Chapter 95 - Greatness of Mṛtyuñjaya

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O beautiful lady, a pilgrim should go to the Liṅga named Mṛtyuñjayeśvara situated within a distance of ten Dhanus in the south-east corner thereof.

In the western direction, it is situated within a distance of four Dhanus from the shrine of Sagarāditya. It destroys the sins of all creatures who visit and touch it. In the earlier Yuga, it was called Nandīśvara, because it is the place where a severe penance was performed by my Gaṇa named Nandin.

4. After installing the great Liṅga, he became engaged in its worship always and performed the Japa of the great Mantra well-known as Mṛtyuñjaya.

5. O goddess, he muttered the Mantra millions and crores of times. Thereby Lord Maheśvara became pleased. The Lord gave him chieftainship of Gaṇas and salvation called Sāmipya (nearness to the Lord).

6. Since Hara became pleased with him due to (the Japa of) Mṛtyuñjaya Mantra, the Liṅga therefore, became famous all over the earth as Mṛtyuñjayeśa.

7. If anyone worships it devoutly or visits it with sanctified soul, he will destroy all the sins acquired even in the course of seven births.

8. The devotee should bathe the Liṅga with milk, curds, honey mixed with ghee, or sugarcane juice. He should apply Kuṃkuma (saffron) to it.

9. The juice of (liquid) musk mixed with camphor and Uśīra, or scented sandalwood also should be applied. Then he should worship it with flowers.

10-11. O goddess, incense and Aguru should be fumigated before the Lord. Then he (the devotee) should honour the Lord (or priest) with different kinds of garments in accordance with his capacity. He shall then offer milk pudding as Naivedya along with lamps. Thereafter, Aṣṭāṅga prostration should be devoutly performed touching the ground with eight parts of the body.

12-14. Gold should be offered to a Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Vedas. In this manner his pilgrimage shall become one conforming to the scriptural texts. There is no doubt about it. By doing this, O goddess, the man gets the fruit of his birth.

Thus the great glory (of the worship) of Mṛtyuñjaya has been succinctly stated. It is destructive of the sins of all creatures. It causes the fulfilment of all cherished desires.