Ayodhyā-māhātmya, Chapter 3 | Skanda Purāṇa

Ayodhyā-māhātmya · Chapter 3

।। सूत उवाच ।। ।। इति श्रुत्वा वचो धीमानादरात्कुंभजन्मनः ।। प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः ।। १ ।। ।। व्यास उवाच ।। ।। भगवन्नद्भुतमिदं तीर्थमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्।। श्रुत्वा त्वत्तो मम मनः परमानंदमाययौ ।। २ ।। अन्यत्तीर्थवरं ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन मम शृण्वतः ।। न तृप्तिरस्ति मनसः शृण्वतो मम सुव्रत ।। ३ ।। ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। शृणु विप्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तीर्थमन्यदनुत्तमम् ।। स्वर्गद्वारमिति ख्यातं सर्वपापहरं सदा ।। ४ ।। स्वर्गद्वारस्य माहात्म्यं विस्तराद्वक्तुमीश्वरः ।। नहि कश्चिदतो वत्स संक्षेपाच्छृणु सुव्रत ।। ५ ।। सहस्रधारामारभ्य पूर्वतः सरयूजले ।। षट्त्रिंशदधिका प्रोक्ता धनुषां षट्शती मितिः ।। ६ ।। स्वर्गद्वारस्य विस्तारः पुराणज्ञैर्विशारदैः ।। स्वर्गद्वारसमं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति ।। ७ ।। सत्यंसत्यं पुनः सत्यं नासत्यं मम भाषितम्।। स्वर्गद्वारसमं तीर्थं नास्ति ब्रह्माण्डगोलके ।। ८ ।। हित्वा दिव्यानि भौमानि तीर्थानि सकलान्यपि ।। प्रातरागत्य तिष्ठन्ति तत्र संश्रित्य सुव्रत ।। ९ ।। तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यं प्रातः स्नानं विशेषतः ।। सर्वतीर्थावगाहस्य फलमात्मन ईप्सता ।। 2.8.3.१० ।। त्यजंति प्राणिनः प्राणान्स्वर्गद्वारांतरे द्विज ।। प्रयांति परमं स्थानं विष्णोस्ते नात्र संशयः ।। ११ ।। मुक्तिद्वारमिदं पश्य स्वर्गप्राप्तिकरं नृणाम् ।। स्वर्गद्वारमिति ख्यातं तस्मात्तीर्थमनुत्तमम् ।। १२ ।। स्वर्गद्वारं सुदुष्प्राप्यं देवैरपि न संशयः ।। यद्यत्कामयते तत्र तत्तदाप्नोति मानवः ।। १३ ।। स्वर्गद्वारे परा सिद्धिः स्वर्गद्वारे परा गतिः ।। जप्तं दत्तं हुतं दृष्टं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् ।। ध्यानमध्ययनं सर्वं दानं भवति चाक्षयम् ।। १४ ।। जन्मांतरसहस्रेण यत्पापं पूर्वसंचितम्।। स्वर्गद्वारप्रविष्टस्य तत्सर्वं व्रजति क्षयम् ।। १५ ।। ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा वै वर्णसंकराः।। कृमिम्लेच्छाश्च ये चान्ये संकीर्णाः पापयोनयः।१६।। कीटाः पिपीलिकाश्चैव ये चान्ये मृगपक्षिणः।। कालेन निधनं प्राप्ताः स्वर्गद्वारे शृणु द्विज ।।१७।। कौमोदकीकराः सर्वे पक्षिणो गरुडध्वजाः ।। शुभे विष्णुपुरे विष्णुर्जायते तत्र मानवाः ।। १८ ।। अकामो वा सकामो वा अपि तीर्थगतोपि वा ।। स्वर्गद्वारे त्यजन्प्राणान्विष्णुलोके महीयते ।। १९ ।। मुनयो देवताः सिद्धाः साध्या यक्षा मरुद्गणाः ।। यज्ञोपवीतमात्रेण विभागं चक्रिरे तु ये ।। 2.8.3.२० ।। मध्याह्नेऽत्र प्रकुर्वंति सान्निध्यं देवतागणाः ।। तस्मात्तत्र प्रकुर्वंति मध्याह्ने स्नानमादरात् ।। २१ ।। कुर्वंत्यनशनं ये तु स्वर्गद्वारे जितेंद्रियाः ।। प्रयांति परमं स्थानं ये च मासोपवासिनः ।। २२ ।। अन्नदानरता ते च रत्नदा भूमिदा नराः ।। गोवस्त्रदाश्च विप्रेभ्यो यांति ते भवनं हरेः ।।२३।। यत्र सिद्धा महात्मानो मुनयः पितरस्तथा ।। स्वर्गं प्रयांति ते सर्वे स्वर्गद्वारं ततः स्मृतम् ।। २४ ।। चतुर्द्धा च तनुं कृत्वा देवदेवो हरिः स्वयम् ।। अत्र वै रमते नित्यं भ्रातृभिः सह राघवः ।। २५ ।। ब्रह्मलोकं परित्यज्य चतुर्वक्त्रः सनातनः ।। अत्रैव रमते नित्यं देवैः सह पितामहः ।। २६ ।। कैलासनिलयावासी शिवस्तत्रैव संस्थितः ।। २७ ।। मेरुमन्दरमात्रोऽपि राशिः पापस्य कर्मणः ।। स्वर्गद्वारं समासाद्य स सर्वो व्रजति क्षयम् ।। २८ ।। या गतिर्ज्ञानतपसां या गतिर्यज्ञयाजिनाम्।। स्वर्गद्वारे मृतानां तु सा गतिर्विहिता शुभा ।। २९ ।। ऋषिदेवासुरगणैर्जपहोमपरायणैः ।। यतिभिर्मोक्षकामैश्च स्वर्गद्वारो निषेव्यते ।। 