Chapter 7 - Influence of Acaleśvara (Acala-īśvara)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sage Pulastya said:

1. O king! after this one needs to go to the good giving Acaleśvara, a look of which with faith accrues accomplishment.

2. Any human who performs Śrāddha (i.e., ceremony connected with death of family members) of his paternal ancestors near the Acaleśvara on the fourteenth day of the waning period of moon in the month of Āśvina (i.e., September) or in Phālguna (i.e., February-March) attains the ultimate passage.

3. The fruits of Aśvamedha Yajña accrue to the human who, while remaining in the Southern direction performs the worship with fruits, flowers and leaves and with due faith.

4. The human who propitiates his forefathers with the presentation of mixture containing equal quantities of milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar, gets closer to the World of Śiva and obtains it.

5. The human who after taking a round of this pays his homage, all his sins get destroyed on each of his step involving the right turn or clockwise turn.

6. O intelligent king! listen to a wonderful thing which had happened here earlier. I had heard that Nārada happened to tell it to Indra in Heaven.

7. A parrot happened to have made its nest on a tree there before and while moving to and fro to its nest, it used to take a clockwise turn around the nest.

8. O king! it had no devotion due to being born in the species of birds and it was obtained to death as time had approached.

9. Later, it became renowned as King Veṇu among the royal families. Having memory of his own clan, he achieved victory over all his enemies.

10. Remembering that his influence could have arisen from taking a round of the Acaleśvara, he began to take a clockwise turn of Acaleśvara by going near it.

11. O king! day and night, he did not do anything other than this. Neither did he make any special effort as a measure of austerity. He did also not make any offering of edible things to gods.

12. He did not make any offering of flowers or incenses. He was only engrossed in taking the round. Sages came there after sometime.

13-19. Nārada, Śaunaka, Harīta, Devala, Galava, Kapila, Nanda, Suhotra, Kaśyapa and many kings were getting the Liṅga of Śiva on that mountain bathed with faith. Apart from them other people were engaged in many kinds of worships and in recounting repeatedly names of gods in their minds. O King! some were dancing while some others were singing. Some were presenting the sacrifice in the form of food while some others were singing praises to god. They were surprised to see Veṇu taking rounds. Filled with curiosity they said, “While doing this act of taking round we must know the reasons behind this act.” The sages said, “O king Veṇu! why are you taking the clockwise turn of this God specially? Please tell us the truth.”

20. They continued, “You are not offering water onto this beautiful Liṅga of Śiva. You are neither lighting earthen lamps nor incense nor are you reading out hymns in praise of God. O king! you are capable of making all gifts. Please speak out as we have a curiosity in this matter.”

Veṇu said:

21. O Brāhmaṇas! listen to what am I saying. This description of my past life is specially true.

22. A bird by name Suka [Śuka?] used to stay here in this palace in olden times. Then I used to take round of the God day and night.

23. I have become one having memory of one’s family by its grace and influence. I am now doing this act of taking round out of Supreme faith.

24. I do not know what fruit will accrue out of the influence of this God. O sages! I am not doing any other thing due to this reason.

Pulastya said:

25-26. After hearing these words of king Veṇu, with wonder and exhilaration, the sages said, “all right! all right!” Then all the great sages continued keeping themselves engaged in the act of taking round. They got imbued with great faith.

27. With the grace of God Śaṃkara, the fortunate king Veṇu obtained that difficult place in comparison with gods.