Chapter 319 - Greatness of Unnata Sthāna

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-2. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the excellent shrine of the holy spot, namely Unnata Sthāna situated on the splendid banks of Ṛṣitoyā to the north thereof (i.e. Brahmeśvara).

O great goddess, I handed over this holy spot to Brāhmaṇas. I had to make use of pressure in making them accept this. It had all its boundaries well-protected by the groups of Caṇḍīs.

The Devī said:

3-4. O most excellent one among Suras, how did it come to have the name Unnata Sthāna? How was it that you had to press them (Brāhmaṇas) to accept it? What is the extent of its boundary? Describe all this succinctly, not very elaborately.

Īśvara said:

5. Listen, O goddess, I shall narrate the sin-destroying story, on hearing which a man is rid of all sins.

6. All this pertaining to the details of the holy spot was narrated before during the succinct description of the creation in the third Kuṇḍa (holy pit) of Brahmā.

7. Still, O Pārvatī, I shall describe it succinctly. Listen.

8. That is a holy spot, the most excellent one among holy spots. It is called Unnata because it was there where the Liṅga (Penis) was lifted up once again, causing great prosperity to the whole place.

9. Or the spot is called Unnata, the most excellent one among holy spots, because it is raised in eastern-entrance to the Prābhāsika Kṣetra.

10. It is the place where the great sages are pre-eminent, thanks to the learning and the power of penance. So this most excellent oṇe among holy spots is called Unnata Sthāna.

11-12. When the Brāhmaṇas came once again to Mahodaya

(the spot of great prosperity) after propitiating Mahādeva called Mūlacaṇḍīśa at Devakula, those great sages performed penance for sixty thousand years. They meditated on the great Maheśāna devoid of beginning or end.

13. While they were performing (they were crores in number) in their crores, O fair lady Pārvatī, on the charming banks of Ṛṣitoyā, the destroyer of sins, I went there assuming the guise of a mendicant.

14. O lady of excellent countenance, I was spotted out by those sages who could visualise things and events of all time (past, present and future) and who were devoid of passions and other defects.

15. Immediately after he was found out Maheśvara stopped. “O lord, where do you go? You have been found out,” saying so, those Brāhmaṇas followed him.

16-17. While the sages came rushing on calling out “Īśa, Īśa” (O Lord, O Lord), they lightened all the ten directions by means of the power of their penance. They stared at the Liṅga alone and did not even glance at Maheśvara.

18. All those sages who viewed the Liṅga named Mūlacaṇḍīśa went to heaven with their physical body itself.

19-20. The Lord of hundred Yajñas (i.e. Indra) observed that the heavenly world was overcrowded by the sages and that other sages resplendent through their penance continued to arrive. He made use of an opportunity to come down to the earth. Śatakratu (Indra) covered up the Liṅga by means of his Vajra (thunderbolt).

21. Eighteen thousand sages of sublimated sexual potency stayed behind but could not see the excellent Liṅga.

22. Suddenly Śakra was visible wielding the Vajra (thunderbolt). By the time they could find words to curse Indra, he went out of their sight.

23. On seeing the sage furious, the Lord, the destroyer of the three Puras appeased them with sweet words and spoke to the sages:

24. “O excellent Brāhmaṇas, all along you have been adhering to the path of peace. How is it that you have become grief-stricken? Be cheerful and listen to my words:

25. “Svarga is a place where a few persons are called Vasus and another set of people the Ādityas. How is such a place honoured much by Your Holiness endowed with perfect knowledge?

26. A few are named Rudra. Two others are called Aśvins. These have a single overlord glorified as Indra.

27. Men gain access to this place through their own merits. Yet they do slip down therefrom. Being vitiated by sorrow this Svarga is never sought after by sensible persons.

28. For this reason, O Brāhmaṇas, carry out my suggestion. For the purpose of residence, do accept a charming city of great splendour.

29. May the holy rites of Agnihotra be performed. Let the Devatās be worshipped by means of different kinds of Yāgas. O Brāhmaṇas, may the adoration of Pitṛs be carried out.

30. Let hospitality be offered to guests everyday and also regular study of the Vedas by performed.

31. O leading Brāhmaṇas, if you continue to do this everyday, you will attain salvation towards the end of your life with my favour. There is no necessity for storing up knowledge.”

The sages said:

32. We are ascetics and we have acquired mastery over the need to take food, and we wish to acquire devotion to you. What shall we do with a city, inasmuch as we are incapable of protecting it?

Īśvara said:

S3. Carry out my suggestions. Accept the charming city. You will attain perpetual devotion to the Supreme Lord.

34. After saying thus, the Lord slightly closed his eyes and remembered Viśvakarman, the most excellent one among all artisans.

35. Immediately on being remembered Viśvakarman stood before him with palms joined together in veneration. “May the Lord command. I shall do according to your direction.”