2.8.3.३० ।। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि काशीवासेषु यत्फलम् ।। तत्फलं निमिषार्द्धेन कलौ दाशरथीं पुरीम् ।। ३१ ।। या गतिर्योगयुक्तानां वाराणस्यां तनुत्यजाम्।। सा गतिः स्नानमात्रेण सरय्वां हरिवासरे ।। ३२ ।। स्वर्गद्वारे मृतः कश्चिन्नरकं नैव पश्यति ।। केशवानुगृहीता हि सर्वे यांति परां गतिम् ।। ३३ ।। भूलोके चांतरिक्षे च दिवि तीर्थानि यानि वै ।। अतीत्य वर्तते तानि तीर्थान्येतद्द्विजोत्तम ।। ३४ ।। विष्णुभक्तिं समासाद्य रमन्ते तु सुनिश्चिताः ।। संहृत्य शक्तितः कामं विषयेषु हि संस्थितम् ।।३५ ।। शक्तितः सर्वतो युक्त्वा शक्तिस्तपसि संस्थिता ।। न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिः कल्पकोटिशतैरपि ।। ३६ ।। हन्यमानोऽपि यो विद्वान्वसेच्छस्त्रशतैरपि ।। स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र गत्वा न शोचति ।।३७।। स्वर्गद्वारे वियुज्येत स याति परमां गतिम् ।। उत्तरं दक्षिणं वापि अयनं न विकल्पयेत् ।। ३८ ।। सर्वस्तेषां शुभः कालः स्वर्गद्वारं श्रयंति ये ।। स्नानमात्रेण पापानि विलयं यांति देहिनाम् ।। ३९ ।। यावत्पापानि देहेन ये कुर्वंति जनाः क्षितौ ।। अयोध्या परमं स्थानं तेषामीरितमादरात् ।। ।। 2.8.3.४० ।। ज्येष्ठे मासि सिते पक्षे पंचदश्यां विशेषतः ।। तस्य सांवत्सरी यात्रा देवैश्चन्द्रहरेः स्मृता ।। ४१ ।। तस्मिन्नुद्यापनं चन्द्रसहस्रं व्रतयोगिभिः ।। कार्यं प्रयत्नतो विप्र सर्वयज्ञफलाधिकम्।। ४२ ।। तस्मिन्कृते महापापक्षयात्स्वर्गो भवेन्नृणाम् ।। ४३।। ।। श्रीव्यास उवाच ।। ।। भगवन्ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन तस्य चन्द्रहरेः शुभाम्।। उत्पत्तिं च तथा चंद्रव्रतस्योद्यापने विधिम् ।। ४४ ।। ।। अगस्त्य उवाच ।। ।। अयोध्यानिलयं विष्णुं नत्वा शीतांशुरुत्सुकः ।। आगच्छत्तीर्थमाहात्म्यं साक्षात्कर्तुं सुधानिधिः ।। अत्रागत्य च चन्द्रोऽथ तीर्थयात्रां चकार सः ।। ४५ ।। क्रमेण विधिपूर्वं च नानाश्चर्यसमन्वितः ।। समाराध्य ततो विष्णुं तपसा दुश्चरेण वै ।। ४६ ।। तत्प्रसादं समासाद्य स्वाभिधानपुरस्सरम् ।। हरिं संस्थापयामास तेन चंद्रहरिः स्मृतः ।। ४७ ।। वासुदेवप्रसादेन तत्स्थानं जातमद्भुतम् ।। तद्धि गुह्यतमं स्थानं वासुदेवस्य सुव्रत ।। ४८ ।। सर्वेषामिव भूतानां भर्तुर्मोक्षस्य सर्वदा ।। अस्मिन्सिद्धाः सदा विप्र गोविंदव्रतमास्थिताः ।। ४९ ।। नानालिंगधरा नित्यं विष्णुलोकाभिकांक्षिणः ।। अभ्यस्यंति परं योगं मुक्तात्मानो जितेंद्रियाः ।।2.8.3.५०।। यथा धर्ममवाप्नोति अन्यत्र न तथा क्वचित् ।। दानं व्रतं तथा होमः सर्वमक्षयतां व्रजेत ।।५१।। सर्वकामफलप्राप्तिर्जायते प्राणिनां सदा ।। तस्मादत्र विधातव्यं प्राणिभिर्यत्नतः क्रमात् ।। दानादिकं विप्रपूजा दंपत्योश्च विशेषतः ।। ५२ ।। सर्वयज्ञाधिकफलं सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् ।। सर्वदेवावलोकस्य यत्पुण्यं जायते नृणाम् ।। ५३ ।। तत्सर्वं जायते पुण्यं प्राणिनामस्य दर्शनात् ।। तस्मादेतन्महाक्षेत्रं पुराणादिषु गीयते ।। ५४ ।। उद्यापनविधिश्चात्र नृभिर्द्विजपुरस्सरम् ।। अग्रे चंद्रहरेश्चन्द्र सहस्रव्रतसंज्ञकः ।। ५५ ।। गते वर्षद्वये सार्द्धे पंचपक्षे दिनद्वये ।। दिवसस्याऽष्टमे भागे पतत्येकोऽधिमासकः ।। ५६ ।। त्र्यधिके वा अशीत्यब्दे चतुर्मासयुते ततः ।। भवेच्चन्द्रसहस्रं तु तावज्जीवति यो नरः ।। उद्यापनं प्रकर्त्तव्यं तेन यात्रा प्रयत्नतः ।। ५७ ।। यत्पुण्यं परमं प्रोक्तं सततं यज्ञयाजिनाम्।। सत्यवादिषु यत्पुण्यं यत्पुण्यं हेमदायिनि ।। तत्पुण्यं लभते विप्र सहस्राब्दस्य जीविभिः ।। ५८ ।। सर्वसौख्यप्रदं तादृक्पुण्यव्रतमिहोच्यते ।। ५९ ।। चतुर्दश्यां शुचिः स्नात्वा दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् ।। चरितब्रह्मचर्य्यश्च जितवाक्कायमानसः ।। पौर्णमास्यां तथा कृत्वा चंद्रपूजां च कारयेत् ।। 2.8.3.६० ।। पूर्वं च मातरः पूज्या गौर्यादिकक्रमेण च ।। ऋत्विजः पूजयेद्भक्त्या वृद्धिश्राद्धपुरस्सरम् ।। ६१ ।। प्रयतैः प्रतिमा कार्या चंद्रमंडलसन्निभा ।। सहस्रसंख्या ह्यथवा तदर्द्धं वा तदर्द्धकम् ।। निजवित्तानुमानेन तदर्धेन तदर्द्धिकम् ।। ६२ ।। ततः श्रद्धानुमानाद्वा कार्या वित्तानुमानतः ।। अथवा षोडश शुभा विधातव्याः प्रयत्नतः ।। ६३ ।। चंद्रपूजां ततः कुर्यादागमोक्तविधानतः ।। माषैः षोडशभिः कार्या प्रत्येकं प्रतिमा शुभा ।। ६४ ।। सोममंत्रेण होमस्तु कार्यो वित्तानुमानतः ।। प्रतिमास्थापनं कुर्यात्सोममंत्रमुदीरयेत् ।। ६५ ।। सोमोत्पत्तिं सोमसूक्तं पाठयेच्च प्रयत्नतः ।। चंद्रपूजां ततः कुर्यादागमोक्तविधानतः ।। ६६ ।। चंद्रन्यासं कलान्यासं कारयेन्मंडले जलम् ।। एकादशेंद्रियन्यासं तथैव विधिपूर्वकम् ।। ६७ ।। चंद्रबिंबनिभं कार्य्यं मंडलं शुभतंडुलैः।। मध्ये च कलशः स्थाप्यो गव्येन पयसाप्लुतः ।। ६८ ।। चतुरस्रेषु संपूर्णान्कलशान्स्थापयेद्बहिः ।। मंडले चंद्रपूजा च कर्तव्या नामभिः क्रमात् ।। ६९ ।। हिमांशवे नमश्चैव सोमचंद्राय वै नमः ।। ५४ ।। चंद्राय विधवे नित्यं नमः कुमुदबंधवे ।। 2.8.3.७० ।। सुधांशवे च सोमाय ओषधीशाय वै नमः ।। नमोऽब्जाय मृगांकाय कलानां निधये नमः ।। ७१ ।। नमो नक्षत्रनाथाय शर्वरीपतये नमः ।। जैवातृकाय सततं द्विजराजाय वै नमः ।। ७२ ।। एवं षोडशभिश्चंद्रः स्तोतव्यो नामभिः क्रमात् ।। ७३ ।। ततो वै प्रयतो दद्याद्विधिवन्मंत्रपूर्वकम् ।। शंखतोयं समादाय सपुष्पं फलचंदनम् ।। ७४ ।। नमस्ते मासमासांते जायमान पुनःपुनः ।। गृहाणार्घ्यं शशांक त्वं रोहिण्या सहितो मम ।।७५।। एवं संपूज्य विधिवच्छशिनं प्रणतो भवेत् ।। षोडशान्ये च कलशा दुग्धपूर्णाः सरत्नकाः ।।७६।। सवस्त्राच्छादनाः शांत्यै दातव्यास्ते द्विजन्मने ।। अभिषेकं ततः कुर्यात्पायसेन जलेन तु ।। ७७ ।। ऋत्विजां मनसस्तुष्टिः कार्या वित्तानुमानतः ।। ब्राह्मणं भोजयेत्तत्र सकुटुंबं विशेषतः ।। ७८ ।। पूजनीयौ प्रयत्नेन वस्त्रैश्च द्विजदंपती ।। कर्तव्यं च ततो भूरिदक्षिणादानमुत्तमम् ।। ७९ ।। प्रतिमाश्च प्रदातव्या द्विजेभ्यो धेनुपूर्विकाः ।। सुवर्णं रजतं वस्त्रं तथान्नं च विशेषतः ।। दातव्यं चंद्रसुप्रीत्यै हर्षादेवं द्विजन्मने ।। 2.8.3.८० ।। उपवासविधानेन दिनशेषं नयेत्सुधीः ।। अनंतरे च दिवसे कुर्याद्भगवदर्चनम् ।। बांधवैः सह भुञ्जीत नियमं च विसर्ज्जयेत् ।। ८१ ।। एवं च कुरुते चंद्रसहस्रं व्रतमुत्तमम् ।। ब्रह्मघ्नोऽपि सुरापोऽपि स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः ।। व्रतेनानेन शुद्धात्मा चंद्रलोकं व्रजेन्नरः ।। ८२ ।। यादृशश्च भवेद्विप्र प्रियो नारायणस्य च ।। एवं करोति नियतं कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नरः ।। ८३ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डेऽयोध्यामाहात्म्ये चन्द्रसहस्रव्रतोद्यापनविधिवर्णनं नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः ।। ३ ।।

