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XC
Kavyanusasana
by Siva himself to go to that place where there was a lake known as Traiyambaka lake. This lake is described as being situated to the north of the mountain Saugandhika (that is the mountain near Sugandhā that is modern Nasik) and to the north-west of the mountain Ābu. * Near this lake was a forest sacred to Varuna and known as Varuna-kānaua because Varuņa got his overlordship of the West by practising penance there. Gautama founded his hermitage there occupying an area of five gavyūtis – that is about ten miles, and resided there with his wife Ahilya and disciples. * This place later on became Srīmāla.
The mythical explanation of the name Srīmāla is interesting. Șrī or Lakshmi was born as a daughter to the sage Bhrgu and was married to Vishņu. As she was flying over the place with her Lord and other gods they stopped at the place. It was after bathing in the lake Traiyambaka that Srī remembered her true self. On the occasion of Srī's self – realization gods covered the whole place with mālās-that is garlandsof divine flowers. Consequently the whole site of five krosas which was occupied by the vimānas of the gods was named at the request of Srī as Srīmāla. She gave the whole place as a gift to Brāhmaṇas, and
* अस्ति सौगन्धिकादगुरुत्तरस्यां दिशि द्विज। वायव्यामधंदारण्यात् सिद्धगान्धर्वसेवितम् ।
सरस्टेयम्बकं नाम सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् || अ. २ श्लो. २२-२३.
X Brahmā, Vishņu and Mahesa - the Divine Trinity and other gods and goddesses were requested to reside there. The sage Devala who went on a pilgrimage to that place uttered the following verse being impressed with its holiness:
एकतस्त्यम्बकं सरश्चैकतो गौतमाश्रमः ।। 3771777 Gama et fria 77: 11 A. 4. V. 51.
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