Īśvara said:

36. O Tvaṣṭṛ, let a beautiful, splendid city be built for the Brāhmaṇas.

37. On being told thus, Viśvakarman surveyed the ground all round. After bowing down he said to Śaṅkara, the benefactor of the worlds:

38. “The ground has been surveyed by me. It is not proper to have a city here. Here is Devakula (a temple). It is the place where the Liṅga fell down directly.

39. Ascetics should stay here. This does not suit householders.

40. Householders should stay in a Tīrtha (a sacred place) in the company of their wives and sons for three nights, five nights, or seven nights, O Maheśvara. They may also stay for a fortnight, a month, a season and utmost for an Ayana (six month’s period).

41. If a householder stays in a Tīrtha for more than six months, contempt creeps into his mind due to fickleness (of mind). It is then that all householders deviate from righteous path.”

42. On being told thus, by Viśvakarman, Lord Śiva approved of his words and said to him again:

43. “I too do not wish that Brāhmaṇa householders should stay here. O Tvaṣṭṛ, O most excellent one among artisans, build a city on the splendid banks of Ṛṣitoyā where the Liṅga was lifted up.”

44-45. On hearing his words, O beautiful lady of Suras, Viśvakarman hurriedly went there accompanied by crores of artisans and built a city which became famous by the name Unnata. On seeing the city, Śiva became delighted in mind. He called all the Brāhmaṇas together and said with his shoulders slightly stooping down:

46. “This spot is most excellent and charming. It has been created by Viśvakarman. It is said that it contains thousands of villages in all directions.

47. This land Nagnahara is remembered as more meritorious than the city entirely. In length and width it extends to eight Yojanas.

48. People called that highly meritorious land Nagnahara because it was that land where Hara roamed about freely as he pleased in the state of nudity.

49. In the east is the noble Śāṅkarī. In the west is Nyaṅkumatī. In the north is Kanakanandā. In the south it extends upto the sea. The land surrounded by these is remembered as Nagnahara.

50. The length and width measure eight Yojanas each. This entire land is called by me as being on an equal footing with Unnata.

51. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, be pleased. Let this excellent city be accepted. Here you will have Bhukti (enjoyment of pleasures) and Mukti (salvation). There is no doubt about it.”

52. On being told thus, all those Brāhmaṇas said to Maheśvara:

The Brāhmaṇas said:

53-54. The behest of Īśvara (Lord), the Supreme Soul, cannot be rendered futile. Who shall be our saviour in the terrible era of Kali, the saviour of us the Brāhmaṇas regularly studying the Vedas and steadily performing penance and Agnihotra? Who shall be a liberal donor? Who shall be the bestower of perfect health and absence of ailments? Who will grant salvation?

Īśvara said:

55. I shall stay in Mohodaya Tīrtha in the form of Mahākāla. On being perfectly propitiated, I shall destroy your enemies.

56. Unnata Vighnarāja (the deity in the holy spot Unnata) shall be the destroyer of the obstacles. He is in the form of the leader of Gaṇas. Dhanada is the Lord of the treasuries.

57. On being properly propitiated he will grant you wealth. Durgāditya will be the bestower of health always.

58. The holy spot Mahodaya will grant you great delight. On being perfectly propitiated in every rite always, Brahmā will grant you all desires and salvation too unto you.

The Brāhmaṇas said:

59-60. O Maheśvara, O most excellent one among Suras, you have to stay in the Saṅgāleśvara Tīrtha and the auspicious Devakula. If all the Tīrthas remain there even in the extremely terrible Kali Age, for purifying us then, we shall accept (the charming centre) but not otherwise.

61. Promising “It shall be so” he granted them the excellent city well-adorned with mansions resembling the moon and standing seven storeys. The city had a number of villages (as its feeders or suburbans). It has a decent boundary in all sides.

Sūta said:

62. After granting the city to them, Lord Maheśvara glanced at Viśvakarman who was standing before him with palms joined in reverence.

Viśvakarman said:

63. O great holy Lord, may the city comparable to the (best of) cities and built (by me), with your favour, be viewed after climbing on to the Sauvarṇa Sthala (golden mount).

64. On hearing the words of Viśvakarman, Lord Tripurāntaka mounted the Sthalaka along with the great sages.

65. He viewed the charming city adorned with ramparts. All the sages eulogized Tripurāntaka established there. Mahādeva spoke to them, “Choose an excellent boon”.

The sages said:

66. O Mahādeva, if you are pleased, do bear the name Sthalakeśvara. O Hara, do stay here in the Sthala, viewing the city for ever.

67-68. On being told thus by them, the Lord remained for ever in this Sthalaka. O goddess, the deity is full of jewels in Kṛtayuga. In Tretā, it is full of gold (golden). In Dvāpara it is full of silver (silvery). In Kali this Sthala is said to be full of stones (rocks). Thus the Lord stayed there in the name of Sthalakeśvara.

69-70. Mahādeva is to be worshipped always by the residents of Unnata Sthāna on the fourteenth lunar day in the month of Māgha. A special feature is keeping awake on that night. Thus, O goddess, the great prosperity of Unnata has been told. If listened to it destroys sins of men. It yields all the desired benefits.