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NOVEMBER, 1902.)
THE TULA-KAVERI-MARATMYA.
445
in a prior incarnation. Friendship with the wise is the result of good deeds, the study of sacred texts, the performance of vratás in a good many previous existences. This friendship would lead to the rare pleasure of hearing incomparably good stories, which would put an end to the three kinds of sins. This in turn would lead to clearness of the mind, by which we would be able to meditate and centralize in the hridaya kamala all our thoughts about God. Once meditation makes one come face to face with God, what cannot possibly be attained by karnas innumerable. O King ! you have at present therefore attained mukti by this friendship with the wise, I shall narrate to you in detail Tula-Kavāri-Mahatmya which be pleased to hear.
On both sides of the Kavört the river is flooded with images of Siva as cosmic manifester, etc. The pools formed on the banks of the Kâvêrî are sacred streams in themselves, and the sand and stones are angelic hosts. The Kávêrî which rises in the Sahya mountains is therefore the best of all rivers. It is unattainable by men generally. Of what avail are other karmas while this is able to lead us to the unattainable moksha. Many a sacred stream joins it in the Tulâ month. It rids us of the five greatest sins and gives us the phala of the aboamédha (horse-sacrifice). The angels, the pitris, the great snges and others extol to the skies the Kávêrî in the Tulâ month. Who bathes in its sacred waters for three days, is rid of all his sins and on the thresh hold of Vaikunta (Paradise). He will be worshipped in the Brahmalöks. Any small gift given to a good person in a good time leads to great results. Any gift therefore of rice and water in the Talâ month multiplies & million-fold, and a Vedic text says that any oblation offered to the pitris in the shape of rice, sraddha, or water with sesamum seed lasts as long as the world. Brahma and other gods, the Seven Mothers, the Apsaric hosts, Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Gouri, Indrami, Rohiņt and other feminine angels make it a point to bathe daily in the waters of the Kavêrt in the Talá month. In days long gone by Brahmå bar created the Kåver, the best of sacred streams, to bestow on mankind food and final beatitade. Whosoever bathes in the Tulâ month in the sacred waters of the Kevêrî, the representative of all the sacred streams of the world, his parents and father-in-law attain moksha. The bath leads to the forgiveness of all sins. The inen and women born on its sacred banks are the chief onjoyers of multitudinous pleasures. Moreover, its animals, birds, trees, worms, etc., get móksha as soon as its fine soft cold breeze falls on them. What doubt is there, therefore, for people who bathe in it with bhakti to get móksha ? Is it possible for Sesha, who is able to narrate anything in detail for a thousand years, to tell its sacredness? I shall therefore relate to you briefly about it.
Is it possible for any other than the thousand-mouthed Sêsha to talk of the elegance of education, the sacredness of the Tulasi, of the Ganges, the fasting on Ekâdabl day, the worship of the idol of Siva by Tulast? Listen with mute attention to all that I tell you about the sacredness of the Kaveri. Meditating on the Kávéri, chanting its various names, seeing it, hearing while others are mentioning its name, touching it, bathing in it, etc., are the result of a life of meditation in many previous existences. It is only possible to Hari to talk of its sacredness to those intent on bathing in its crystal transparent waters.
As among rivers, the Ganges, rising from the lotus-feet of Vishņu, is regarded the best, the Tulast amongst flowers, the Ekadasi day amongst vrațds, the five great sacrifices amongst yajnas, mental clearness amongst clear things, Madhava amongst the gods, the omkdra amongat sounds, the Gayatri amongst mantras, the Sama amongst the Vedas, Sankara amongst the Budras, Arunthai amongst Brahman wives, Rama amongst womankind, feeding amongst gifts, the moon amongst the planets, the sun amongst radiant objects, sacrifice of the mind amongst sacrifices, charity amongst friends, japa amongst tapde, worship of Vishņu amongst worship generally, married life amongst dsramas, the Brahman amongst castes, the earth amonget patient objects, the Brahnyasthra amongst Asthras, Sriranga amongst sacred places, Råmasētu amongst the purifiers, the Purusha Sukta amongst the Suktas, Kamadhenu (the angelic cow) amongst cows, Kțita Yoga amongst the Yagas, learn that amongst sacred streams the Kavert is the best. Chanting the Ganges, seeing Dhanushköti, hearing the story of Rama, meditating on the Kaveri - these lead to multi. The tract of country lying between Råmasēta and Mount Kailas, wbich is one hundred thousand yojanas long and nine
