Sambodhi 2012 Vol 35

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 71

Vol. XXXV, 2012
On Some Tīrthas in the Vāmanapurāņa
61
land came to the known as Kurutīrtha (kurutīrthaṁ ca vikhyātam kurunā yatra vai tapah, VP, 41.14). Indra was doubtless pleased with his austerities, but it was only after Kuru had reduced himself drastically that the lord of heaven conferred a boon on him (bruhi yatte cikirsitam, VP, 41.18). Indra's boon invested the place with miraculous powers. Even those who are guilty of the five great sins (pañcpātakadūsitāh) and those who had committed sin elsewhere obtain salvation after taking a bath there. Kurutīrtha is so sacred a place that a mere sight of it relieves one of sins and he is freed from the wordly bondage (VP, 41.14-22).
The Mahābhārata locates the Kurutīrtha to the east of the Taijasa tīrtha. A person who stays at Kurutīrtha with self-control is purged of misdeeds and goes as a consequence thereof, to the abode of Brahman." Samnihita Sarovara
The origin of the Samnihita lake, a very sacred tīrtha of Kuruksetra, is shrouded in myths. They, however, serve to heighten its sanctity and significance. The VP is unequivocal in the statement that Samnihita stands at the place where the mighty egg, the germ of creator, was laid when the world was reduced to a massive sheet of water by the great deluge. It is filled with the mass of water that filled Brahmā’s navel. A fig tree of the shape of Sthāņu stood in its midst where from originate the four varnas (VP, 43.16-40). At the request of Brahmā Lord Sankara in the guise of an elephant lifted a linga with its trunk and established it to the west of the lake. It henceforth came to be known as a Sthānu linga. It is called Sthānvīśvara because of its location in the Sthānvīśvara region (VP, 44. 14-33).
Being an abode of Lord Sankara, the Samnihita bestows liberation on those who take a holy dip in it (VP, 45.2). It is a way represents a confluence of all the sacred lakes, seas and tirthas. The mass of their combined water flows into the Saṁnihita daily at mid-day, which simply means that a visit to it equals the visit to the respective tîrthas in merit. The proximity to Samnihita invested the Sthānu linga with such efficacy that its mere darśana ensured one a place in the heaven. That, however, flooded the heaven with the mortals and the gods, to their chagrin, were elbowed out of it in no time. In obedience to Brahmā Indra filled the lake with a mass of dust to relieve the forced misery of the deities. Mahadeva carried the linga and the fig tree on his palm to give them a respite from the rain of dust. However, the sages were freed of sins by smearing the holy dust on their bodies, and attained Brahmaloka as a consequence thereof (VP. 45. 2-16). One is emancipated