|| sūta uvāca || || iti śrutvā vaco dhīmānādarātkuṃbhajanmanaḥ || provāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ || 1 || || vyāsa uvāca || || bhagavannadbhutamidaṃ tīrthamāhātmyamuttamam|| śrutvā tvatto mama manaḥ paramānaṃdamāyayau || 2 || anyattīrthavaraṃ brūhi tattvena mama śṛṇvataḥ || na tṛptirasti manasaḥ śṛṇvato mama suvrata || 3 || || || agastya uvāca || || śṛṇu vipra pravakṣyāmi tīrthamanyadanuttamam || svargadvāramiti khyātaṃ sarvapāpaharaṃ sadā || 4 || svargadvārasya māhātmyaṃ vistarādvaktumīśvaraḥ || nahi kaścidato vatsa saṃkṣepācchṛṇu suvrata || 5 || sahasradhārāmārabhya pūrvataḥ sarayūjale || ṣaṭtriṃśadadhikā proktā dhanuṣāṃ ṣaṭśatī mitiḥ || 6 || svargadvārasya vistāraḥ purāṇajñairviśāradaiḥ || svargadvārasamaṃ tīrthaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati || 7 || satyaṃsatyaṃ punaḥ satyaṃ nāsatyaṃ mama bhāṣitam|| svargadvārasamaṃ tīrthaṃ nāsti brahmāṇḍagolake || 8 || hitvā divyāni bhaumāni tīrthāni sakalānyapi || prātarāgatya tiṣṭhanti tatra saṃśritya suvrata || 9 || tasmādatra prakartavyaṃ prātaḥ snānaṃ viśeṣataḥ || sarvatīrthāvagāhasya phalamātmana īpsatā || 2.8.3.10 || tyajaṃti prāṇinaḥ prāṇānsvargadvārāṃtare dvija || prayāṃti paramaṃ sthānaṃ viṣṇoste nātra saṃśayaḥ || 11 || muktidvāramidaṃ paśya svargaprāptikaraṃ nṛṇām || svargadvāramiti khyātaṃ tasmāttīrthamanuttamam || 12 || svargadvāraṃ suduṣprāpyaṃ devairapi na saṃśayaḥ || yadyatkāmayate tatra tattadāpnoti mānavaḥ || 13 || svargadvāre parā siddhiḥ svargadvāre parā gatiḥ || japtaṃ dattaṃ hutaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat || dhyānamadhyayanaṃ sarvaṃ dānaṃ bhavati cākṣayam || 14 || janmāṃtarasahasreṇa yatpāpaṃ pūrvasaṃcitam|| svargadvārapraviṣṭasya tatsarvaṃ vrajati kṣayam || 15 || brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrā vai varṇasaṃkarāḥ|| kṛmimlecchāśca ye cānye saṃkīrṇāḥ pāpayonayaḥ|16|| kīṭāḥ pipīlikāścaiva ye cānye mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ|| kālena nidhanaṃ prāptāḥ svargadvāre śṛṇu dvija ||17|| kaumodakīkarāḥ sarve pakṣiṇo garuḍadhvajāḥ || śubhe viṣṇupure viṣṇurjāyate tatra mānavāḥ || 18 || akāmo vā sakāmo vā api tīrthagatopi vā || svargadvāre tyajanprāṇānviṣṇuloke mahīyate || 19 || munayo devatāḥ siddhāḥ sādhyā yakṣā marudgaṇāḥ || yajñopavītamātreṇa vibhāgaṃ cakrire tu ye || 2.8.3.20 || madhyāhne'tra prakurvaṃti sānnidhyaṃ devatāgaṇāḥ || tasmāttatra prakurvaṃti madhyāhne snānamādarāt || 21 || kurvaṃtyanaśanaṃ ye tu svargadvāre jiteṃdriyāḥ || prayāṃti paramaṃ sthānaṃ ye ca māsopavāsinaḥ || 22 || annadānaratā te ca ratnadā bhūmidā narāḥ || govastradāśca viprebhyo yāṃti te bhavanaṃ hareḥ ||23|| yatra siddhā mahātmāno munayaḥ pitarastathā || svargaṃ prayāṃti te sarve svargadvāraṃ tataḥ smṛtam || 24 || caturddhā ca tanuṃ kṛtvā devadevo hariḥ svayam || atra vai ramate nityaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha rāghavaḥ || 25 || brahmalokaṃ parityajya caturvaktraḥ sanātanaḥ || atraiva ramate nityaṃ devaiḥ saha pitāmahaḥ || 26 || kailāsanilayāvāsī śivastatraiva saṃsthitaḥ || 27 || merumandaramātro'pi rāśiḥ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ || svargadvāraṃ samāsādya sa sarvo vrajati kṣayam || 28 || yā gatirjñānatapasāṃ yā gatiryajñayājinām|| svargadvāre mṛtānāṃ tu sā gatirvihitā śubhā || 29 || ṛṣidevāsuragaṇairjapahomaparāyaṇaiḥ || yatibhirmokṣakāmaiśca svargadvāro niṣevyate || 2.8.3.30 || ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi kāśīvāseṣu yatphalam || tatphalaṃ nimiṣārddhena kalau dāśarathīṃ purīm || 31 || yā gatiryogayuktānāṃ vārāṇasyāṃ tanutyajām|| sā gatiḥ snānamātreṇa sarayvāṃ harivāsare || 32 || svargadvāre mṛtaḥ kaścinnarakaṃ naiva paśyati || keśavānugṛhītā hi sarve yāṃti parāṃ gatim || 33 || bhūloke cāṃtarikṣe ca divi tīrthāni yāni vai || atītya vartate tāni tīrthānyetaddvijottama || 34 || viṣṇubhaktiṃ samāsādya ramante tu suniścitāḥ || saṃhṛtya śaktitaḥ kāmaṃ viṣayeṣu hi saṃsthitam ||35 || śaktitaḥ sarvato yuktvā śaktistapasi saṃsthitā || na teṣāṃ punarāvṛttiḥ kalpakoṭiśatairapi || 36 || hanyamāno'pi yo vidvānvasecchastraśatairapi || sa yāti paramaṃ sthānaṃ yatra gatvā na śocati ||37|| svargadvāre viyujyeta sa yāti paramāṃ gatim || uttaraṃ dakṣiṇaṃ vāpi ayanaṃ na vikalpayet || 38 || sarvasteṣāṃ śubhaḥ kālaḥ svargadvāraṃ śrayaṃti ye || snānamātreṇa pāpāni vilayaṃ yāṃti dehinām || 39 || yāvatpāpāni dehena ye kurvaṃti janāḥ kṣitau || ayodhyā paramaṃ sthānaṃ teṣāmīritamādarāt || || 2.8.3.40 || jyeṣṭhe māsi site pakṣe paṃcadaśyāṃ viśeṣataḥ || tasya sāṃvatsarī yātrā devaiścandrahareḥ smṛtā || 41 || tasminnudyāpanaṃ candrasahasraṃ vratayogibhiḥ || kāryaṃ prayatnato vipra sarvayajñaphalādhikam|| 42 || tasminkṛte mahāpāpakṣayātsvargo bhavennṛṇām || 43|| || śrīvyāsa uvāca || || bhagavanbrūhi tattvena tasya candrahareḥ śubhām|| utpattiṃ ca tathā caṃdravratasyodyāpane vidhim || 44 || || agastya uvāca || || ayodhyānilayaṃ viṣṇuṃ natvā śītāṃśurutsukaḥ || āgacchattīrthamāhātmyaṃ sākṣātkartuṃ sudhānidhiḥ || atrāgatya ca candro'tha tīrthayātrāṃ cakāra saḥ || 45 || krameṇa vidhipūrvaṃ ca nānāścaryasamanvitaḥ || samārādhya tato viṣṇuṃ tapasā duścareṇa vai || 46 || tatprasādaṃ samāsādya svābhidhānapurassaram || hariṃ saṃsthāpayāmāsa tena caṃdrahariḥ smṛtaḥ || 47 || vāsudevaprasādena tatsthānaṃ jātamadbhutam || taddhi guhyatamaṃ sthānaṃ vāsudevasya suvrata || 48 || sarveṣāmiva bhūtānāṃ bharturmokṣasya sarvadā || asminsiddhāḥ sadā vipra goviṃdavratamāsthitāḥ || 49 || nānāliṃgadharā nityaṃ viṣṇulokābhikāṃkṣiṇaḥ || abhyasyaṃti paraṃ yogaṃ muktātmāno jiteṃdriyāḥ ||2.8.3.50|| yathā dharmamavāpnoti anyatra na tathā kvacit || dānaṃ vrataṃ tathā homaḥ sarvamakṣayatāṃ vrajeta ||51|| sarvakāmaphalaprāptirjāyate prāṇināṃ sadā || tasmādatra vidhātavyaṃ prāṇibhiryatnataḥ kramāt || dānādikaṃ viprapūjā daṃpatyośca viśeṣataḥ || 52 || sarvayajñādhikaphalaṃ sarvatīrthāvagāhanam || sarvadevāvalokasya yatpuṇyaṃ jāyate nṛṇām || 53 || tatsarvaṃ jāyate puṇyaṃ prāṇināmasya darśanāt || tasmādetanmahākṣetraṃ purāṇādiṣu gīyate || 54 || udyāpanavidhiścātra nṛbhirdvijapurassaram || agre caṃdrahareścandra sahasravratasaṃjñakaḥ || 55 || gate varṣadvaye sārddhe paṃcapakṣe dinadvaye || divasasyā'ṣṭame bhāge patatyeko'dhimāsakaḥ || 56 || tryadhike vā aśītyabde caturmāsayute tataḥ || bhaveccandrasahasraṃ tu tāvajjīvati yo naraḥ || udyāpanaṃ prakarttavyaṃ tena yātrā prayatnataḥ || 57 || yatpuṇyaṃ paramaṃ proktaṃ satataṃ yajñayājinām|| satyavādiṣu yatpuṇyaṃ yatpuṇyaṃ hemadāyini || tatpuṇyaṃ labhate vipra sahasrābdasya jīvibhiḥ || 58 || sarvasaukhyapradaṃ tādṛkpuṇyavratamihocyate || 59 || caturdaśyāṃ śuciḥ snātvā dantadhāvanapūrvakam || caritabrahmacaryyaśca jitavākkāyamānasaḥ || paurṇamāsyāṃ tathā kṛtvā caṃdrapūjāṃ ca kārayet || 2.8.3.60 || pūrvaṃ ca mātaraḥ pūjyā gauryādikakrameṇa ca || ṛtvijaḥ pūjayedbhaktyā vṛddhiśrāddhapurassaram || 61 || prayataiḥ pratimā kāryā caṃdramaṃḍalasannibhā || sahasrasaṃkhyā hyathavā tadarddhaṃ vā tadarddhakam || nijavittānumānena tadardhena tadarddhikam || 62 || tataḥ śraddhānumānādvā kāryā vittānumānataḥ || athavā ṣoḍaśa śubhā vidhātavyāḥ prayatnataḥ || 63 || caṃdrapūjāṃ tataḥ kuryādāgamoktavidhānataḥ || māṣaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ kāryā pratyekaṃ pratimā śubhā || 64 || somamaṃtreṇa homastu kāryo vittānumānataḥ || pratimāsthāpanaṃ kuryātsomamaṃtramudīrayet || 65 || somotpattiṃ somasūktaṃ pāṭhayecca prayatnataḥ || caṃdrapūjāṃ tataḥ kuryādāgamoktavidhānataḥ || 66 || caṃdranyāsaṃ kalānyāsaṃ kārayenmaṃḍale jalam || ekādaśeṃdriyanyāsaṃ tathaiva vidhipūrvakam || 67 || caṃdrabiṃbanibhaṃ kāryyaṃ maṃḍalaṃ śubhataṃḍulaiḥ|| madhye ca kalaśaḥ sthāpyo gavyena payasāplutaḥ || 68 || caturasreṣu saṃpūrṇānkalaśānsthāpayedbahiḥ || maṃḍale caṃdrapūjā ca kartavyā nāmabhiḥ kramāt || 69 || himāṃśave namaścaiva somacaṃdrāya vai namaḥ || 54 || caṃdrāya vidhave nityaṃ namaḥ kumudabaṃdhave || 2.8.3.70 || sudhāṃśave ca somāya oṣadhīśāya vai namaḥ || namo'bjāya mṛgāṃkāya kalānāṃ nidhaye namaḥ || 71 || namo nakṣatranāthāya śarvarīpataye namaḥ || jaivātṛkāya satataṃ dvijarājāya vai namaḥ || 72 || evaṃ ṣoḍaśabhiścaṃdraḥ stotavyo nāmabhiḥ kramāt || 73 || tato vai prayato dadyādvidhivanmaṃtrapūrvakam || śaṃkhatoyaṃ samādāya sapuṣpaṃ phalacaṃdanam || 74 || namaste māsamāsāṃte jāyamāna punaḥpunaḥ || gṛhāṇārghyaṃ śaśāṃka tvaṃ rohiṇyā sahito mama ||75|| evaṃ saṃpūjya vidhivacchaśinaṃ praṇato bhavet || ṣoḍaśānye ca kalaśā dugdhapūrṇāḥ saratnakāḥ ||76|| savastrācchādanāḥ śāṃtyai dātavyāste dvijanmane || abhiṣekaṃ tataḥ kuryātpāyasena jalena tu || 77 || ṛtvijāṃ manasastuṣṭiḥ kāryā vittānumānataḥ || brāhmaṇaṃ bhojayettatra sakuṭuṃbaṃ viśeṣataḥ || 78 || pūjanīyau prayatnena vastraiśca dvijadaṃpatī || kartavyaṃ ca tato bhūridakṣiṇādānamuttamam || 79 || pratimāśca pradātavyā dvijebhyo dhenupūrvikāḥ || suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ vastraṃ tathānnaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ || dātavyaṃ caṃdrasuprītyai harṣādevaṃ dvijanmane || 2.8.3.80 || upavāsavidhānena dinaśeṣaṃ nayetsudhīḥ || anaṃtare ca divase kuryādbhagavadarcanam || bāṃdhavaiḥ saha bhuñjīta niyamaṃ ca visarjjayet || 81 || evaṃ ca kurute caṃdrasahasraṃ vratamuttamam || brahmaghno'pi surāpo'pi steyī ca gurutalpagaḥ || vratenānena śuddhātmā caṃdralokaṃ vrajennaraḥ || 82 || yādṛśaśca bhavedvipra priyo nārāyaṇasya ca || evaṃ karoti niyataṃ kṛtakṛtyo bhavennaraḥ || 83 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe'yodhyāmāhātmye candrasahasravratodyāpanavidhivarṇanaṃ nāma tṛtīyo'dhyāyaḥ || 3 ||

