The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa
by Dhrubajit Sarma | 2015 | 94,519 words
This page relates “Sites of pilgrimage (found in the Shrikanthacarita)” as it appears in the case study regarding the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa. The Shrikanthacarita was composed by Mankhaka, sometimes during A.D. 1136-1142. The Mankhakosa or the Anekarthakosa is a kosa text of homonymous words, composed by the same author.
Part 8d - Sites of pilgrimage (found in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita)
Maṅkhaka refers to some important sites of pilgrimage also, in his Śrīkaṇṭhacarita. Below are some of them—
1. Cakradhara
The place of pilgrimage called Cakradhara as in the verse, vaśaṃvadaḥ śaṃsitasaṃtatasthiteriva[1] ….., is referred to in the poem. One (alluvial plateau) on the left bank (of Vitastā), the Tsakādar Udar is one of the most ancient sites of the valley (Cakradhara).[2]
2. Kapaṭeśvara
Another place of pilgrimage Kapaṭeśvara by name is referred.[3] Stein mentions about this site.[4]
3. Mārtaṇḍa-tīrtha
There is the reference of the Mārtaṇḍa-tīrtha in bibharti mārtaṇḍavapuryadantike padaṃ[5] ……. However, Stein is of the opinion that this allusion is doubtful.[6]
4. Vijayeśvara
According to Jonarāja, the commentator of the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita, there is a covert mention of the tīrtha of Vijayeśvara in pinākino mūrtiṣu sarpirarpitaṃ[7]….. Stein, regarding its location gives his opinion.[8]
This way, the geographical information can be found in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita of Maṅkhaka.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Śrīkaṇṭhacarita., Ibid., III. 12
[2]:
Stein, M.A., Rājataraṅgiṇī, vol. II, page 414
[3]:
sa yatra bhargaḥ kapaṭeśvarākhyayā nirastalokatrayakalmaṣaklamaḥ/
dadhadvapuḥ kāṣṭhamayaṃ jale svapityanudgamāyeva dṛgagnitejasaḥ//
Śrīkaṇṭhacarita., III. 14
[4]:
‘The place of pilgrimage is the sacred spring of Pāpasūdana (‘sin-removing’), situated a short distance above Koṭher. In it, Śiva is believed to have shown himself in the disguise (Kapaṭa), in the form of pieces of wood, floating on the water. The legend is related at length, in the Nīlamata …. Abu-l-fazl, too knows in the village of Koṭihār, a deep spring surrounded by stone temples, when its water decreases an image of Mahādeva in sandalwood appears.’
Stein, M.A., Rājataraṅgiṇī, vol. II, page 467
[5]:
Śrīkaṇṭhacarita., III. 15
[6]:
Stein writes—
“About one mile south of Bumāzu we reach the Tīrtha sacred to Mārtaṇḍa which has from early times to present day enjoyed a prominent position among the sacred sites of Kāśmīr.”
Stein, M.A., Rājataraṅgiṇī, vol. II, page 465.
[7]:
Śrīkaṇṭhacarita., III. 11
[8]:
‘The present Vijābror situated less than two miles above Cakradhara, received its name from the ancient shrine of Śiva Vijayeśvara. This deity is worshipped to the present day at Vijābror….. It stood at a site close to the river bank and nearly opposite to the bridge over the Vitastā’.
Stein, M. A., Rājataraṅgiṇī, vol. II, page 463