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1-Bhaarat Varsh

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1-Bhaarat Varsh
2-Padm Puraan, 3-Swarg Khand, p 332-349

This section is very short - of about 80 pages, p 332-409. The importance of very few Teerth and the duties of four Aashram are given here.


Creation

Rishi said - "Hey Romharshan Jee, We have heard that Vishnu Himself lives on Prithvi in the form of Teerth, so please tell us the names of the Teerth. Tell us this also that from whom this world has been born, who sustains it and in whom it disappears? Which are the mountains and rivers which are holy and should be worshipped?" Soot Jee said - "First I tell you about the creation. After the Pralaya, nothing remained except Brahm. When He knew that the time for Creation had come, He thought to create it again. First of all Pradhaan (original nature) appeared from Brahm, then appeared Mahat Tattwa from Pradhaan. This Mahat Tattwa is covered by Pradhaan from all around. This Mahat Tattwa is made up of three types of Ahankaar - Vaikaarik (Saatwik), Taijas (Raajasik) and Bhoot etc Taamas Ahankaar. As this Mahat Tattwa is covered by Pradhaan, Ahankaar is covered by Mahat Tattwa. Then Bhoot etc Taamas Ahankaar created Bhoot and Tanmaatraa.

Indriyaan (senses) are called Taijas, they have appeared from Raajas Ahankaar. The ten Lords of ten Indriyaan are said to be Vaikaarik or Saatwik. They are born from Saatwik Ahankaar. Learned people tell Mind as the 11th Indriya. Space, Air, Tej (Fire), Water, and Prithvi (Earth) Panch Mahaa-Bhoot contain sound, touch, form, etc attributes consecutively. Although these Panch Mahaa Bhoot (five elements of nature) have various types of powers, still they were not able to create people; that is why from Mahat Tattwa to Panch-Bhoot (Mahat Tattwa, Pradhaan, Tanmaatraa, and Panch Mahaa-Bhoot), all became united and created an egg. Created by these Panch Mahaa Bhoot and consecutively growing, this egg looked round in shape. It got stabilized on water and became the place of Vishnu. He appeared in the form of Brahmaa in that egg. At that time Meru Parvat worked as the thin film to cover the fetus, and other Parvat (mountains) worked as water bag and sea was inside the bag as water. Mountains, islands, seas, planets, all Lok, Devtaa, human beings etc appeared inside that egg only.

Whatever lotus flower appeared from the navel of Vishnu, the same became the golden egg by His wish. He Himself creates the world appearing in the form of Brahmaa Jee. He appears as Raam etc to sustain this world, and appears as Rudra to destroy this world."

Soot Jee said - "Now I will tell you about Bhaarat Varsh in which many great kings have been born. There are seven mountains in this country - Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktimaan, Rikshvaan, Vindhya, and Paariyaatra; but there are many rivers - Gangaa, Sindhu, Saraswatee, Godaavaree, Narmadaa, Shatadru (Satalaj) etc and many kingdoms. Now I tell you the dialog between Yudhishthir and Naarad Jee. When Paandav had lost their kingdom in Dice Game, and they were living in forest, one day Naarad Jee came to them. Paandav worshipped them, Naarad Jee asked them, "What do you want?" Yudhishthir said - "We are all right by your grace, we don't need anything. We want to know whoever goes around the whole Prithvi with the intention of pilgrimage, what results does he get?"

Naarad Jee said - "In ancient times, King Dileep lived on the banks of Gangaa River like a Muni. One day Vashishth Jee came to him. He welcomed him saying, "I am Dileep. Today I have been blessed by seeing you." After sitting down comfortably, Vashishth Jee asked him as what he could do for him? Dileep asked him the same question - "Who wanders around the whole Prithvi with the intention of pilgrimage, what fruit does he get?" Vashishth Jee said - "Teerth (pilgrim places) are the resting places for Rishi. In fact only he gets the fruit of Teerth who has full control over his Indriyaan, is learned, does not accept donations, is contented, disciplined, keeps fast, does not become angry, and feel about others as he feels for himself.

Poor people cannot do Yagya, because it needs many kinds of materials and means, that is why I am telling you those Shaastra prescribed Karm which can be done by poor people also and whose fruit is equal to the fruit of Yagya also. When one is in Pushkar Teerth, he becomes the Devtaa of Devtaa. Whoever even desires to be in Pushkar, his all sins are washed away. Who takes bath there and worship Devtaa he gets ten times Punya as that of Ashwamedh Yagya. Who feeds even one Braahman in Pushkar forest, he attains Brahm Dhaam. Who meditates upon Pushkar by folding hands every morning and evening, he attains the fruit of bathing in all Teerth.  A man's all sins, committed in his life time, are destroyed by just going to Pushkar. Who lives in Pushkar for 12 years, he attains the fruit of all Yagya and goes to Brahm Lok. Who does Agnihotra daily and who lives there only on Kaartik Poornimaa day, both get the same fruits.

