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10-Brahm Vaivart Puraan,  11-Ling Puraan,  12-Varaah Puraan,  13-Skand Puraan,
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2-Uttar Bhaag

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14-Pilgrimage and Prayaag
6-Naarad Puraan, 2-Uttar Bhaag, p 704-709

Uttar Bhaag of Naarad Puraan (p 577-750, about 175 pages) contains many stories - Rukmaangad, Indradyumn, Raam, Parashuraam, Krishn, glory of Gayaa and Gangaa, importance of Teerth

Method of Pilgrimage

Hearing about Purushottam Teerth Mohinee desired to know about Prayaag Teerth, so Vasu Jee further said - "Now you listen to the method of Pilgrimage. Teerth Yaatraa is more than a Yagya. If one goes to pilgrimage even by mistake he attains the fruit of that Teerth. Five types of people are not eligible for such fruits - who do not have Shraddhaa, sinners, atheists, doubtful, and who always use logic in everything. Sinners can get only their sins washed away. Fishes live in Gangaa River, many birds and animals live in Teerth areas, but they do not get any fruit being without the feeling of Bhakti. Therefore one should always go there with Bhakti.

There are three types pilgrimage - Krit, Prayukt and Anumodit. A Brahmchaaree child can do all types of pilgrimages by obeying his Guru. Whoever wishes to go to pilgrimage, first he should practice controlling his Indriyaan at home. Worship Ganesh Jee and respect all elders and Braahman etc. He should do the same when he comes back from pilgrimage. One should shave his head in Prayaag, in pilgrimage, at the death of one's father or mother. If there is no such reason, one should not do so. Who is ready to go to Gayaa, he should do Shraaddh methodically and assume the guise of a pilgrim. Who visits the Teerth on some ride (pulled by man or any animal), he gets only half of the fruit of that Teerth, but if somebody goes on foot he gets the fruits four times than the usual one. One can use umbrella and shoes. Who goes there with some other's money, he gets only the 1/16th part of the Punya. Who goes to Teerth for some other's work, he gets half of the Punya. Never test any Braahman in a Teerth, rather one should feed him if he comes as a beggar. Whether it is time or not for doingTeerth Shraaddh and Pitar Tarpan, one must do them.

Why these Teerth are holier than other lands? As some parts of the body are more important than others, in the same way some pieces of land are holier than others. Who doesn't shave his head at Gangaa River, his all auspicious Karm goes waste. When one goes to Gangaa River his all sins come to stay in his hair, that is why one must cut his hair there. Whose father is alive, he can shave his head but not his mustache."

Glory of Prayaag

Vasu further said - "Wherever you take bath in Gangaa, she gives Punya like Kurukshetra, but she gives 10 times more Punya where she touches Vindhya Parvat. Kaashee's northward Gangaa  gives 100 times more Punya, than Gangaa that is near Vindhya Parvat. And she, that meets Yamunaa, gives 100 times more Punya than Kaashee's Gangaa. Where it flows westward, she gives 1,000 times more Punya. Westward flowing Gangaa destroys all sins by her Darshan only. She destroys sins committed during 100 Kalp. She is very difficult to get in Maagh Maas. Where she meets Yamunaa, that water is called "Venee". Maagh Maas Snaan is difficult for even Devtaa for two Ghadee (80 minutes).

Whatever Teerth are on Prithvi, they all come to take bath in Venee in Maagh Maas - when the Sun is in Makar (Capricorn) Raashi. Even all Devtaa, Devee, Gandharv, Yaksh etc come to take bath in Venee in Maagh Maas. They all came in person in Sat Yug, but in Kali Yug they come secretly. All Teerth which become black with the sins of sinners during the whole year, they all become white (clean) by taking bath in Venee in Maagh Maas.

A person who takes bath in hot water in his house up to 60 years, gets whatever fruit of that bath, he gets the same fruit by taking bath in Sangam only once in Maagh Maas. Where the two rivers meet (Sangam) one gets 400 times more Punya, while taking bath in Prayaag in Maagh Maas gives 1,000 time more Punya. This Prayaag was created by Brahmaa Jee in ancient times.

If this Maagh Maas is passed in Badaree Van it gives Moksh. Narmadaa's Maagh Snaan takes away all sorrows, destroys all sins  and fulfills all wishes. Gangaa water in Maagh Maas destroys all sins and gives Moksh. If one takes bath in Naimish Aranya in Maagh Maas it gives Vishnu's Saaroopya; if taken bath in Pushkar Teerth, it gives Saameepya (being near to somebody) to Brahmaa Jee; if taken bath in Gomatee River, it gives Moksh.

Whatever Gati is achieved by living only on water and air, or on leaves, or do Tapsyaa for long periods, do Yog; the same Gati can be achieved by taking bath in Prayaag. Prayaag's extent is five Yojan (45 miles). Here are three Kund (pond) and in their middle is Gangaa. 30,010,000 Teerth live in Prayaag. Here Soorya's daughter Yamunaa meets Gangaa. The land between Gangaa and Yamunaa is considered the best. There is no other Teerth greater than Prayaag. One can fulfill his all wishes by taking bath here for one month. Who takes bath in Sitaasit Sangam in Maagh Maas, he does not come back to earth even in millions of Kalp.

Here in Pratishthaanpur (Jhoonsee), there is a well. Who lives there by controlling his mind, taking bath and doing Tarpan for three nights, he gets free from all sins and gets the fruit of Ashwamedh Yagya. There are some other Teerth also in its vicinity - Hans-Pratapan, Dashaashwamedh (north to Vaasuki Naag and near to Bhogvatee), Rinmochan (North to Paayatee and on Southern shore of Prayaag) - if somebody takes bath there and then passes one night there, he becomes free from all debts and ascends to Swarg Lok as Devtaa; etc.

Get head shaved in Prayaag, do Pind Daan in Gayaa and die in Kaashee. A human being's all sins live in his hair, therefore one should shave his head before taking bath. If there is Maagh Shukla Saptamee at sunrise, it is equal to 1,000 solar eclipses. One gets million times Punya by taking bath in Prayaag on Ayan beginning days (Makar Sankraanti and Kark Sankraanti). One must do some Daan (donations) according to one's capacity. This increases the fruits of Teerth.

One should not take donation in Teerth, Devtaa places, temples etc. A Braahman should never accept donations for one's own use, Shraaddh of Pitar, and worship of Devtaa. Who does Kanyaa Daan (marriage of a girl) at Sangam, he never sees Narak. Punya of both Gangaa and Yamunaa are the same, but because of being elder, Gangaa is worshipped everywhere.

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