Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Kashi 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, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of 碍腻艣墨
(痴膧搁膧峁咥厂莫. BANARAS). (See under 顿颈惫辞诲腻蝉补 also).
General.
One of the oldest and most popular sacred centres in India, 碍腻艣墨 is reputed for its 痴颈艣惫补苍腻迟丑补 temple of hoary traditions, according to one of which the 艢颈惫补濒颈峁単补 in the temple was installed by 叠谤补丑尘腻 himself. (H膩l膩sya 惭腻丑腻迟尘测补).
Pilgrimage on foot to 碍腻艣墨.
Devotees from many parts of India go on pilgrimage to 碍腻艣墨 on foot, bathe in the holy waters of the 骋补峁単腻 and thus earn spiritual satisfaction and release from worldly attachments. The reason for the above is stated in the Agni 笔耻谤腻峁嘺 as follows:鈥� Once, at 碍补颈濒腻蝉补 艢颈惫补 told 笔腻谤惫补迟墨 that the temple at 碍腻艣墨 was called 'Avimukta' (unreleased) as it never perished, and all Japa, tapa, homa and 诲腻苍补 made there never cease to give auspicious results. One should walk on foot to 碍腻艣墨 and live there. Having gone there one should never leave the place. There are eight great 迟墨谤迟丑补蝉 at Avimukta, i.e. 贬补谤颈艣肠补苍诲谤补 迟墨谤迟丑补, 膧vr膩take艣vara 迟墨谤迟丑补, Japye艣vara 迟墨谤迟丑补, 艢r墨 Parva迟墨谤迟丑补, Mah膩laya迟墨谤迟丑补, Bh峁沢u 迟墨谤迟丑补, 颁补峁囜笉别艣惫补谤补 迟墨谤迟丑补 and Ked膩ra迟墨谤迟丑补. These 迟墨谤迟丑补蝉 extend to two yojanas to the east of the 碍腻艣墨 temple and half-ayojana to the west of it. The river 痴补谤补峁嚹� is also there, and V膩r膩峁嘺s墨 is at the centre of all these. Whatever is done at V膩r膩峁嘺s墨 like bath, Japa, homa, worship of Devas, 诲腻苍补, obsequies for the dead, oneself living there etc. is productive of devotion and salvation. (Agni 笔耻谤腻峁嘺, Chapter 112).
References to 碍腻艣墨 in the Mah膩bh膩rata.
(i) 笔腻峁囜笉耻 once conquered 碍腻艣墨. (叠丑墨峁补 Parva, Chapter 9).
(ii) 叠丑墨尘补 married Balandhar膩, daughter of the King of 碍腻艣墨. (膧di Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 77).
(iii) 叠丑墨尘补sena conquered 碍腻艣墨. (厂补产丑腻 Parva, Chapter 30, Verse 6).
(iv) Sahadeva conquered 碍腻艣墨. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 50, Verse 31).
(v) In the war between the 笔腻峁囜笉补惫补蝉 and the Kauravas, the King of 碍腻艣墨 fought on the side of the former. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 196, Verse 2).
(vi) Arjuna conquered 碍腻艣墨. (膧di Parva, Chapter 122, Verse 40).
(vii) 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 conquered 碍腻艣墨. (顿谤辞峁嘺 Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 15).
(viii) 碍补谤峁嘺 once conquered 碍腻艣墨 on behalf of Duryodhana. (碍补谤峁嘺 Parva, Chapter 8, Verse 19).
(ix) 碍腻艣墨 had been ruled by the Kings called 贬补谤测补艣惫补. Sudeva, and 顿颈惫辞诲腻蝉补. (础苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补 Parva, Chapter 30, Verses 12 to 15).
(x) King 痴峁涐梗补诲补谤产丑补 and 鲍艣墨苍补谤补 had ruled over 碍腻艣墨. (础苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补 Parva, Chapter 30, Verse 9).
(xi) 叠丑墨峁补 conquered 碍腻艣墨 during the 厂惫补测补峁僾补谤补 of 础尘产腻. (础苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补 Parva, Chapter 44, Verse 38).
(xii) The horse sent out in connection with 驰耻诲丑颈峁ａ弓丑颈谤补鈥檚 础艣惫补尘别诲丑补 passed through 碍腻艣墨 also. (础艣惫补尘别诲丑补 Parva, Chapter 83, Verse 14).
(xiii) For the origin of the name 碍腻艣墨 see under 顿颈惫辞诲腻蝉补.