Story of Vāraṇāsī (VĀRĀṆASĪ). Kāśī.
The name Vāraṇāsī. Formerly this place was known as Prayāga. Later it got the name Vāraṇāsī and then Kāśī. The name Vāraṇāsī is originated from two rivers. Bhagavān Yogaśāyī who stays in Prayāga was born from a portion of Mahāviṣṇu. From the right leg of Yogaśāyī the river Varaṇā started and from his left leg the river Asī started. These two rivers are praised and worshipped all over the world. The temple of Yogaśāyī is situated in the place between these two rivers. As the place is situated between Varaṇā and Asī it is called Vāraṇāsi. (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 3). Other information. (i) Bhīṣma went to Kāśī and took Ambā, Ambikā and Ambālikā, the daughters of the King of Kāśī, to his kingdom by force. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 102, Stanza 3). (ii) Vāraṇāsī is a holy place of pilgrimage. By bathing in Kapilāhrada, a holy bath there, and worshipping Śaṅkara, one could obtain the fruits of performing the sacrifice Rājasūya. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Stanza 78). (iii) The middle part of Vāraṇāsī is called Avimukta. Those who forsake their lives at Avimukta will obtain heaven. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Stanza 79). (iv) Once Śrī Kṛṣṇa made Vāraṇāsī a prey to fire. (Mahābhārata Udyoga Parva, Chapter 48, Stanza 76). (v) A very great scholar named Tulādhāra Vaiśya once lived in Vārāṇasī. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 261, Stanza 41). (vi) Once, in ancient days, Śiva imparted to the hermit Jaigīṣu at this place, the eight miraculous attainments such as aṇimā, garimā etc. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 18, Stanza 37). (vii) Vāraṇāsī is equal to the capital city of Indra (Amarāvatī). (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 30, Stanza 16). (viii) In ancient days a hermit named Saṃvartta used to come here daily to worship Śiva. It was at this place that the emperor Marutta accepted the hermit Saṃvartta as his priest. (Mahābhārata Aśvamedha Parva, Chapters 6 and 7). II Pilgrimage on foot to Kāśī. Devotees from many parts of India go on pilgrimage to Kāśī on foot, bathe in the holy waters of the Gaṅgā and thus earn spiritual satisfaction and release from worldly attachments. The reason for the above is stated in the Agni Purāṇa as follows:— Once, at Kailāsa Śiva told Pārvatī that the temple at Kāśī was called 'Avimukta' (unreleased) as it never perished, and all Japa, tapa, homa and dāna made there never cease to give auspicious results. One should walk on foot to Kāśī and live there. Having gone there one should never leave the place. There are eight great tīrthas at Avimukta, i.e. Hariścandra tīrtha, Āvrātakeśvara tīrtha, Japyeśvara tīrtha, Śrī Parvatīrtha, Mahālayatīrtha, Bhṛgu tīrtha, Caṇḍeśvara tīrtha and Kedāratīrtha. These tīrthas extend to two yojanas to the east of the Kāśī temple and half-ayojana to the west of it. The river Varaṇā is also there, and Vārāṇasī is at the centre of all these. Whatever is done at Vārāṇasī like bath, Japa, homa, worship of Devas, dāna, obsequies for the dead, oneself living there etc. is productive of devotion and salvation. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 112). References to Kāśī in the Mahābhārata. (i) Pāṇḍu once conquered Kāśī. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9). (ii) Bhīma married Balandharā, daughter of the King of Kāśī. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 77). (iii) Bhīmasena conquered Kāśī. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 30, Verse 6). (iv) Sahadeva conquered Kāśī. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 50, Verse 31). (v) In the war between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, the King of Kāśī fought on the side of the former. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 196, Verse 2). (vi) Arjuna conquered Kāśī. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 122, Verse 40). vii) Śrī Kṛṣṇa conquered Kāśī. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 15). (viii) Karṇa once conquered Kāśī on behalf of Duryodhana. (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 8, Verse 19). (ix) Kāśī had been ruled by the Kings called Haryaśva. Sudeva, and Divodāsa. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 30, Verses 12 to 15). (x) King Vṛṣadarbha and Uśīnara had ruled over Kāśī. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 30, Verse 9). (xi) Bhīṣma conquered Kāśī during the Svayaṃvara of Ambā. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 44, Verse 38). (xii) The horse sent out in connection with Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha passed through Kāśī also. (Aśvamedha Parva, Chapter 83, Verse 14). III PADMA PURANAM The Merits of Vārāṇasī 8-26. I shall now tell you the knowledge which is properly explained by the great sages, which special knowledge is excluded by the ignorant and which should not be told. The city Vārāṇasī is my most secret holy place. It helps all the beings to cross the ocean of the worldly existence. O great goddess, the magnanimous ones observing great restraint live there devoutly practising my vow (i.e. a vow sacred to me). That holy place Avimukta is best among all holy places, is best among all abodes, is thy best knowledge among all (kinds of) knowledge. There are other holy places and sacred abodes situated in crematory and found in divine land. My abode is not at all connected with the world; it is in the Intermediate Space. Those that are not liberated see there; those that are liberated see mentally. This is a famous crematory well-known as Avimukta. O beautiful lady, being Kāla (the god of death) I destroy this world. O goddess, this place is dearer to me of all secrets. My devotees go there and enter me only. Whatever is given there, muttered there, offered or performed there, whichever penance is practised there, and also meditation, study or knowledge (gained) there becomes inexhaustible. All the sin of a man collected in the former thousands of births perishes when he enters Avimukta. Men—brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras, mixtures of castes, women, mlecchas, other mixed tribes of low birth, insects, ants, other beasts and birds, when they die at the proper time at Avimukta, O beautiful lady, are born in my auspicious city as having crescent moon on their heads, three eyes, and having great bulls as their vehicles. No sinner who dies at Avimukta goes to hell. Being favoured by the lord all of them go to the highest position. A man thinking that salvation is difficult to obtain and realising that the mundane existence is extremely terrible, having broken his feet with stone, should live in Vārāṇasī. O goddess, the path liberating from the mundane existence one who dies here or there is difficult to be obtained even by penance. O daughter of the (Himālaya) Mountain, by my favour (everything) takes place duly. Those who are immature do not see as they are deluded by my illusory power. They again and again live in feces, urine and semen. A learned man, though smitten by hundreds of dangers, goes to the highest place, going where he is not unhappy. He goes to Śiva’s abode free from birth, death and old age. apunarmaraṇānāṃ hi sā gatirmokṣakāṃkṣiṇām | yāṃ prāpya kṛtakṛtyaḥ syāditi manyaṃti paṃḍitāḥ || 27 || na dānairna tapobhiśca na yajñairnāpi vidyayā | prāpyate gatirutkṛṣṭā yāvimukte tu labhyate || 28 || 27-28. The position of those who desire salvation is the same as of those who do not die again, and reaching which, the learned think, one is blessed. The position that is obtained on (reaching salvation) is not obtained by gifts, penance, sacrifices or knowledge. 