English translation

Summary: The Tīrthas : Svargadvāra : Candrahari: Conclusion of Candra Sahasra Vrata .

Sūta said :

1-3. On hearing these words of the Pot-born Sage with great respect, the intelligent sage Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana spoke these sweet words:

Vyāsa said :

O holy lord, the glory of this Tīrtha is excellent. On hearing this from you my mind has attained supreme delight. Describe accurately another excellent Tīrtha even as I listen. On listening to you, O sage of good holy rites, my mind is not fully satisfied.

Agastya said :

4. It is always destructive of all sins. Listen, O Brāhmaṇa , I shall describe another excellent Tīrtha well-known as Svargadvāra. [1]

5. There is none who is competent to describe in detail the glory of Svargadvāra. Hence, O dear one of good holy rites, listen to a brief (description).

6-7. According to experts, the knowers of Purāṇas , Svargadvāra has an extent of six hundred thirty-six Dhanus to the east of Sahasradhārā in the waters of Sarayū .

8. (I aver it thrice) that it is true, it is the truth. My speech is not untrue. There is no other Tīrtha on a par with Svargadvāra in (the whole of) the sphere of the Cosmic Egg (Brahmāṇḍagolaka).

9. All the celestial and terrestrial Tīrthas leave off their (respective places) in the morning and gather together and stay there as their resort, O sage of good holy rites.

10. Hence the holy bath here should be particularly taken in the morning by a person who desires to get the benefit of the holy plunge in all the Tīrthas for himself.

11. The living beings that cast off their lives inside Svargadvāra, O Brāhmaṇa, go to the supreme abode of Viṣṇu . There is no doubt about it.

12. See that this is the entrance to salvation. It is conducive to the attainment of heaven by men. Hence this excellent Tīrtha has become famous as Svargadvāra.

13. Svargadvāra is exceedingly difficult of access even to the Devas . There is no doubt about it that whatever a man desires there, he obtains it.

14. The highest achievement lies in Svargadvāra. The highest goal lies in Svargadvāra. The Japa performed, the charitable gift offered, the Homa done, the things seen, the penance performed there and the meditation, the Vedic study, done there—all shall have everlasting benefit.

15. All the sin accumulated during thousands of his previous births perishes (completely) (ṃe very moment) one enters Svargadvāra.

16-22. Brāhmaṇas , Kṣatriyas , Vaiśyas , Śūdras , mixed castes, worms, barbarians, all sorts of inferior classes of men, insects, ants, animals and birds—that attain death in Svargadvāra in due course of time, shall become persons (equipped) with Kaumodakī (the iron-club of Viṣṇu) in their hands. All the birds will become the Garuḍa -emblemed Lords. Men will become Viṣṇus in the splendid city of Viṣṇu.

Whether he has any desire or has no desire at all, if one goes to the Tīrtha Svargadvāra and forsakes his life, he will be honoured in the world of Viṣṇu.

Sages, Deities, Siddhas , Sādhyas , Yakṣas , groups of Maruts , those who make divisions in the Tīrtha (Com.) only by means of the sacred thread (?) and the groups of Devas are present here at midday. Hence they consider the midday bath with great respect.

