Sri Guru Charitra - By Shri S.N.Huddar

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Chapter XLVIII

Amarja Sangam and the Greatness of Ganagapur

 

On the parva day of Ashvin Vad 14, Shri Guru said to

the disciple, 'We shall have bath at trishali (3 Holy

places i. e. Prayag, Kashi and Gaya) with family and

children.

The disciple said, 'For such a long journey, we

require some time for preparations'.

Shri Guru, 'These holy places are near about. So there

is no need for special preparation.'

Saying this he went with them all to the sangamam. All

took bath there. Shri Guru said, 'The Sangam is like

Prayag. Bhima flows there northwards. This Amarja

Sangam is as holy as the Ganga-Yamuna Sangam of

Prayag. There are other eight holy places (Tirthas)

near about.'

The disciples, -'Why this river is called Amarja?'

Shri Guru, -'Jallundhar Rakshasas were on War. Indra

went to Shri Shankar and said, 'We kill Rakshas but

from each drop of their blood, new Rakshasas are born

and they have spread in Three Lokas. They have killed

many Gods.'

Hearing this, Shri Shankar was enraged and started to

kill the Rakshas in the form of Rudra. Indra said,

'You will kill the Rakshas: but kindly suggest any

device to make the gods alive.'

Shri Shankar recited Amrit mantra and gave a jar

filled with nectar. Indra sprinkled the nectar on the

Gods and made them alive. While Indra was going with

the jar of the remaining nectar some drops fell on the

earth and a river was created called 'Amarja'. Bath in

this river prevents diseases and untimely death. This

river meets Bhima and this Sangam is great like

Triveni Sangam of Prayag. Bath in this Kartik and

Magha months, on Somwati, Sankratini grahan (eclipse)

Parva at this Sangam is very virtuous.

Before this Sangam is the Ashwattha, bath near which

fulfills all the desires. I also live here. After

worshipping this Ashwattha, worship the 'Sangameshwar'

with devotion. This is like Mallikarjuna of Shri

Shailya. Bow to Nandi and Chandi, have three rounds

and see Shiva Shankar.

There is the 'Varanasi' Tirth i. e. Kashi one mile

ahead. One Brahmin of Bharadwaj Gotra was a great

devotee of Shri Shiva. He roamed everywhere without

clothes, people called him 'mad'. He had two brothers

Ishwar and Pandurang. They were thinking of going to

Kashi. At this time one devotee of Shri Shiva came

there and said to his brothers, ' Why do you go to

Kashi? Here is Kashi Vishweshwar.' The brothers said,

'Where is it? Show us'.

The devotee took a bath and sat in meditation. Shri

Shankar appeared before him. The devotee requested him

to create an idol of Kashi Vishweshwar there for daily

worship and Darshan. Shri Shankar conceded and

Manikarnika Kund was created first and the shrine of

Kashi Vishweshwar came out of it. A river flowing

northward like Bhagirathi also came into existence.

All the principal places of Kashi were thus created

here. Both the brothers then worshipped Kashi

Vishweshwar. These brothers lived at Pandharpur and

were known as 'Aradhye'.

Hearing this from Shri Guru, all took bath there and

worshipped Shri Vishweshwar with devotion and observed

other rites.

Shri Guru -'Here is ' Papavinashi Tirth' bath in which

destroys all sins.' Shri Guru called his sister Ratnai

here and said, 'You had killed a cat with a stick and

therefore you are having leprosy. You bathe in this

Tirth daily and your disease will disappear.' As

advised, she bathed here for three days and her

disease was wiped off.

A little further is 'Koti Tirth'. One should bathe

here on Sankranthi, Grahan, Poornima and Amavasya and

give a cow with a calf in charity. Further to this is

'Rudra Tirth'. It is as holy as Gaya. Observe Shraddha

here.

Further is 'Chakra Tirth' like Dwarka. Beyond is

'Manmath Tirth'. To the east of it, is 'Kalleshwar'

like Gokarna Mahabaleshwar. By doing this, eight

glories are obtained.'

Shri Guru thus narrated the greatness of the eight

holy places and all were pleased. They bathed and

observed other rites and returned to Gangapur with

Shri Guru. A grand samardhana was arranged jointly.

 

 

To Be Contd...

Devotees Can Read This Book from The Book Section of

www.Saileelas.org/books/ShriGuruCharitra.doc

 

 

 

 

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