Chapter 11 - Narration of the Glory of the Confluence of Rivers Kṛṣṇā and Pañcanadī

[Note: This page represents a summary English translation of the Dvisāhasrī by Ṭembesvāmī, chapter 11.—In the 11^th chapter (the Holy Master) the fulfiller of wish of Ganā gānuja consoles the Brahmin whose tongue was cut and then brings him to his place.]

11/01-02: Nāmadhāraka spoke: Who was the Brahmin whose tongue was cut?

11/03-28: Siddha spoke: In the family of a scholar Brahmin in Kolhapur, a foolish boy is born whom other scholars censure that he is a bullock without a tail and horns. The knowledge is like a wife, a mother, a friend, a father and like a teacher. But he has no knowledge (04-06). The boy goes to Bhillavātī, starts fasting and propitiates goddess Bhuvaneśvarī. When he is not graced, he uts his tongue and offers it to Her. But at the time of cutting his head, he gets asleep. The goddess instructs him in the dream to approach the monk living on the bank of river Kṛṣṇā (07-08).

He goes there, bows down to the Holy Master who places His hand on his head and transforms him into a scholar (09-12AB). The Holy Master moves to the South (12). He stays at 05 Rivers^[1] where there is the holy place called Kuravpura [Kuravapura?] (13-15). There is the Udumbara tree, Amareśvara Śiva and 64 Yoginies. Taking bath there during Māgha month leads one to heaven (16-17). He stays there. He begs alms from the Vedic Brahmins (18-19). One day a poor Brahmin lady offers Him cooked vegetables (20). He eats, sees the creeper which He uproots and returns (21). The Brahmin lady reports her husband (22). The husband assures her that He is their saviour (23-25). While digging the roots to make it even, he finds a big pot full of money (26). They approach the Holy Master and report Him. He tells them not to disclose it. They would enjoy worldly pleasures and attain the Absolution (27-28)

11/29-30: Nāmadhāraka spoke: Why does He live upon begging alms? Why does He resort to Udumbara, though the Peepal tree is the most pious one?

11/31-41: The Vedas declare that a mendicant should beg alms, as it is the livelihood similar to that of Lord Śiva (32). In the Man-lion Incarnation Lord Viṣṇu’s poisonous nails had burning sensation and were quenched by Udumbara-fruits. So Lord Viṣṇu and goddess Lakṣmī reside in the Udumbara. Where Lord Viṣṇu resides, there reside the Vedas, the holy places and all the gods. The Udumbara tree is the wish-fulfilling tree (33-35).

After the event of partaking the cooked vegetables, He stays the under the Udumbara without any food. Such a divine sport is beyond the understanding of the common people (36-38).

A farmer devotee named Gaṅgānuja sees a miracle. The river Kṛṣṇā full of water gives way to the Holy Master going to divine city, he follows Him. The Holy Master asks him who he is (39-41).

11/42-47: Gaṅgānuja spoke: He has luckily got this vision. Recognizing His Real Form does not drown one in the Ocean of Existence (43-44). The Holy Master confers him the desired boon and asks him not to disclose whatever he has seen (45). He receives unexpected growth of crops and becomes a leading merchant (46). Once the farmer asks Him about the pilgrimage called Tristhalī of Vārāṇasī (47).

11/48-61: Holy Master spoke: He takes him on the round trip of the Trishtalī (a triad of 03 holy places) of the confluence, Kuravpura and Yugālaya saying that the famous Trishtalī consists of the confluence at Prayāga, Vārāṇasī and Gayā. He asks him to hold His wooden shoes and takes there, too (49-50). Gaṅgānuja is freed through the meditation on the Divine Sports of the Holy Master (51-52). As His glory increases there, He wishes to quit the place (53). As Lord Amareśvara and others stay there so He must stay there, He promises the Yoginīs to stay there without being observed by the people (54- 55). The holy place becomes famous and removes all the diseases of all (56-57). There a barren would beget a son, a frightened would be free from fear, liberation-wishers would attain the goal, the fruit of reciting sacred formulas and performing sacrifices, etc. would be in multitudes (58-59). The Holy Master installs there the wooden shoes and arrives at Gāṇagāpura (60-61).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The 5 Rivers are Sarasvatī, Śivā, Bhadrā, Kumbhī & Bhogavatī and they all merging into the 2 rivers Kṛṣṇā and Veṇī.