In Kurukshetra, there are thousands of pilgrimage sites revered by sages. importance of Pushkar in Kurukshetra ( the battlefield of Mahabharat)
After an event, the Saraswati
River entered Kurukshetra. Flowing with sacred water, the Saraswati River
flooded Kurukshetra, which then flowed westward. In Kurukshetra, there are
thousands of pilgrimage sites revered by sages. By the grace of the Creator
(Brahma), I will describe them. It is said that the remembrance of pilgrimage
sites is beneficial for sinners; their sight is purifying, and bathing in them
grants liberation.
Those who remember pilgrimage
sites with devotion, bathe in them, and please the deities attain ultimate
liberation. Whether impure or pure, in any condition, if one remembers
Kurukshetra, they become pure inside and out. Simply by saying, "I will go
to Kurukshetra, and I will reside in Kurukshetra," one becomes free from
all sins.
Between the two divine rivers
Saraswati and Drishadvati lies a land created by the gods known as Brahmvarta.
Even those who live far away constantly resolve to go to Kurukshetra and reside
there, they too become free from all sins. Dwelling on the banks of the
Saraswati, consuming the water of the lake, one attains true knowledge of
Brahman. Deities, sages, and Siddhas always serve the pilgrimage site of
Kurujangala. Through constant service to this pilgrimage site, by residing
there constantly, one perceives the realization of Brahman within.
Those sinful, restless human
beings who desire to attain liberation reside there. They become free from the
sins of many births and behold the pure eternal divinity within their hearts.
Those who are scholars of Brahman, constantly serve Kurukshetra and the sacred
"Sannihit Sarovar," attain the highest merit. There may be fear of
the fall of planets, stars, and celestial bodies, but there is never any fear
of falling for those who die in Kurukshetra.
Brahma and other deities, sages,
Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, and Yakshas reside where Kurukshetra
is, they go to the great lake named Stanu and bathe there with reverence to
undoubtedly attain the desired results. After following the rituals,
circumambulating the lake, going to Rantu Forest, and repeatedly praying for
forgiveness, one should bathe in the Saraswati River, pay homage to the Yaksha,
offer flowers, incense, and food and say, "O Yaksha! By your grace, I will
wander in forests, rivers, and pilgrimage sites; may you always remove
obstacles in my journey."
The sages asked (Lomaharshana),
"O Sage! Please describe to us the merits of the seven forests, nine
rivers, all the pilgrimage sites, and the benefits associated with them as per
the scriptures." O supreme among sages! Explain in detail the various
merits associated with each pilgrimage site and the method by which one can
attain those merits.
Lomaharshana replied, "O
sages! I will describe the seven forests situated in the middle of Kurukshetra.
Listen attentively. These forests, named Sacred Desire Forest, Great Aditi
Forest, Virtuous Vyasa Forest, Falaki Forest, Surya Forest, Great Madhu Forest,
and Sacred Cool Forest, are all purifying and destroy all sins. Now, listen to
the names of the rivers. They are the Sacred Saraswati River, Vaitarani River,
Great Sacred Apaga River, Mandakini Ganga, Madhusrava, Vasu River,
Sin-destroying Kaushiki, Great Sacred Drishadvati River, and Hiranyavati River.
Apart from Saraswati, all these rivers flow only during the rainy season."
During the rainy season, their
water is considered sacred, and they are never tainted with impurities. Due to
the influence of pilgrimage sites, all these great rivers are considered pure.
O sages! Now, listen joyfully to the great merits of bathing in pilgrimage
sites. Going there and remembering them destroys all sins. After seeing the
powerful gatekeeper named Rantu, one should bow to the Yaksha, then start the
pilgrimage. After that, one should go to the famous Savana, where Lord Vishnu
always resides. By bathing in the pure pilgrimage of Vimal Tirtha, one becomes
pure and goes to Rudraloka.
