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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00005 Oct 2006

 
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Dear Bhagavathas, 
I had an old Sthalapuranam published in 1927 by Shri Rangaswamy
Bhattachar and by Shri Ponnappa Bhattachar of Oppiliappn koil.  It has
a Tamil translation by Vaikunta Vaasi Sri Srirama DsikAcchAr Swamy.
This is an attempt to give as much of the sthalapuranam as possible in
English. 
I have been trying to do this for a few months, but was able to start
only now. 
Those who have more info about all these great people, please share
with us.  It is hard to imagine how much they would have tried to
bring this out 80 years ago. 
Please forgive the English and read on- as all the bhagavathas are
well aware of, it is not possible to do justice to the originals. 
This is for the benefit of Bhagavathas who are not too comfortable
with Sanskrit and/or Tamil. 
This has 9 chapters and others will follow as soon as possible. 

Shubha
Chapter 1
Sage Narada addressed Brahma thus:
` Oh Deva! Your eyes are like the lotus flower and you are seated on
the lotus. You are worshipped by all the devas and humans. You know
the power and glory of all the sacred places, waters, vimaanams  and
mantrams as well. I request you to grant this wish of mine. 
        "Once, I was elated to listen to Bhagavan's pure and sacred splendour.
Hence I ask you now. When you were relating the powerful story of
Kumbhakonam, Markandeya kshetram was mentioned briefly. This is very
secretive, and is very pure; nevertheless, since I am your sishya,
please relate this Mahathmyam, for the benefit of the whole Universe.' 
        Hearing this Brahma was exhilarated and paid obeisance to
Lakshmipathi and started to speak thus: 
        " Listen Narada! The mere thought of MarkaNdeya kshetram destroys all
sins at that very instance.  Anyone  who takes salt inside the temple
will go to hell. Anyone who relishes a dish with salt inside the
temple will also go to hell.  If someone sees someone else eat such a
dish and does not stop him, he attains all the sins of the world.
Someone who eats or gives  a little bit of salt without knowing also
attains the same fate.  This is true. 
        "On the other hand, someone who worships Bhumidevi's consort with the
leaves of Tulasi, attains Ashvamedha Phalan for every leaf.  Someone
who goes to this kshetram attains Paundareeka Phalan for every step he
takes. Someone who offers even a little bit of land equal to the size
of a cow's hoof attains moksham.  A person who offers sandalwood,
kumkumam, flowers, etc. is freed from even the worst of sins
(brahmahatti).  So does someone who performs festivals(utsavam).
Someone who gives vessels for arghyam, incense, lamp, and
thirumanjanam will live in heaven for a number of years equal to the
grains of sand.  One who conducts ceremonial celebrations for the
Bhagavan who destroyed Madhu, is freed of all unforgivable sins.  So
does one who gifts bronze bell and exquisite clothes. 
        "On the thiruvonam day of Aippasi month, if one bathes in the
AhoratrapushkariNi with devotion and a pure mind, and presents a
Brahmin whatever he can, and then paraises Shri VAsudevan who resides
there with Bhoomi Devi, and then and serves at least five Brahmins
with Payasaannam, and then does the Pradakshinam around the kshetram
(kaatupradakshiNam), and goes back and again prostrates before Hari, 
is freed form all kinds of unforgivable sins.  He attains VaikunTam as
well.
        "MarutgaNaas, devatas, Siddhaas, Saadhyaas,  Vishvedevaas, Kinnaraas,
Yakshaas, Lokapalaas, Ganadharvaas, thiirthaadidevaas,  Vanadevataas,
and othere devatas worship shrivasudeva even today.  VAsihsta,
Kaahyapa, Kanva, MrukaNDu, Vaamadeva, Jaabaali, Jaangali, vitihotraka,
Dhaumyaskruta, Gaalava, Vyaasa, Kapila, Vishvamitra, Atri, Kutsa,
Jamadagni, Paraasharaa, Shataananda,  Sumaali, Daksha, Vaaruna,
Bhrigu, AngaNaka, sharabhaNga, Gaarghya, Shaakala, Vatsa, VAtsanaabha,
 and many other rishis come to this MarkaNdeya kshetram, bathe in the
AhoraatrapushkariNi and worship Bhoomi Devi's consort Shrinivaasa,
observing strict vratas. 
        "By contemplating on Shri Vasudeva, one gets the fruits of thousand
Aptoryamaas and one lakh PaunDariika Yagams. By listening about Him,
and by seeing Him one enjoys the results of one lakh Ashvamedha
yagnaas.  If someone just utters the word "TuLasiivanam" he is freed
from all sins and reaches VaikunTam. 
        "Every year, during the waxing period of the month Aippasi, after
hoisting the flag (dwajaarohaNam) according to Vaikhaanasa rules, let
us perform ceremonial celebrations for nine days, and on the tenth
day, let us perform Avabhruta Snaanam in the AhoraatrapushkariNi along
with Apasaraas, Kinnaraas and Rishis.  If those who come here for this
Brahmotsavam, will live in Vaikuntam, can anything be said about those
who live here in this kshetram? 
        "The trees there are said to be Devaas, the stone to be Rishis, and
tulasi tree is said to be Lakshmidevi herself.  Bhodhi tree is
considered to be Brahma, kokilas are gandharavaas, peacocks are
apsaras and the temple itself is Pranavam.  One who renovates the
temple is said to be endowed with devaamsham. 
        "Here Ganga and Goda flow towards the Lord's south.  Previously,
Kaveri flowed to the west of Kumbhakonam around Shri Sharngapani like
a garland by becoming two streams.  There the stream that flows in the
south also removes sins. 
        "Once Goda and Ganga - who flows in all the three worlds, came and
prostrated before me and said " He Brahman!  All the people in the
world come and take dips in our waters and go back to their homes,
freed of all their sins.  Please show us a way that is powerful enough
to get rid of these sins" 
        "Oh Narada! Listen to what I told them.  go to the place where Kaveri
flows to the south of Shri Sharngapani.  Go to her to the west of
MarkanDeyakshetram and become two streams there.  You will provide
Thirumanjana Theertham for Shri Vasudevan forever and become pure-
there is no doubt about that."   They did this ? hence among the
streams that flow to the south of Lord Vasudeva, the first is Ganga,
the second is Godavari, and the third is Yamuna.  Their fame has
spread all over the country and even today they are worshipping the
Lord who fulfills all wishes. 
         "During waxing of the moon, one who bathes in Ganga on Thursday gets
children, one who bathes on a Friday in Godavari attains wealth, and
one who bathes in Yamuna on Saturday (waxing moon) is free of all sins
and attains the Lord's feet. 
        "One who reads or listens to this Maahatmyam (which is very difficult
to get, and very secret), enjoys Vaikuntam for a long time.  He
attains fame, all that is auspicious, long life, a lot of wealth and
the Lord protects those who read or listen to this everyday.  One who
reads and/ or listens to this Maahatmyam during full moon, new moon,
Thiruvonam, Ashtami, Friday, the months of Chithrai, Adi, Aippasi and
Thai and during Sangramana times and during other seasons attain all
kinds of benefits" 
        Thus spoke Brahma. 

        ShrI BhoomidevIsametha ShrInivAsaparabrahmaNe NamaH 









 
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