Chapter 68 - Greatness of Gaurī-Tapovana

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thus, O goddess, the five Vaktra-Liṅgas (or Liṅgas corresponding to the five faces) have been described to you. Henceforth, I shall describe the holy spot where there is the penance grove of Gaurī. It is highly powerful and is resorted to by Suras and Siddhas.

It is situated within a distance of sixty Dhanus on the eastern side of Someśa. It is the place where penance was performed by goddess Satī in her earlier birth.

Due to offended love, she was angry with me, O lady of excellent countenance, and she came to Prabhāsa Kṣetra and remained here performing penance.

The Devī said:

4. Why did Satī forsake you and resort to penance? At what place did the goddess establish herself? Do tell me all this in detail.

Īśvara said:

5. O great goddess, formerly you were a lady of exalted mind but of dark complexion. While (we were in a splendid spot) you were called Kālī by me simply for fun (Read: narmārtham for nāmārtham).

6. On hearing the surprising statment [statement], she (you) became highly furious. Knitting her (your) eyebrows crookedly in the face, she (you) spoke harsh words:

7. “Since I was called “blackie” (Kālī), O Śaṃbhu, with great malice, I shall go away to a place where I will become Gaurī (fair-complexioned)

8. After saying thus, the highly esteemed lady surrounded by groups of companions went to Prabhāsa Kṣetra. She installed Maheśvara, later famous as Gaurīśvara, and adored in accordance with the injunctions.

9. Closely standing near the Liṅga on a single foot, the chaste lady propitiated the Liṅga and performed a very great penance.

10. Engaging herself in Japa, the goddess practised penance in the midst of five fires in summer. During rainy season, she remained lying down under the open sky. During Hemanta (early winter) she stood under water.

11. As her penance advanced, the excessive refulgence of her body assumed whitishness (fair complexion).

12. After a great deal of time she became Gaurī (fair-complexioned) in all her limbs. Thereupon, the Moon-crested Lord laughed and said:

13. He uttered the epithet (Gaurī) many times—“O Gaurī, get up. Come on to the mansion. O auspicious lady, choose your boon, whatever may be in your mind.”

Gaurī said:

14. A person whether a man or a woman, who may view me stationed here, shall become endowed with sons and good fortunes for seven births (in succession).

15. Due to your favour, let there be no wretchedness in the family of a person who makes arrangement for vocal and instrumental music as well as dance in front of me.

16. He who adores the Liṅga installed by me at the outset and then devoutly adores me, shall attain the highest region.

17. O Lord, let the name of the Lord be Gaurīśvara and be well-known.

I promised, “So it shall be” and stationed myself at that holy spot.

18-19. O great goddess, I stationed myself there in the company of the goddess with a delighted mind. Even today, during the transit of the Sun in the northern as well as the southern direction I go to the holy spot of Gaurī accompanied by groups of Devas. He who offers excellent fruits to Brāhmaṇas on that day, will have sons.

20. A woman without a son, who offers a coconut fruit there, shall soon obtain a strong son endowed with all good features.

21-22. If, O great goddess, a woman offers a light with ghee and red wicks, she shall attain conjugal felicity in as many successive births as there are threads in the wick.

23. One who performs a dance there full of great devotion, shall become blessed with freedom from ailments, happiness, and conjugal felicity for a long time.

24. There, at the boundary, there is a great pond. It is a holy Tīrtha filled with clear water. One who takes his holy bath there becomes rid of all sins.

25. He who performs Śrāddha there with the Pitṛs in view devoutly attains the highest region along with the Pitṛs. He will be a meritorious person.

26. Hence by all means a devotee should perform Śrāddha there. He should keep vigil at night amidst songs, instrumental music and dances at night.

27. Garments should be given to couples there along with Dakṣiṇā. He who reads this everyday, particularly on the third lunar day, O goddess, in front of Pārvatī shall obtain good fortune and conjugal felicity.

28. Or one who listens to this fully endowed with devotion shall also undoubtedly attain conjugal felicity as long as he lives.