By seeing Krishna and Baladeva
seated on a throne, a person becomes free from the sins of Kali. After that,
one should go to the famous Paripalaya pilgrimage in all three worlds. By
bathing there and seeing Lord Brahma along with the Vedas, one attains knowledge
of Atharvaveda and obtains pure heaven. After going to the Kausiki Sangam
Tirtha and bathing, one attains the highest position. By going to the sacred
pilgrimage of Dharanika and bathing, a forgiving person attains the highest
rank. By bathing in the Sarpirddhi pilgrimage named after the serpents, a
person becomes free from the fear of snakes. O best of Brahmins! Then one
should go to the gatekeeper named Rantu.
After staying there for a night
and bathing in the great sacred pilgrimage, one should worship the gatekeeper
diligently the next day and feed Brahmins. Then, one should pay respects to
them and pray for forgiveness, saying, "O Yaksha! By your grace, a person
becomes free from sins. May I attain my desired accomplishment?" Thus,
after pleasing Yaksha, one should go to the Pancanada pilgrimage.
The place where Lord Rudra
created five formidable rivers for the demons is famous throughout the world as
the Panchanada Tirtha. Because by establishing millions of pilgrimage sites
there, the Lord is present there. Therefore, that place is called the Mahaatya Koti
Tirtha, renowned in the three worlds and all pilgrimages. By knowing and
visiting there, humans estimate the results of the five types of great
sacrifices. In that place, all the deities and Lord Vamana are established. By
bathing there, one obtains the result of the Agnishtoma sacrifice. A faithful
and self-controlled person becomes beautiful and successful by visiting the
pilgrimage of the Ashwini Kumaras. The famous Varaha Tirtha is described at the
Vishnu Dvara. A devout person attains the supreme state by bathing there. O
best of Brahmins! After that, one should go to the excellent Somatirtha, where
the moon, having performed penance in a previous age, was liberated from
diseases. By bathing in that auspicious pilgrimage and seeing Lord Someshwara,
one attains the fruit of the Rajasuya sacrifice and, freed from diseases and
all faults, goes to the lunar realm, where one enjoys eternal bliss. There are
also lingas named Bhuteshwara and Jwalamaleshwara. By worshipping those lingas,
one does not attain rebirth. By bathing in the Ekahamsa lake, a person obtains
the fruit of donating thousands of cows. One should then go to the Tirtha named
Kritashoucha, where, with mental concentration, a noble Brahmin performs the
special Pundarika sacrifice and attains its fruit, becoming purified. After
that, an intelligent person should stay for one night at the Munjavata Tirtha
of Lord Mahadeva and obtain the title of Ganapatya (leader of the Ganas) by
performing a special sacrifice. There is also the world-famous Mahagrahi
Yakshini. By bathing there and pleasing the Yakshini through fasting, one's
great sins are destroyed.
Performing the circumambulation
of the famous Dwaraka Tirtha in Kurukshetra, one should feed the Brahmins.
Then, one should go to Pushkara and perform worship of the ancestors. This holy
place was established by the great sage Jamadagni's son Parashurama. By going
there, a person's desires are fulfilled, and the attainment of the result of
the Ashwamedha sacrifice for the king is achieved. Whoever donates a maiden
there on Kartiki Purnima, the gods, pleased with him, will grant him the
desired fruits. In that place resides the great Yaksha named Kapila, who, as
the guardian of morals, obstructs sinners' path to prevent them from committing
sins and to maintain the righteous order. His great Yakshini wife, named
Udukhala Mekhala, constantly roams there, playing the dundun drum.
Once, in the land of sinners, she
saw a woman with her son, and after sounding the drum, she said to her,
"In Yagandhara, after eating yogurt and residing in Achyuta Sthal, take a
bath in the Bhutalaya and reside there with your son." Hearing this, the
Yakshini bowed and said to her in a distressed voice, "O beautiful one!
Have mercy on me." Then the Yakshini, in a pitiful voice, said to her,
"When the sun god is visible, at that time, by bathing in the pool, you
will become purified and go to heaven."
