Chapter 118 - Greatness of Gopyāditya (Gopī-āditya)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the excellent shrine of Gopyāditya situated within thirty Dhanus on the north-west of Bhūteśa and within a distance of ten Dhanus on the south and south-east side of the goddess destroying Balātibala Daityas (powerful and super-powerful demons). O goddess, the shrine is a destroyer of sins.

I shall explain its origin that is auspicious and destroys great sins. A man who devoutly listens to it, is rid of misery and grief.

4-6. O my beloved, when the powerful Kṛṣṇa came to Prabhāsa accompanied by all the fifty-six crores of Yādavas, sixteen thousand Gopīs (cowherdesses) as well as one hundred thousand sixty sons of Kṛṣṇa, they stayed in the sin-destroying holy spot of Prābhāsika occupying Yādavasthala (region of the Yādavas) extending up to the Raivataka mountain.

7. Those powerful ones stayed there for twelve years. After marking them with their names, they installed Śiva Liṅga in the holy spot.

8. Thus all those leading Yādavas made the entire holy spot extending to twelve Yojanas, marked with their banners as well as Śiva Liṅgas.

9. O goddess, the Liṅgas were at a distance of a Hasta from each other. Temples were built in the centre of the holy spot. They had golden pot-like domes. Banners and festoons fluttered. These shrines shone in different places like pillars of Hari’s fame.

10. I shall mention the names of sixteen senior Gopīs. Listen to them with attention, O great goddess.

11-12. They are: Laṃbinī, Candrikā, Kāntā, Krūrā, Śāntā, Mahodayā, Nandinī, Bhīṣaṇā, Aśokā, Suparṇā, Vimalā, Akṣayā, Śubhadā, Śobhanā, and Puṇyā. These are remembered as the Kalās (digits) of Haṃsa. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Absolute, Janārdana, alone is considered as Haṃsa.

13. O goddess, these sixteen are glorified as his Śaktis. Kṛṣṇa is in the form of Candra (Moon). They are remembered to be in the form of Kalās (digits).

14. Mālinī, the sixteenth Kalā, has perfect and full disc. Candramas moves in these Kalās beginning with the fìrs lunar day.

15. O lady of excellent countenance, the Kalās are only those sixteen in the form of the Gopīs. Each of them is separately involved with a thousand (Gopīs).

16. Thus, O goddess, the secret pertaining to knowledge (and wisdom) has been spoken to you. He who knows this in this manner, should be known as Vaiṣṇavapuruṣa (Viṣṇu’s devotee) by wise persons.

17. Having come to know that the shrines (temples) were built separately by the Yādavas, all those sixteen thousand Gopīs informed (and received the permission of) Kṛṣṇa and installed Ravi (Sun-god) with feelings of devotion.

18. In accordance with the injunctions, they got (the idols of) Ravi installed through Nārada and other sages as well as those residing in the holy spot.

19. After the installation of Sun-god, they gave plenty of gifts such as plots of land, cows, gold and garments to the residents of the holy place.

20-21. After having finished thus, they became happy and contented. They earned great fame. Accompanied by Kṛṣṇa, they went back to Dvārakā by the way they came by. All the sages became satisfied and delighted in their minds. They named the idol of the Sun there as Gopyāditya. It became well-known as such. The deity is a destroyer of all sins and confers great conjugal felicity.

22. After some time again, O my beloved goddess, they arrived at the Yādavasthala in the sin-destroying Prabhāsa. (They went there) on account of the curse of Durvāsas.

23. Thus, O goddess, the greatness pertaining to Gopyāditya has been spoken to you. I shall now mention to you the details of adoration and obeisance thereof in due order.

24. Merely by visiting the deity that was installed by Gopīs a devotee gets rid of misery and grief, O goddess, in Mitravana (the park of Sun-god).

25. Men who seek refuge in Gopīravi (the deity Gopyāditya) attain that goal which is usually obtained through perfectly performed penance as well as Yajñas with plenty of monetary gifts.

26. O Maheśvarī, if a devotee places all his emotional and devout fervour in Gopyāditya with all his heart and soul, he has fulfilled his duty. He is really praiseworthy.

27. (Even Pitṛs wish like this): ‘Would that, a blessed son, a sanctifier of the family, were born in our family—a blessed fellow who will adore (perform Upāsti of) Bhānu with devout feelings.’

28. O my beloved, a man who worships the deity early in the morning on the seventh lunar day in the month of Māgha, shall redeem the members of his family of seven earlier generations and of seven succeeding generations.

29. The devotee of Gopyāditya dispels ailments and conquers invisible enemies of evil conduct.

30. One should not touch gingelly oil on the Saptamī day nor should he wear a blue cloth, nor should one bathe with Āmalaka (Indian Gooseberry), nor should one quarrel at any cost.

31. If a Brāhmaṇa performs any sacred rite wearing blue or red cloth, such rites as holy ablution, donation, Japa, Homa, self-study of the Vedas and offering libations to the Pitṛs, performing great Yajñas, all that becomes futile.

32. If a Brāhmaṇa wears on his body a cloth dyed in Nīlī (blue) (the indigo plant) he regains purity by fasting for a day and a night and consuming Pañcagavya (five cow products such as milk, curds, ghee etc.)

33. If the juice of indigo plant gets into the hair pores of any Brāhmaṇa, he shall become a Patita (a fallen, sinful man). He can, however, expiate by means of three Kṛcchras.

34. If any Brāhmaṇa inadvertently gets into the midst of Nīla (indigo plants) he regains purity by fasting for a night and a day and consuming Pañcagavya.

35. If the indigo plant causes bruises in the body of Brāhmaṇas and blood comes out, the Brāhmaṇas should perform Cāndrāyaṇa expiation.

36. If any one inadvertently uses an indigo twig as tooth brush, it is said by learned men that he gets purity by performing two Kṛcchras.

37. Thus, O goddess, the great prosperity resulting from (the adoration of) Gopyāditya has been spoken to you. It destroys sins of all creatures. When listened to, it causes the acquisition of all objectives.

38. O goddess of Devas, by visiting Gopyāḍitya one gets that merit which is obtained by gifting hundreds and thousands of cows in Kurujāṅgala country.