (Sun) rising, all of them immediately laughed at him: “Who is this perpetrator of evil deeds who may be our destroyer?” Standing before Sūrya, they spoke these and various other similar words.

5. On hearing this, the Lord got angry and his lips throbbed. Divākara appeared to swallow the words of the Rākṣasas.

6. Like a killer lion, the destroyer of darkness wanted to annihilate the cruel Rākṣasas. He looked at them with wrathful eyes.

7. Sūrya traversing the sky with great rays thought of killing them, but the Lord of heaven did not know the weak point of the Rākṣasas till the end.

8. Then he saw these ones fallen from Dharma, having minds overwhelmed with sins. After considering this, Lord Prabhākara began to meditate.

9. The Rajanīcaras (demons) came to know that the three worlds were swallowed (pervaded) by the splendour. Then they were looked at by Bhānu with eyes (as if) burning with anger.

10-11. Slipping down from the sky they fell like the planets with dwindling merit. Dhūmra surrounded by the Rākṣasas falling down from the sky, shone like a half ripe Tāla fruit surrounded by monkeys. They fell automatically like stones released from a machine.

12. Thereafter, they fell further, dislodged and carried off by the wind. After reaching Prabhāsa Kṣetra, they pierced through the earth and went to the nether worlds, O lady of excellent complexion.

13. It is there that Lord Arkasthala, the bestower of all Siddhis, is present. O goddess, the great Pātāla cavity is in its vicinity.

14-15. There were crores of other cavities but, O beautiful lady, they had become lost. Beginning with Kṛtasmara and ending with Arkasthala with the Sun as the deity in between these two, O goddess, is the holy place of Sūrya. Attaining the boon from Devamātṛ (i.e. Aditi) the eight Siddhis had set up there.

16. It is remembered, O goddess, as the middle part of the splendour of Sūrya. It is fully golden. No one without merit sees the place, O goddess.

17. O great goddess, a hundred and one cavities and crores of Sparśa gems (philosopher’s stones) are there, and Siddheśa guards them.

18. O great goddess, this holy spot is always dear to Sūrya. O my beloved, in the Sūrya Parva (festival day of Sun), it is more efficacious than Kurukṣetra.

19. Brāhmī, Hiraṇyā and the confluence of the great ocean, these three meeting places together, bestow the fruit of visiting Koṭitīrthas (a crore of Tīrthas).

20. The Devamātā and Maṅkīśā are there. So also it is cited that Nāgasthāna (holy spot of Nāgas) and Nagasthāna (holy spot of the mountains) are also there.

21. Thus the great origin of Arkasthala has been narrated. It is also explained how the cavity came into existence due to the fall of Rākṣasas.

22. O goddess of Devas, the other cavities there have become lost but this is clearly manifest even today, O beautiful woman.

23-24. That cavity named Śrīmukha is guarded by the Mothers, O my beloved. A devotee should worship the groups of Mothers beginning with Sunaṇḍā in accordance with the injunctions on every fourteenth lunar day for a period of one year, through the offerings of animals and flowers and excellent incense and lights. Brāhmaṇas should be fed. O goddess, he will achieve Siddhi.

25-27. Hence, if one desires achievement of Siddhis by oneself, one should assiduously worship all the Mothers. All these Mothers become famous by the name Sunandāgaṇa in this Prabhāsa Kṣetra, O lady of excellent complexion. It is to the north and middle of Pātāla. It has been briefly told. On hearing it an excellent man becomes rid of all dangers.