Lomaharshana said, "After
that, the best of Brahmins should go to Ramakunda, where the radiant
sage-warrior Ram (Parashurama), with his power, slaughtered the Kshatriyas at
five ponds. O lion among men! It is heard that Parashurama filled those ponds
with blood and thus performed the rites for his ancestors and forefathers. O
best of Brahmins! After that, those pleased ancestors of Parashurama said to
him, 'O son! Your devotion to your ancestors is unparalleled. Due to your
prowess, we are all pleased with you. May your welfare be assured. Ask for a
boon. What do you desire?' In response to the ancestors' words, the illustrious
Ram, with his hands joined in reverence to the ancestors in the sky, said, 'If
you are pleased with me and have mercy upon me, then by your ancestors' grace,
I may be freed from the sin of annihilating the Kshatriyas, for those
Kshatriyas were slain by their own actions. Let these ponds become renowned
pilgrimage sites, and whoever bathes in them and performs the offerings to
their ancestors, may those forefathers grant them boons according to their
desires and provide them eternal residence in heaven.' Saying these auspicious
words, Parashurama's ancestors, greatly pleased, gave him permission and
disappeared. In this way, the Ramahrada of the great soul Parashurama is
supremely sacred.
The pious and virtuous person,
after bathing in the heart of Parashurama with celibacy, worships Parashurama
and obtains abundant gold. O Brahmins! The pilgrim who, with control over his
senses, visits the Vanshamulaka Tirtha and bathes there, attains the
fulfillment of his lineage. In the famous Kayashodhana Tirtha, renowned in all
three worlds, when a person bathes there, undoubtedly, the purification of the
body is obtained, and the pure-hearted person goes to that place where he does
not return again (he is free from the cycle of birth and death). The one
devoted to pilgrimage, who keeps wandering in the pilgrimages until he reaches
the Kayashodhana Tirtha, performs the circumambulation of it and bathes in it,
is undoubtedly purified from all sins.
"The one who controls the
mind achieves the traditional knowledge by washing that body (cleansing it and
acquiring that tradition, from which it does not return). Best of Brahmins!
After that, one should go to the Tirtha named Trilokyadhar, where all the
worlds were saved by Lord Vishnu. The human being who goes to the Tirtha named
Lokoddhar with faith in remembrance of the Tirtha indeed sees the vision of
eternal worlds by bathing in it. There, only Vishnu and the eternal God Shiva
reside. By offering obeisance to those two deities, one attains the fruit of
liberation. After that, one should go to the Anunay Shalagram and Shri Tirtha.
There, the Goddess (Lakshmi) bestows her nearness upon the performers."
"Then, after going to the
famous Kapilahad Tirthas, one should perform bathing, and thereafter, by
worshipping the gods and ancestors, one attains the fruit of donating a
thousand cows. By witnessing the form of Kapil, the body-bearer of Lord Shiva,
worshipped by the sages there, one attains liberation. A person with a stable
mind and dedicated to fasting, after bathing in the Surya Tirtha and
worshipping the ancestors, attains the fruit of the Agnistoma sacrifice and
goes to the Surya Loka."
"The human being who gains
knowledge by seeing the world-famous Lord Surya Deva with thousands of rays in
the three worlds indeed attains liberation. The person who serves the Tirthas
successively should go to the Bhavanivana (of Bhavani), where by performing the
consecration (abhisheka) there, one attains the fruit of donating a thousand
cows according to one's desire. In ancient times, the creation of Surabhi
occurred from the belching of Brahma while drinking nectar, and she went to the
Patala Loka. From her, all the mothers of the underworld (cows) were born, and
thus, the entire Patala Loka became filled with them."
"When the forefather was
performing a sacrifice, cows brought for the Dakshina (sacrificial fee) and
brought by Brahma were brought, but due to the vivid reason brought by the
cows, they began to wander. At the door of that vivid reason, Lord Ganapati
himself is present. The person who has control over his senses sees them and
achieves all desires. By taking refuge in the Devi Sangini Tirtha and gaining
knowledge, a person attains the acquisition of a beautiful form and, being
knowledgeable, becomes endowed with sons, grandsons, and attains infinite
prosperity, enjoying vast pleasures and obtaining the ultimate position."