First it is difficult to go there; and if somebody goes there, it is difficult to do Tapasyaa there. To donate something there is more difficult than doing Tapasyaa, and living there for ever is the most difficult thing."

Other Teerth

Vashishth Jee said - "Whoever wishes to circumambulate Prithvi, first he should enter Jamboo Maarg. This is worshipped by all Devtaa, Pitar and Rishi. Who lives there for 5 nights taking food only once in the 6th Prahar of the day, he is never born in lower Gati. From there, one should go to Tundoolik Aashram. Who goes there, he is also never born in lower Gati and is respected in Swarg Lok. Then he should go to Agastya Aashram; who lives there keeping fast and worships Devtaa and Pitar, he gets the fruit of Agnishtom Yagya. Then one should go to Mahaakaal Teerth situated in Ujjain and should take bath in Narmadaa River."

Yudhishthir said - "Munivar, I wish to listen to Narmadaa's importance once again." Naarad Jee said - "Narmadaa River gives Mukti to all kinds of creatures. Saraswatee River makes one holy after taking bath in it for three weeks, Yamunaa River makes one holy after taking bath in it for one week and Gangaa River makes one holy as one touches it; but Narmadaa River makes one holy just only by seeing it. Who passes even one night on its banks, he uplifts his 100 generations. Koti-Rudra have been established around Amarkantak Teerth, who takes bath there and offer sandal paste and flower garland to Rudra, Shiv becomes pleased with him. Hey Yudhishthir, Narmadaa is a little more than 100 Yojan long and 2 Yojan wide. There are 600 million and 60,000 (600,060,000 or 60 Crore and 60 thousand) Teerth around Amarkantak Parvat. There is another River named Kapilaa - South to Narmadaa River. There are more than a billion (100 Crore) Teerth there also. Whichever trees fall down on its banks in its water, they also get Param Gati. Who keeps fast on Narmadaa's banks, he gets free from Brahm Hatyaa. Who goes to Amarkantak Teerth during solar or lunar eclipse times, he gets all kinds of Punya."

Yudhishthir said - "Now we wish to hear the importance of the Sangam of Narmadaa and Kaaveree." Naarad Jee said - "Where Kaaveree meets Narmadaa, once Kuber did Tapasyaa there. He did it for 100 Divine years. Shiv Jee got pleased with his Tapasyaa and bestowed him with the Var. Kuber said - "Dev, If you are pleased with me, then make me the Lord of all Yaksh." Shiv Jee said, "So be it" and got disappeared. After that Kuber went to Alakaa Puree. Yaksh honored him and appointed him as their Lord. One should worship Shiv there after taking bath. Doing Snaan at this Sangam is also like doing Snaan at Gangaa and Yamunaa Sangam.

* Note - After this, many Teerth places are described, p 338-344, situated on the banks of Narmadaa River. During the following description also many Teerth places are described. Most times it is difficult to locate them that is why they are not given here.

Naarad Jee further said - "One should go to Himaalaya's son Arbud Parvat (Aaboo mountain) where there was a hole in Prithvi in earlier times, and there was Rishi Vashishth's Aashram. Who lives there even for one night, he earns the Punya of donating 1,000 cows. Then one should go to Prabhaas Kshetra. Here Agni Dev always lives. Then one should go to Dwaarakaa. One can see the marks of Trishool (tridents) on lotus petals. Here lives Mahaadev Jee. Then one should go to Panchnad Teerth and live there eating limited food.

Vitastaa Teerth in Kashmeer is the dwelling place of Naag Raaj Takshak. Who takes bath there and does Tarpan for Devtaa and Pitar, he certainly gets the fruit of Vaajpeya Yagya. Then one should go to Kuru Kshetra. All pray it. Whoever goes there he become free from this world. Then one should go Brahmaavart. One attains Brahm Lok by taking bath in it. One should go to Pundareek Teerth on Shukla Dashamee day. Kurukshetra is called is the holiest Teerth, but Saraswatee River is holier than that, and its Teerth are holier than the River itself. Then one should go to Panchvat Teerth.

Living in Kurukshetra with discipline, one goes to Swarg Lok. Kuru Kshetra is very holy Teerth. Even if the dust of Kurukshetra falls on a sinner's body, he gets Param Gati. Kuru Kshetra is situated on Brahm Vedee. The area from Tarandak to Arandak; and from Raamhlad (Parashuraam Kund) to Machkrukat, is called Samant Panchak, and the same is known as Kurukshetra."

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/05
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Updated on 05/10/13