The concept of Tirtha (sacred localities)

All religions consider certain localities as sacred and gave great importance to a pilgrimage to them. From the time of the dawn of civilizations to present day sacred centers attract the masses Mecca and Medina, the birth and burial, Places of Prophet Mohammed attracts multitude of Muslims every year. This pilgrimage is welknown as Haj. Buddhists have four important places of pilgrimage. Viz. Lumbini or Rummidnodoe (birth place of Budha) Gaya (a place he attained perfect enlightenment). Saranath (a place where he set in motion the wheel of dharma by delivering his first sermon) and Kusinagara (a place where he got mirvana) The followers of Jesus Christ consider his birth place as a centre of pilgrimage. • In India the pilgrimage is expressed as Tirtha Yatra which literary means undertaking journey to river folds Generally the term Tirthal yatra is equated with the English term pilgrimage. The term Tirtayatra is different from it. The Tirthayatra is understood metaphorically Skandapurana, the allegated source of Sucindrasthalamahatmya declares truth, forgiveness, control of senses, kindness to all living beings and simplicity are tirtha So the tirthayatra is not merely visiting holy place but it is included mental and moral discipline also. 63 The term tirtha is used variously. In Rg- Veda, the word is employed at many places on the sense of a road or way or a holy placed. According to Amarakosa tirtha means Nipana Agama, the waters used by the sages and the preceptor. Nipana, has been explained as a river or as a place to be crossed over and agama as Sastra. 65 " 182

The concept of tirtha is fully developed on Mahabharata and puranas. Mahabharatha states that visiting holy places is definitely superior to sacrifice". The tirthayatraparva of mahabharata glorifies many ancient tirthas of India. Almost all puranas emphasize the importance to tirthayatra and gave detailed description on various tirthas all over India. Skandapurana the model of Sucindrasthalamahatmya describes various tirthas of Kasi, Narmada, Avantike etc. It may be that the locality is endowed with some natural scenic beauty or it may be due to the pure and placid water or of the place sanctified by the presence of sages and seers. Skanda purana also warns that mere taking bath in the water never purifies the worshipper. Watery creatures like fish, leech etc, which take their birth in the water and lives in the water, and not say that all of them get heaven." So if one get the benefit of immersing in a tirtha he has to clear not only the impurities of body, but also his mind. 67 Sthalamahatmyas and tirthas All the Sthalamahatmyas give importance to the glorification of tirthas. Local priests prepared numerous mahatmya'S. which glorifies the various deities on their locality in order to attract pilgrims. The tirtamahatmyas are prepared in a uniform character and father them on vyasa, the reputed author of Mahabharatha and Puranas. Tirtha's in Sucindrasthalamahatmya We can trace many of the charateristic features, tirtha Mahatmyas in Sucindrasthalamahatmya In the first chapter it self have a description of a tirtha called 183

which is called as Yajnatirtha and said to be originated by the orders of Brahma and 66 crore Tirthas have their presence on the same. Yanjatirtha has the common characteristic features of the tirthas of in Skandapurna. 1. There is the presence of natural beauty. 2. It have a pure and placid water (3). And the presence of the hermitage of sages. This tirtha is said to be the part of teeppakkulam (Holy tank) of Sucindram temple. Sarasvatitirtha, Ganga tirtha, Yamuna tirtha These are the famous rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati, who became Tirtha s by the bless of Anasuya for taking bath for the goddess Parvati, Lekshmi and sarasvati. The author of Sucindrasthalamahatmya uses so many verses to glorify this holy tirtha. Pranja tirtha This tirtha is considered as prime among the tirthas. It is said to be situated middle of the Sarasvati tirtha, Ganga tirtha and Yamuna tirtha. Which fulfill the wishes of the great. The author eulogies so many tirthas in his work. As they forms part of the third chapter of this work a detailed description is avoided here.