Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Kanyakumari included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of Բܳī
(۴Ūʴ; ĀĪձᴡ)
General information.
Ѳٲ makes references in many places to Բܳī, the southern extremity of former Kerala and Ҵǰ첹ṇa, the northern boundary. It must, therefore, be surmised that these two holy places were very ancient ones. Vana Parva, praises Բܳī at many places. If any one bathes at this place one will become very famous. (ԳśԲ Parva, Ѳٲ).
Chapter eightyfive of ṇy Parva, of ṣ� ٲ speaks praisingly of Բܳī and Ҵǰ첹ṇa among other places. It says thus: "If you visit Ṛṣabhācala of ṇḍⲹś you will get the benefit of conducting an Aśvamedhayāga. Then you must go farther south and take a dip in Kanyātīrṭha. The touch of that water absolves you of all sins. Then visit Ҵǰ첹ṇa situated in the ocean famous in all the three worlds and worshipped by all."
From this it is to be understood that ot the time of Ѳٲ Բܳī was part of ṇḍⲹś and that Ҵǰ첹ṇa was an island.
Purāṇic stories about Բܳī.
There are several stories regarding the origin and renown of Բܳī in the ʳܰṇa. The most important ones are given below.
Absolver of sins.
The wife of a brahmin named Apañcika living in śī became unchaste and to wash away her sin she came to Բܳī walking all the way and did penance there, daily bathing in its waters. She attained Salvation and it is believed that a bath in its waters would absolve anybody of all his sins. (Maṇimekhala).
Cakra tīrtha of Բܳī.
Puṇyakāśī, daughter of Ѳܰ, once went to and worshipped Ś. After three yugas Ś appeared before her and asked her what she wanted. She replied that she wanted to be merged in Ś always. Ś then said 'Three hundred and sixtyfive days would make a year. Four lakhs and thirtythree years would make a Kali Yuga. ṛt, հ, ٱ貹 and Kali are four Yugas and when two thousand such Yugas are over finishes a day. Such thirty days make one month and twelve months, a year for . When such hundred years of are over the great deluge comes. Such ten deluges make a nāzhikā (twentyfour minutes) of վṣṇ. Counting thus when you pass ten վṣṇ deluges Ś passes a second. Then is the time for the fulfilment of your desire. Till that time you sit in meditation on the shores of the south seas. Your hermitage would be known as Kanyākṣetra or ղ貹� Sthala. During your stay there you must kill all the wicked people like ṇāsܰ and give relief to the people. I will also come and stay with you there then."
Puṇyakāśī after prostrating before Ś went to the south seas. Taking a 貹 (necklace for prayer) in her hands she assumed the name Բܳī, and started her penance. After conquering all the three worlds demon ṇa was having a wicked rule over his people when he saw Բܳī and asked her to be his wife. He approached her with his wicked servants Durmukha and Dur岹śԲ. But Բܳī flatly refused and in the battle that ensued, ṇāsܰ fell dead by the Cakrāyudha (Discus) of ٱī and at that spot is the Cakratīrtha. (Skanda ʳܰṇa).
(3) The phantom child which escaped from the hands of ṃs at the time of the birth of Śrī ṛṣṇa was that divine lady Բܳī. (Padma ʳܰṇa).
The Geographical view.
It is said that there was an extension of the present continent to the south and that expansive land called Lamūria was later submerged in waters. There is a description of such an extended land in some of the old literature like Cilappadikāram." Բܳī which was called 'ܳ-ambādi' also was the first setu; ٳԳṣkṭi the middle setu; and Koṭikkara, last setu. (Setu ʳܰṇa)
In History.
Բܳī had attracted the attention of foreigners long before Christ. Herodotus who lived in the third century B.C. has written about Բܳī in one of his books.
In the book 'Periplus' written in 60 A.D. there is a mention of Բܳī. It says: "Pious persons at the fag end of their lives dedicate their lives to God and go to Բܳī on a pilgrimage and stay there accepting an ascetic life. A divine lady bathed in the holy waters there grants you '岹śԲ'."
Ptolemy another traveller who lived two thousand years ago refers to Բܳī in his book as 'Komaria Akron'. He had bathed in those waters and worshipped in the Բܳī temple.
Marco Polo of Venice who had travelled these parts in 1243 A.D. has written of his worshipping in the Բܳī temple. He has also recorded having seen thirty miles from Բܳī a glittering figure like that of the Pole-star.
Ibn Batūtā who lived in 1203 A.D. has referred to Բܳī in his book as Rāskuṃhari.