29-35. The wise know that Avimukta is a great medicine for the people of various castes or having no castes, the caṇḍālas that are condemned, with their bodies filled with blemishes and big sins. Avimukta is great knowledge; Avimukta is a great seat; Avimukta is a great fact; Avimukta is highly auspicious. I give them who, having firm dedication, live at Avimukta, that highest knowledge, that highest position. Prayāga, Naimiṣāraṇya, Śrīśaila, Mahābala, Kedāra, Bhadrakarṇa, Gayā and Puṣkara, also Kurukṣetra, Bhadrakoṭi, Narmadā, Mrātakeśvarī [Āmrātakeśvarī], Śālagrāma, Kubjāmra, the excellent Kokāmukha, Prabhāsa, Vijayeśāna, Gokarṇa and Bhadrakarṇa—these holy places are well-known in the three worlds. Men who die (here) do not go to the highest principle as those who die at Vārāṇasi. vārāṇasyāṃ viśeṣeṇa gaṃgā tripathagāminī | praviṣṭā nāśayetpāpaṃ janmāṃtaraśataiḥ kṛtam || 36 || anyatra sulabhā gaṃgā śrāddhaṃ dānaṃ tapo japaḥ | vratāni sarvamevaitadvārāṇasyāṃ sudurllabham || 37 || yadi pāpo yadi śaṭho yadi vā dhārmiko naraḥ | vārāṇasīṃ samāsādya punāti sakalaṃ kulam || 39 || vārāṇasyāṃ ye'rcayaṃti mahādevaṃ stuvaṃti vai | sarvapāpavinirmuktāste vijñeyā gaṇeśvarāḥ || 40 || yatra yogastathā jñānaṃ muktirekena janmanā | avimuktaṃ tadāsādya nānyadicchettapovanam || 43 || bhrūmadhye nābhimadhye ca hṛdaye caiva mūrdhani | yathāvimuktamāditye vārāṇasyāṃ vyavasthitam || 49 || varaṇāyāstathā cāsyā madhye vārāṇasīpurī | tatraiva saṃsthitaṃ tattvaṃ nityamevaṃvimuktakam || 50 || vārāṇasyāḥ paraṃ sthānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati | yatra nārāyaṇo devo mahādevo divīśvaraḥ || 51 || etadrahasyaṃ devānāṃ purāṇānāṃ ca suvrate | avimuktāśrayaṃ jñānaṃ na kaścidvetti tattvataḥ || 56 || 36-56. If a man enters (i.e. bathes in) Gaṅgā, flowing in three streams, especially at Vārāṇasī, it would destroy the sin committed in hundreds of his former births. Gaṅgā is easy to reach at other places. Śrāddha, gifts, penance, muttering (of a deity’s names), vows—all this is very difficult to be found at Vārāṇasī. A man living at Vārāṇasī would mutter (names of deities), would offer oblations, gives gifts everyday, worships gods, always eats (i.e. subsists upon) air. Even if a man is a sinner or a rogue, he purifies the entire family on reaching Vārāṇasī. Those, who worship and extol Mahādeva at Vārāṇasī, are free from all sins and should be known as the lord of Śiva’s attendants. At other places the highest place is reached only after a hundred births by means of the practice of yoga (i.e. deep meditation), knowledge or other things. But O you wife of the lord of gods, those devotees who stay at Vārāṇasī, obtain the best salvation in one birth only. Where the path of yoga and the path of knowledge (are combined), salvation is obtained in one birth only. A man having reached Avimukta would not desire (to go to) any other penance-grove. Since I have not abandoned it, it is said to be Avimukta. That is the secret of secrets. This is said to be wisdom. O you beautiful one, that position which is got by those that are devoted to knowledge or ignorance, and are desirous of the highest joy, is obtained by him who dies at Avimukta. Vārāṇasī is more holy than all the places that are seen in the body of Avimukta where the lord Mahādeva himself explained for Avimukta the liberating Brahman. A man would obtain in Vārāṇasī, that which is said to be the higher principle Avimukta, in (just) one birth. As between the two eye-brows, as in the navel, in the heart or the head, in the sun, so Avimukta is well-established in Vārāṇasī. Vārāṇasī city is (situated) between Varaṇā and Asī. There only is well settled the principle of Avimukta. There was never, or there never will be a higher place than Vārāṇasī, where (live) god Nārāyaṇa, and Mahādeva, the lord in heaven. There gods with gandharvas, yakṣas, serpents and demons always worship him, (who is) the god of gods, the grandsire. O goddess, the great sinners, those who are greater sinners than they are, go to the highest position after having come to Vārāṇasī. Therefore, he who desires salvation, should, being restrained, stay at Vārāṇasī till death. Getting knowledge from Mahādeva he is liberated. But difficulties may come up in the case of one whose mind is smitten with sin. Therefore one should not commit a sin by body, mind or speech. O you of a good