Chapter 277 - Greatness of Bhūdhara (Yajñavarāha)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-6. A pilgrim should visit the deity named Bhūdhara stationed there itself. Since the Lord lifted up the earth and held it by the tip of his curved teeth, he is called Bhūdhara (Holder of the Earth). He is stationed on the banks of Devikā.

The Lord stationed himself there in the form of Yajña-Varāha.

The Vedas constituted his feet, the Yūpas, his Daṃṣṭras (curved teeth), Kratu (sacrifice) constituted his (ordinary) teeth, the Sruk (ladle) made up his snout, the Fire-god was his tongue, the Darbha grass constituted his hairs (on the body), Brahman was his head, the Lord of great penance had Ahan (day) and Rātra (night) for his eyes, the ancillaries (Vedāṅgas) were ear-ornaments, the Ādyas (classes of deities) constituted his nose, Sruvā was the snout. He produced loud sound by way of the chanting of Sāman Mantras. The Prāgvaṃśa (apartment or the sacrificial chamber) was his physical form. He was lustrous, shining with different kinds of Dīkṣās (initiations). The Dakṣiṇā constitutes his heart. He is the great Yogin whose bed was great Sattra. The Upākarman rites constitute the pleasing lips and the Pravargya (ceremony before Soma Yāga) constitutes his curly ornaments. The different metres (in Vedas) constitute his gait and pathway and Brahman and the Ukthas constitute his Krama and Vikrama (steps and paces).

7-12. The pilgrim should perform Śrāddha on the eleventh lunar day or on the New-Moon day in the month of Puṣya. In the rainy season when the sun is in the Virgo Zodiac he should offer milk pudding with the Mantra namo vaḥ pitaro rasāyā (VS 2.32, AV 184) and consecrate the cooked rice etc. therewith. The Ājya (clarified butter) should be consecrated with the Mantra tejosi sukram [śukram?] etc. (VS 2.2) and the curd with the Mantra dadhikrāvṇa (RV 4.39.6) etc. All the Vyañjanas (side dishes, pickles etc.) with the Mantra kṣīram ājyāya etc. All eatables and edibles should be offered with the Mantra mahān indreṇa (RV. 8.6.1) etc. The Brāhmaṇa should offer water (for Ācamana etc.) by uttering the Mantra saṃvatsaro niya etc. After feeding the Brāhmaṇas thus, he should offer rice-balls (to the Pitṛs). He who performs Śrāddha with strict adherance to these injunctions makes the Pitṛs satisfied for the duration of fourteen Indras. Without performing Gayā-śrāddha he will reap the benefit of Gayā-śrāddha.