"After that, one should go
to the famous Brahmavarta Tirtha, where undoubtedly a person becomes a knower
of Brahman and then according to his own desires, gives up his life. O best of
Brahmins! After the Sangini Tirtha, one should go to the Rantuka Tirtha,
guarded by the gatekeeper Rantuka. It is in the Saraswati river. By bathing
there and being devoted to fasting, a person of supreme knowledge attains the
desired fruit by the grace of Yaksha. O best of Brahmins! Then one should go to
the Brahmavarta Tirtha, praised by the sages. By bathing in the Brahmavarta
Tirtha, a person undoubtedly attains Brahman."
"O best of Brahmins! After
that, one should go to the renowned Shreshth Sutirtha. In that place, the gods
along with the ancestors reside permanently. By worshipping the ancestors and
gods, a person who bathes there attains the fruit of the horse-sacrifice and
pleases the eternal ancestors. O knower of dharma! After that, one should go
successively to the Kameshwar Tirtha. By going there and bathing with faith, a
person undoubtedly gets rid of all diseases and undoubtedly attains Brahman. In
the same place, the Matritirtha, by bathing with devotion, the progeny
(lineage) of a person grows continuously, and he obtains the attainment of
infinite wealth. After that, a person who eats regulated food and is in control
of his senses should go to the Sheetvan Tirtha. O great Brahmins! There, the
Dandaka Tirtha is a great sacred place; it is extremely rare. O best of
Brahmins! That Dandaka Tirtha purifies a person just by the sight of it."
"In that Tirtha, by shaving
the hair, a person afflicted by sins becomes liberated. There is another great
Tirtha named Swanulomayan. O best of Brahmins! There, people who are extremely
knowledgeable and wise reside, devoted to serving the Tirtha. In that
world-famous Tirtha, they abandon their people through the practice of
Pranayama and attain the ultimate destination, the supreme state. There is also
the highly renowned Dashashwamedhika Tirtha. By bathing there with devotion,
one attains the above-mentioned fruits. Then, a person should go to the famous
Manusha Tirtha. By seeing that Tirtha, one undoubtedly becomes free from all
sins."
"In ancient times, the black
deer (Kalahan) killed by an arrow by a hunter became human by bathing in that
lake. After that, all those hunters ascended to heaven due to their bathing. O
best of Brahmins! Those who serve the Manusha Tirtha successively, undoubtedly,
free themselves from all sins. Then, by bathing and purifying their bodies, all
those hunters ascended to heaven. O best of Brahmins! In the eastern direction
of Manusha Tirtha, there is a famous river worshipped by the Brahmins called 'Aapga'.
There, by giving boiled rice mixed with ghee to the Brahmins, sins are not left
behind. Those who go to the banks of that Aapga river and perform shraddha will
undoubtedly fulfill all their desires. All the ancestors say that the one who
remembers will be born in our lineage, who will come to your shore and offer
sesame seeds, from which we will all remain afflicted with calamity (eternal
destruction)."
This passage appears to be a
description of various sacred pilgrimages and rituals associated with them,
particularly focusing on their auspicious timing and the benefits accrued by
performing them. Here's a summary of the key points mentioned:
1. **Significance of Bhadrapada
Month**: Performing pindadan (offering oblations to ancestors) during the
waning phase of the moon in the month of Bhadrapada is said to grant
liberation.
2. **Brahmodumbar Tirtha**: After
pindadan, visiting the Brahmodumbar Tirtha, revered by the sages, is
recommended. Bathing in the Brahmakund there is said to yield the fruit of
seven somayagnas.
3. **Other Sacred Sites and
Rituals**: The passage mentions several other sacred sites such as Kedartirtha,
Idaspada Tirtha, Sarak Tirtha, and others. Each site is associated with
specific rituals and benefits, such as liberation, fulfillment of desires, and
freedom from sins.
4. **Narasimha and Vishnu's
Worship**: There's a narrative about Narasimha, the half-man half-lion
incarnation of Vishnu, and the worship of Vishnu and Shiva by the deities.