Those who have conquered their sense-organs and observe fast at Svargadvāra and those who observe fast for a month go to the supreme abode.

23. Those who are engaged in giving cooked rice, those who give jewels, those men who gift plots of lands, those who distribute (as gift) cows and clothes to Brāhmaṇas—all these go to the abode of Hari .

24. Siddhas, noble-souled sages, Pitṛs —all these go to heaven through this Tīrtha. Hence this is said to be Svargadvāra (‘gateway to Heaven’).

25. Had himself, the Lord of Devas who has split his person into four and sports about here (as Rāma ), stays happily along with his brothers.

26. The Four-faced eternal Lord, the grandfather of the worlds, has forsaken the world of Brahmā and he sports about here along with Devas.

27. Śiva , the permanent resident of Kailāsa , is also stationed there (at Svargadvāra) itself.

28. A mass of sins as huge as Meru or Mandara (mountain) becomes completely destroyed on reaching Svargadvāra.

29. The goal that is attained through perfect knowledge and penances and the goal that is obtained by the people who perform Yajñas , that auspicious goal is decreed for ṃose who die in Svargadvāra.

30. Svargadvāra is resorted to by multitude of sages, Devas and Asuras , engaged in Japa and Homa and also by ascetics desirous of salvation.

31. If in Kaliyuga anyone stays in the city of Rāma, the son of Daśaratha , even for (a period of) half a wink, he obtains that benefit which is obtained by staying at Kāśī for sixty thousand years.

32. Merely by taking the holy bath in Sarayū on Hari’s day (i.e. the eleventh lunar day) one attains that goal which is obtained by those endowed with Yogic practice and those who cast off their lives in Vārāṇasī .

33. No one who dies in Svargadvāra sees hell. Blessed by Keśava all of them attain the greatest goal.

34-38. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, this Tīrtha excels all the Tīrthas (which exist) on the earth, in firmament and in heaven.

If people adopt devotion to Viṣṇu and confidently rejoice therein, if they restrain in accordance with their capacity their lustful ardour for sensual objects, if they gather together all their power and engage themselves in penance, they will never return even in hundreds and crores of Kalpas .

Even if a learned man who stays here is killed with hundreds of weapons, he goes to that great region. After going to that place no one bewails.

If anyone dies in Svargadvāra, he attains the greatest goal. There is no question at all whether the period of death is during the Northern Transit of the Sun or the Southern Transit.

39. All times are auspicious to those who resort to Svargadvāra. Merely by taking bath here sins of embodied beings perish.

40. To all the people on the earth who commit whatever amount of sins with their bodies, Ayodhyā has been mentioned as the greatest abode (for the purpose of removing them).

41. It is laid down by Devas that the annual festival of Lord Candrahari is to be celebrated especially on the fifteenth day in the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha .

42. On that day the Udyāpana rite (concluding rite) should be performed by those who have observed the holy vow called Candrasahasra. O Brāhmaṇa, it should be performed with scrupulous care. It is conducive to a benefit that is superior to the benefit of all Yajñas.

43. If that is performed, men will obtain heavenly abode because the great sins perish (thereby).

Śrī Vyāsa requested :

44. O holy lord, recount (to me) accurately the highly auspicious origin of Candrahari and also the procedure of the concluding rite ( Udyāpana ) of the holy vow called Candravrata .

Agastya said :

45-47. After bowing down to Viṣṇu, the resident of Ayodhyā, Moon-god, the storehouse of nectar, was eager to witness personally the glory of the Tīrtha. After coming here Moon-god performed the pilgrimage.

Capable of performing different kinds of miraculous acts, he propitiated Viṣṇu in accordance with the injunctions and in the proper order and by means of penance very difficult to perform.

He obtained his (Lord’s) favour. He installed Hari with his own name prefixed (as ‘ Candra-Hari ’). Therefore he (the lord) is known as Candrahari. [2]

48-51. With the favour of Vāsudeva that spot became a miraculous one. Indeed, O sage of good holy rites, that spot of Vāsudeva, the lord of all living beings, became an exceedingly secret (sacred) spot for the purpose of attaining salvation.

In this (holy spot), O Brāhmaṇa, Siddhas have always observed the holy vow of Govinda .

They hold different types of symbols. They are desirous of the world of Viṣṇu. Those ( Yogins ) who have subdued their sense-organs and are liberated souls, practice the highest type of Yoga (here).

In other places one does not secure as much merit as in this Tīrtha. Charitable gifts, Vratas and Homas —all these shall become infinite in benefit.

52. Living beings always attain their cherished desires and benefits (here). Hence charitable gifts etc., the worship of Brāhmaṇas and particularly of couples, should be performed here by all living beings with great effort and in due order.

53-54. By visiting this, living beings attain all that benefit and the merit which men obtain by visiting all the Deities, by taking the holy bath in all the Tīrthas and by performing all the Yajñas of superior benefits. Hence this is extolled as a great holy spot in Purāṇas etc.

55. The rite of Udyāpana should be performed here with the guidance of Brāhmaṇas in the presence of Candrahari. The Vrata is called Candrasahasra Vrata. [3]

56-57. (According to the reckoning of the Lunar months ) when two years, six months, five (?) fortnights and two and one-eighth days pass by there is one intercalary month.

When eighty-three years and four months definitely pass there will be a thousand Moons. [4] If a man lives up to that age he should celebrate the Udyāpana (of this Vrata) and (perform) the pilgrimage with effort.

58. The merit that is declared (as acquired by) performers of continuous sacrifices, by the (life-long) speakers of the truth and donors of gold, that merit is acquired by persons who live (long enough to see a thousand moons).

