Chapter 198 - Greatness of Pañcamaprabhāsa Kṣetra

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-4. Thereafter, O great goddess, a devotee should go to the excellent shrine of Mahāprabhāsa. It is situated to the south of Jalaprabhāsa. It causes obstacle in the path of Yama. Listen to its greatness and how it originated on the surface of the earth.

O goddess, formerly in the Tretā Yuga it was remembered as Sparśa-Liṅga. It was divine and radiant, capable of bestowing salvation on men merely on being touched. O my beloved and beautiful lady, once Indra who was overcome by fear came to the earth and covered it with his thunderbolt.

5-7. The heat issuing therefrom, O goddess, was restrained. A mass of flames extending to ten crores assumed the form of a Liṅga. It pierced through the ground at Prabhāsa Kṣetra and manifested itself. O goddess, when it was restrained by the thunderbolt it broke through the earth and extended all over the universe along with masses of smoke. Thereupon, all the three worlds became confounded with the flames.

8. Thereupon, all the groups of Suras and sages who had mastered the Vedas eulogized the Moon-crested Lord by means of different types of Vedic hymns.

9. “O most excellent one among Suras, withdraw your own burning refulgence. All the three worlds as well as the mobile and immobile beings are confused and disturbed. Oh! Restrain it before the utter annihilation (of the worlds).”

Īśvara said:

10-11. O goddess of Suras, when the Devas were speaking thus, that splendour split into five and pervaded the three worlds. It broke through the earth in the form of Pañcaprabhāsa. The path through which the great splendour issued forth there was a great light.

12. O my beloved, rocks were placed at the entrance in a proper place. When the hole was thus closed the smoke vanished.

13. All the worlds became normal. The splendour settled there. On being urged by me thus, they placed the Liṅga in a proper set-up.

14. That splendour settled down there, O goddess of Devas. Therefore, it is being glorified as Mahāprabhāsa by Devas and Dānavas.

15. He who devoutly worships the Liṅga with different kinds of flowers, attains the great region devoid of death and old age.

16. O goddess of Devas, if it is viewed, the man becomes rid of all sins. He attains desired benefits. O my beloved, whatever is mentally desired is acquired.

17. Gold is to be offered as gift to a Brāhmaṇa of praiseworthy holy vows. A gift of cows is to be duly offered there to twice-borns.

18. By doing like this, O great goddess, a man obtains cherished objectives of his birth. He shall get the powerful benefit of Rājasūyas and Aśvamedhas.