The Skanda Purana

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

This page describes Origin of Eminent Naga Tirtha which is chapter 37 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 thirty-seventh chapter of the Arbuda-khanda of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 37 - Origin of Eminent Nāga Tīrtha

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Pulastya said:

1. Then one needs to go to that centre of pilgrimage—the destroyer of sins, called the Nāga (i.e., cobra) lake. There in some beautiful interior region of the mountain, one can come across the Nāgas, i.e., the cobras engaged in penance.

2-3. It is said that in olden times hearing about the curse inflicted on Kadru (i.e., their mother) all the Nāgas became fearful and then headed to see Śeṣanāga. Bowing before him they all asked him, “Where shall we go and what should we do O virtuous King of the Nāgas! so as to free her from the curse? As it is we are heavily depressed with the curse on our mother.”

Śeṣa said:

4-8. I had to initially satisfy the Mother Goddess to get rid of the curse, who in turn, exhorted me that the self-righteous souls who as it is observe self-control and remain incessantly engaged in penance, must never raise the fire in the Yajña of Parikṣita [Pārikṣita?]. A mountain called Arbuda is there on the surface of earth for this purpose. The Goddess Candī [Caṇḍī/Caṇḍikā?] remains there on her own. You proceed there and get yourself engaged in penance as per the laid down procedure. Prayers to and before her definitely root out all dangers. Hence as per my words, you remain engaged in her worship day and night. It is her blessings by which only all distress can be put an end to. He further said that he would not visualize any other alternative. For him neither gods nor the humans nor could there be any other means to liberation.

Pulastya said:

9. After the King of Nāgas said so, all the Nāgas, O king! after paying their homage to the King, proceeded towards the Arbuda mountain.

10. Digging up the earth on the mountain they made their own extended pathway in the form of a hole.

11. Then making a resolution in mind and with sincere devotion they began to dwell there engaged in the worship of the Goddess.

12. Observing the ritual of making offerings to the Fire God, muttering the name of Goddess repeatedly in a befitting manner and either having food once in a day or observing fast or simply subsisting on air, they began to put up there for good.

13. For some of them, the mere mastication of teeth was agreeable as having taken food, while for some grated stone was acceptable as food. Some were subsisting on the offerings made to five fires set up for performance of yajña while some remained occupied with only washing themselves.

14. Seeing the incomparable devotion of those good snakes, the gods got pleased and began to sing accompanied with musical instruments in their kingdom.

15. Then the Goddess, herself becoming very pleased made this statement:

16. The Goddess said, “I am pleased, my dear children. What for are you all doing such arduous penance? You can ask for the desired boon in your mind.”

17-18. The Nāgas said, “O Goddess! distressed with the curse on our mother, we have become destitutes for having no support. Directed by the King of Nāgas we have come here and taken refuge under you. You can only rescue her (i.e., our mother) from the fear of the fire of sin engulfing her. Due to some reason our mother has been cursed in some time in the past as per which the fire from the yajña of Parikṣit [Pārikṣita?] will swallow her up.”

19-23. The Goddess said, “You all stay here, near me till his Yajña finishes. Without any fear, have full enjoyment of the adequate amenities here. As the Yajña gets over, you proceed to your own abode for you have already made a hole inside the cave of this mountain. This place on earth will be known as Nāga Lake pilgrim centre and men complying with the religious practice of taking bath here with sincere faith on the fifth day during Śrāvaṇa (i.e., July-August) every year will never be taken over by the fear of Nāgas. Following it up with the performance of Śrāddha (i.e., the religious activity connected with remembrance of one’s forefathers) will help their forefathers to swim across (the worldly existence). All those enjoyments which are renowned both on the Earth as well as in the Heaven will always be attainable for human beings without any doubt.”

Pulastya said:

24. Then the persisting fear (in the minds) of the Nāgas faded away and they became happy. Taking the shelter of Goddess as their own, they began to roam around there (in the Arbuda region).

25. Then in the inevitable course of time, which supercedes everything, the (procedurally fixed) duration of Parīkṣit’s Yajña got over. All the Nāgas feeling peace within enteifed the region under the surface of the earth.

26. O king! with the grace of Goddess they, i.e., the Nāgas became free from the frightening curse. Therefore paying their homage repeatedly to the Goddess they remained unmoved in their faith and devotion for her.

27. Even today, O king! they come there especially on the fifth day of the waning period of Moon during Śrāvaṇa (i.e., July-August) to get a look of the Goddess with all eagerness.

28. Hence, with all sincere efforts, O best of kings! one needs to conduct the ritual of Śrāddha observed in remembrance of one’s forefathers here. The best wishes of one’s self get materialized by the ritual of having a bath here.

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