Sambodhi 2012 Vol 35

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

Page 76

66
Satyavrat Varma
SAMBODHI
Brāhmaṇahood by taking bath at this holy tīrtha, and a Brāhmaṇa is purified of all defilements and attains the highest pada (VP, 39. 3-15).
As noted earlier, Uśanas (sukra) had performed penance and was elevated as a planet at the Auśanas / Kapālamocana tīrtha. It was here that he formulated the details of his policy and planned the war between the gods and the demons.21 Kapālamocana is an antidote to sins and evils. A mere bath in it relieves one of all the sins that one might have incurred in life.
कपालमोचनं तीर्थं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् ।
तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥2 Balarāma visited this sacred place in the course of his long itinerary, and gave profuse charity to the Brāhmaṇas.23
Kapālamocana has been identified with the tīrtha of the same name, situated at the village Sitaura, four kilometres to the west of Prthūdaka, though Alexander Cunningham had equated it with the Kapālamocana near Bilaspur, now in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana.24
The VP refers to one Kapālomocana at Vārāṇasī also. It relieved Sankara of the fifth head of Brahmā that had stuck to his palm after he had severed it with the tip of his nail for scoffing at his digambara form.25 Bramodumbara
Brahmodumbara is an excellent tirtha dedicated to Brahma and is celebrated all the world over. A person who takes bath in the Brahmarsi - kunda there attains the merit of performing seven Soma sacrifices. Ill sages like Bharadvāja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kaśyapa, Viśvāmitra and Atri had combined to lay (Kalpitam) the sacred pool there. It acquired the name Brahmodumbara because of its association with Brahmă (brahmanā sevitam yasmād brahmodumbaram ucyate, VP, 36.10). One assuredly attains the Brahmaloka by taking a bath in this sacred tirtha of Brahmā. He who feeds the Brāhmanas there in the name of his forefathers, they, pleased by his devotion to them, confer upon him such rare objects as are hard to find in the world. And he who bathes in the holy pool for the sake of the seven sages (Saptațșis), gains suzerainty over the seven worlds (VP, xxxvi. 7-13). Kapisthala
With its antiquity going back to Pāṇini, Kapisthala is a famous tīrtha of Kuruksetra. It was hallowed by the presence of Výddhakedāra, a god, who