5. **Narada's Stuti**: Narada
praises both Shiva and Vishnu, expressing gratitude for witnessing their divine
forms and acknowledging the purification of his hermitage due to their
presence.
6. **Benefits of Pilgrimage**:
The passage emphasizes the benefits of pilgrimage, including liberation from
sins, attainment of desires, and achieving the ultimate goal of life.
Overall, the text outlines a
spiritual journey involving rituals, pilgrimage to sacred sites, and devotion
to deities, with the ultimate aim of achieving spiritual liberation.
"O best of Brahmins! After
that, one should go to the best pilgrimage site. There, by bathing with
devotion, one attains the highest achievement (liberation). On the fourteenth
day of the waxing moon in the month of Vaishakha, one should perform the
worship of Lord Shiva after selecting a suitable spot, which removes sins.
There, celestial beings reside, and sins are eradicated.
In the Drishadvati (Karagar)
river, by bathing and offering oblations to the gods, one attains the fruits of
Agnistoma and Atiratra sacrifices. On Somavati Amavasya, when the moon wanes,
that is, on the new moon day, performing Shraddha (ritual offering to
ancestors) yields great merit. Just as Gaya Kshetra perpetually satisfies the
ancestors, similarly, performing Shraddha in Falakivan satisfies the ancestors.
Those who remember Falakivan also undoubtedly satisfy their ancestors.
Falakivan is a great pilgrimage
site adorned by all gods, where a person who bathes gains the fruits of cow
donations. By bathing in the Manavapani river and performing the Tarpana ritual
for ancestors, one obtains the fruits of the Rajasuya sacrifice, as well as the
practice of Sankhya (knowledge) and Yoga (action).
After Panikhata, one should visit
the great and auspicious pilgrimage site named Mishrak. O great sages! Sage
Vyasa amalgamated the pilgrimage sites for the sake of Dadhichi Rishi. By
bathing in this mixed pilgrimage site, a person bathes in all pilgrimage sites.
Then, being disciplined and consuming regular food, one should visit Vyasa's
forest.
By bathing in the Manojav Tirtha
and witnessing the divine gem Shiva, one achieves the fulfillment of desires
without a doubt. A person should bathe in the Madhuvati Tirtha, control
themselves, and worship the gods and ancestors. Such a person attains success
as desired by the goddess.
A person who bathes in the
confluence of the Kaushiki and Drishadvati (Karagar) rivers and consumes
regulated food becomes free from all sins. Vyasasthali is a place where,
despite being distressed by the grief of losing a son, Vedavyasa decided to
renounce his body, but the goddess intervened and reassured him. After that,
those who visit that land do not suffer from the grief of losing a son.
By donating a handful of sesame
seeds in Kindat Kriksha, a person achieves ultimate success and liberation from
debts. These two pilgrimage sites, Adi and Sudin, are rare on earth. By bathing
in both of them, a person becomes purified and attains the realm of the
sun."
After that, one should visit the
famous pilgrimage site known as "Kritajapya" in all three worlds.
There, while maintaining discipline, one should bathe in the Ganges. By
worshiping Lord Shiva there, the fruits of an Ashwamedha Yagna are obtained.
Also, situated there is the Koti Tirtha. By bathing there with devotion and
then witnessing Lord Kotishwara Nath, one obtains the fruits of millions of
Yagnas. Following that, one should visit the renowned Vamana Tirtha in all
three worlds, where the powerful Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Vamana and
deprived Bali of his kingdom, giving it to Lord Indra.
By bathing in the Vishnupada
Tirtha there and worshiping Vamana Deva, one becomes purified of all sins and
attains the abode of Vishnu. Furthermore, there is the Jyestha Ashrama Tirtha,
which destroys all sins. Fasting on the Ekadashi of the Jyestha month and
bathing on the Dwadashi day grants one superiority among human beings. It was
at this place that Lord Vishnu, along with other deities, honored and respected
Brahmins devoted to the worship of Vishnu and engaged in sacrifices.
