The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes Greatness of Sagaraditya (Sagara-aditya) which is chapter 128 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the one hundred twenty-eighth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 128 - Greatness of Sāgarāditya (Sāgara-āditya)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the excellent shrine of Sāgarāditya situated to the west of Bhairaves’a, Rudra and Mṛtyuñjaya. It is situated not very far from Kāmeśa in the direction of south and south-east.

It destroys all ailments and removes all sorts of poverty. O great goddess, it was installed by the noble-souled Sagara.

This Sagara was the slayer of his foes. He had sixty thousand sons. He got the sons by propitiating the Sun-god there.

King Sagara was such a famous overlord. O goddess, here this ocean extends to many Yojanas. It is glorified as extending to eighty thousand Yojanas.

5. It was in this Manvantara that this ocean was dug up in all the four directions by the sons of Sagara. Therefore, O goddess, the ocean is glorified by the name Sāgara.

6. Lord Bhāskara, who steals away (evaporates) waters, was installed by that king whose age-old glory as recorded in the Purāṇa works is being sung even today.

7. By viewing that deity, a man will not be sluggish, blind, poor or miserable. He shall never be separated from his near and dear ones. He will not be sick nor will he be a sinner.

8. A devotee should subdue all the sense-organs and observe fast on the sixth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Māgha, O goddess. He should sleep before the deity at night.

9. On the seventh lunar day, after getting up he should devoutly worship the Sun-god. He should feed Brāhmaṇas with devotion. He should never be miserly in spending money (for this purpose).

10. Even by means of well-performed penance and Yajñas with plenty of monetary gifts, men do not attain that goal which those who resort to the Sun-god attain.

11. If the adoration is carried out devoutly even by means of Dūrvā grass (sprouts and shoots) Bhānu (the Sun-god) bestows the benefit rarely attained by means of all Yajñas.

12. Hence, by means of all efforts, one should adore the Sun-god alone. By worshipping Bhānu, Janaka and others have attained Siddhi (spiritual perfection).

13. The Sun-god alone is the Lord of all Devas; he is the Lord of all the subjects; he is the Lord of all the worlds; he is the immanent soul of all. The Sun alone is the root of the three worlds; he is the supreme deity.

14-15. One should meditate on the Sun-god in the following order and having the following colours: The Sun-god is tawny-coloured in Vasanta (spring); in Grīṣma (summer) be is as lustrous as gold; during rainy season he is white in colour. Bhāskara is greyish-white in Śarad (autumn). He is copper-coloured in Hemanta (early winter). Ravi is red in colour in Śiśira (late winter).

16. After worshipping the deity in accordance with injunctions, the devotee should restrain his soul and all the sense-organs. He should read (recite) the thousand names of the Sun-god which destroy all sins.

The Devī said:

17. O Lord Śaṅkara, be pleased to tell me the thousand names or something else equivalent to these thousand names.

Īśvara said:

18. There is no necessity to recite all the thousand names. Recite this splendid prayer. I shall enumerate to you all the splendid, secret and sacred names. Learn them with concentration.

19-21. This prayer of twenty-one names is a great favourite of the great Soul. They are: Vikartana, Vivasvān, Mārtaṇḍa, Bhāskara, Ravi, Lokaprakāśaka (Illuminator of the worlds), Śrīmān, Lokacakṣus (Eye of the worlds), Graheśvara (Lord of the planets), Lokasākṣin (Witness of the worlds), Trilokeśa (Lord of the three worlds), Kartā (Maker), Hartā (Remover), Tamisrahā (Remover of darkness), Tapana, Tāpana (Scorcher), Śuci (Pure), Saptāśvavāhana (Having seven horses for vehicle), Gabhastihasta (Having rays for hands), Brahmā and Sarvadevanamaskṛta (Bowed to by all the Devas).

22. This prayer is famous as Stavarāja. It bestows health of the body, increase in wealth and great fame. It is famous in all the three worlds.

23-24. He who eulogizes Arka (Sun-god) by means of this prayer during the two junctions of rising and setting, remaining pure himself, O great goddess, is rid of all sins. Rich with all desires fulfilled, he goes to the world of the Sun-god. Thus, O goddess, the greatness pertaining to Sāgarārka has been spoken to you. On being listened to it suppresses all miseries and destroys great sins.

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