vow, this is the secret of gods and Purāṇas. Nobody truly knows (i.e. has) the knowledge about Avimukta. Nārada said: 57-65. The god of gods told the entire (account) that destroys all sins to the deities and sages and the spiritual teachers that were listening. As Viṣṇu is the greatest among the gods, as Śiva is the greatest among lords, so is this place the best of all places. Those who have propitiated Rudra in a former birth, obtain (i.e. visit) the great holy place Avimukta, the abode of Śiva. Those whose mind is taken away due to having been born in Kali age, are not able to know that great place of the spiritual teacher. The sin of those who always remember and talk about this city, quickly perishes in this world and the next. God Śiva having time as his body would destroy all those sins which those who have taken an abode here commit. A man should come to (i.e. visit) this place resorted to by those who desire salvation; those who die would not be again born in the ocean of the mundane existence. Therefore, by all efforts a man, whether he is a yogi or no yogi, whether a sinner or the most virtuous one, should live in Vārāṇasi. The thought about (visiting) Avimukta should not be changed even by the words of the people, or of the father, or of the preceptor. IV kṛttivāseśvaraṃ liṃgaṃ nityamāśritya saṃsthitāḥ | jñātvā kaliyugaṃ ghoramadharmabahulaṃ janāḥ || 17 || kṛttivāsaṃ na muṃcaṃti kṛtārthāste na saṃśayaḥ | janmāṃtarasahasreṇa mokṣo yatrāpyate na vā || 18 || ekena janmanā mokṣaḥ kṛttivāse'tra labhyate | ālayaṃ sarvasiddhānāmetatsthānaṃ vadaṃti hi || 19 || saṃprāpya loke jagatāmabhīṣṭaṃ sudurlabhaṃ viprakuleṣu janma | dhyāne samādhāya japaṃti rudraṃ dhyāyaṃti citte yatayo maheśam || 23 || ārādhayaṃti prabhumīśitāraṃ vārāṇasīmadhyagatā munīṃdrāḥ | yajaṃti yajñairabhisaṃdhihīnāḥ stuvaṃti rudraṃ praṇamaṃti śaṃbhum || 24 || namo bhavāyāmalayogadhāmne sthāṇuṃ prapadye giriśaṃ purāṇam | smarāmi rudraṃ hṛdaye niviṣṭaṃ jāne mahādevamanekarūpam || 25 || iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe catustriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 34 || 14b-25. Śiva having with contempt killed the demon in the form of the elephant by means of his trident used his hide as his garment. Therefore, he is known as Kṛttivāseśvara. O Yudhiṣṭhira, the sages obtained a great superhuman power and with the same body obtained that highest position. Those who are called Vidyāvidyeśvara, Rudra, Śiva, have always resorted to the Liṅga (called) Kṛttivāseśvara. Men knowing that Kaliyuga is fearful and full of great impiety, do not forsake Kṛttivāsa; by doing so they are undoubtedly blessed. (At other places) liberation may or may not be obtained after a thousand existences; but at this Kṛttivāsa liberation is obtained after (just) one existence. They describe this place to be the abode of all siddhas, protected by Śambhu Mahādeva, the lord of gods. In every yuga brāhmaṇas that are controlled and are masters of deep meditation worship the magnanimous one and mutter the (hymn called) Śatarudriya. They constantly extol god Tryambaka, having the garment of (elephant-)hide. They meditate in their heart upon Śiva, Sthāṇu, who is in the heart of all. Siddhas, the brāhmaṇas who live at Vārāṇasi sing songs. Even by means of one song salvation would take place in the case of those who resort to Kṛttivāsa. They obtain a birth very difficult to obtain, which is desired, in brāhmaṇa families. Being steady in meditation, the sages meditate upon Rudra, the great lord, in their hearts. The best sages, living in Vārānaṣī, propitiate the supreme lord. They perform sacrifices without any (selfish) aim; they praise Rudra; they salute Śambhu. “I salute Bhava, the abode of pure, deep meditation. I resort to the ancient Girīśa. I remember Rudra, settled in my heart; I know Mahādeva of many forms.” Subham Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx K Rajaram IRS 17225 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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