After receiving offerings and
various kinds of donations, the benefits remain eternal and stable even till
the end of Manvantara. Similarly, there is the famous Koti Tirtha, whereby
bathing, one obtains the fruits of millions of Yagnas.
By visiting Kotishwara Mahadeva
at that Tirtha, one attains the title of Ganapati through the grace of
Mahadeva. And there is also the great Tirtha of Mahatma Suryadeva. By bathing
there with devotion, one is considered to attain the great realm of the sun.
O best of Brahmins! After Koti
Tirtha, one should go to the Tirtha that destroys sins, known as Kulottarana
Tirtha, established in ancient times by Vishnu for the salvation of those who
follow the varna-ashrama dharma. Those who desire liberation through the vow of
celibacy also achieve the ultimate medal by visiting that Tirtha. Brahmacharis,
householders, retirees, and renunciates rescue twenty-one previous generations
of their lineage by bathing there. Those who belong to the Brahmin, Kshatriya,
Vaishya, or Shudra caste and who are dedicated to the Tirtha pilgrimage and
bathe with devotion, all attain the ultimate medal. Even those who live far
away but remember Kurukshetra, including Vamana, attain liberation; what to
speak of those who reside there?
Lomaharshana continued - In the
heart of Pavana, after bathing in the lake where Hanumanji was captured due to
his grief and then worshiping Lord Maheshwara, one becomes completely purified
of all sins and attains the realm of Shiva. After that, the gods, including
Lord Brahma, along with all the Rishis, made themselves visible to him. From
there, one should proceed to Shoolapani (Lord Shiva), where Gandhavak and the
deities revealed Hanumanji.
The Tirtha named Kulotsarana is
yours. It rescues all the belongings of the ancestors. The Tirtha of renowned
Rishi Shalihotra, famous in all three worlds, frees a person from all physical
sins. The three Saraswatis - Vishala, Manasahridaya, and Saraswati - merge
together and flow.
In Pushkar Tirtha, when Brahma
was performing his Yagna, all the sages told him, "Your Yagna will not be
fruitful because Saraswati River is not visible here." Upon hearing this,
Bhagavan remembered Saraswati with great devotion. When performing Yagna in
Pushkar, the goddess named Suprabha, offered as a sacrifice, became famous as
Saraswati. Seeing the revered Saraswati believed by Brahma, the sages became
pleased, and all of them honored her greatly.
Thus, the great river Saraswati, which was situated in Pushkar Tirtha, was brought by the sage Mankana to Kurukshetra. Once, the wealthy ascetics residing in Naimisharanya, including Shaunaka and other sages, asked the great sage Lomaharshana about how the fruit of yajnas could be obtained by travelers of the path of truth. After that, the great sage Lomaharshana paid respects to the sages and said, "O sages! Wherever the Saraswati river flows, there the great fruit of yajnas is obtained. Hearing this, the sages who were engaged in the study of various Vedas gathered together and remembered Saraswati. Due to the prolonged performance of yajnas by those sages, Saraswati appeared there in the form of water, named Kanchanakshi, to flow in the yajna performed by those great souls in the Naimisha forest. The renowned river Saraswati remembered through the Mankana Rishi, appeared in Kurukshetra and was worshipped by the munis wearing bark and deer skins.
Thus, due to the meditation of those munis, Saraswati, who
destroyed all sins, became famous as "Manohara". Then, she,
accompanied by the sage Mankana, entered the excellent pilgrimage site of
Kurukshetra to be honored by the sages. The Saraswati river, known as Suvenu at
Kedara Tirtha, is served by the sages and Siddhas and is known as the destroyer
of all sins. Worshipping the supreme deity, the sage caused Saraswati to flow
in this Kurukshetra to repay the favor of the sages. At the Ganga Dvara, while
performing a yajna, Dakshina made the divine Saraswati appear as Vimaloda.
Saraswati, worshipped at Kurukshetra by the Kurus, was called upon by Mankana.
Then, the wise Markandeya praised the sacred, flowing Saraswati and took her to
the middle of the lake. At the Saptasarasvata Tirtha, Siddha Mankana was
dancing, which was stopped by Lord Shiva.