[ The Procedure of Udyāpana ]:—

59-64. A meritorious Vrata like that which yields all happiness is described here. On the fourteenth day the devotee should clean his teeth, take his holy bath and remain pure. He should observe restraint in speech, body and mind and take to the vow of celibacy. He should do the same on the full-moon day also and then perform the worship of the Moon.

At the outset the Mothers should be worshipped in the order of Gaurī and others. He should then devoutly worship the Ṛtviks and perform Vṛddhi Śrāddha . The pure devotees should get the replicas of the lunar sphere made. They should be a thousand in number, half of it or one-fourth of it, or in accordance with one’s own means it may be still half of it or even one-fourth of it. Thereafter the worship should be performed as one’s own faith and means permit.

Or sixteen auspicious replicas should be made carefully. Thereafter he should perform the worship of Moon-god in accordance with the injunctions of the Āgamas . Everyone of the auspicious replicas should be made of sixteen Māṣas (of gold etc.).

65. The Homa should be performed with the Soma Mantras in accordance with one’s riches. He should install the images and recite the Soma Mantras.

66. He should read out (the portion of the story narrating) the origin of Soma and recite the Somasūkta carefully. Thereafter he shall perform the worship of Candra (Moon) in accordance with the injunctions of the Āgamas.

67. He should perform the Nyāsa (symbolical assignment of the part of the body to the deity) rite of the Moon and of the Kalās (digits) in the disc of the Moon. Similarly he shall perform the Nyāsa rite of the eleven organs (including organs of sense and of action) duly. There shall be water kept in the mystic diagram.

68-73. The mystic diagram should resemble the lunar disc. It should be made with auspicious rice grains. The Kalaśa (Pot) shall be placed in the middle and it should be filled with cow’s milk. In the four comers of the square outside, the devotee should place the full Kalaśas .

The worship of the Moon should be performed in the Maṇḍala (mystic diagram) in the order of the names:

“Obeisance to Himāṃśu. Obeisance to Śomacandra. Obeisance to Candra, to Vidhu always; obeisance to Kumuda - bandhu (‘the kinsman of lilies’); obeisance to Soma, to Sudhāṃśu (‘Nectar-rayed’); obeisance to Oṣadhīśa (‘lord of medicinal herbs’); obeisance to Abja (‘born of water’); to Mṛgāṅka (‘one marked by the image of a deer’); obeisance to the storehouse of Kalās (‘digits’); obeisance to Nakṣatranātha (‘lord of the stars’); obeisance to Śarvarīpati (‘lord of the night’); to Jaivātṛka (‘ṃe long-lived one’); perpetual obeisance to Dvijarāja (‘king of the twice-born’)”.

Thus the Moon should be worshipped by means of the sixteen names in order.

74. Then the pure devotee should duly offer the water of a conchshell along with the requisite Mantra . He should take the conchshell water along with flowers, fruits and sandal-paste.

75-79. “Obeisance to you, O Śaśāṅka (‘having the hare for a mark’) who are born again and again at the end of every month; do accept my Arghya along with Rohiṇī .”

After duly worshipping Moon-god, the devotee should bow down to him. Sixteen other Kalaśas filled with milk and covered with cloths along with jewels should be given to a Brāhmaṇa for the sake of peace.

Then he should perform the rite of ablution by means of milk and water. The minds of the Ṛtviks should be propitiated in accordance with one’s riches. He should feed a Brāhmaṇa, particularly one with a (large) family. A Brāhmaṇa couple should be worshipped then by means of clothes with great care. Thereafter ample and excellent monetary gift should be made.

80-83. The replicas should be given to Brāhmaṇas along with cows, gold, silver, clothes and cooked rice in particular. All these should be gladly given to a Brāhmaṇa for the propitiation of Moon-goḍ.

The intelligent devotee should spend the rest of the day by observing fast. On the next day he should perform the worship of the Lord. He should take food along with kinsmen. He need not observe the restraints further.

If a person performs this excellent Candra-sahasra-vrata , even if he is a Brāhmaṇa-slayer, drink-addict, thief, or a defiler of the preceptor’s bed, he shall become a purified soul by this Vrata.

The man shall go to the world of the Moon. Whatever he was before, O Brāhmaṇa, he shall become a favourite of Nārāyaṇa . If a man performs the Vrata like this regularly, he shall become blessed and contented.

[1]: [1] : This Tīrtha is to the east of Sahasradhārā in the waters of Sarayū. It is 636 Dhanus in extent.

[2]: [2] : The deity called Candra-Hari was installed by Candra (v 47). Its annual festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the bright half of Jyeṣṭha.

[3]: [3] : VV 55-83 describe the Udyāpana (conclusion) of the Candra-Sahasra-Vrata . It is to be done after seeing one thousand full moons i.e. after 83 years and 4 months (v 57). Though it is called a Vrata , it is a Śānti . The procedure given in this Purāṇa is different from what is current now-a-days. Vayovasthābhidha-Śānti-Samuccaya (collection of śantis —pacificatory rites at certain stages of life) by Nārāyaṇa Śāstri Ānjarlekar (K.B. Davale Pub. Bombay) pp. 46-51 give the following procedure for this: Sahasra-Candra . It is to be performed after the completion of 79 (Lunar) years. The main deity is the Moon to whom 1008 or 108 (or according to one’s capacity) ghee oblations are to be offered with the Mantra ‘ navo navo bhavati ’. The next Adhidevatā is Tryambaka whom 108 or 28 (or as per one’s capacity) ghee oblations are to be offered with the Mantra tryambakaṃ yajāmahe ; the next deity to be propitiated is Sun-god (Kāla-svarūpa sūrya) to whom 28 or 8 (or as per one’s capacity) ghee-oblations are to be offered with the Mantra ākṛṣṇena . Lastly the Nakṣatra-devatā, the star or Nakṣatra under which the Yajamāna is born is to be propitiated with 28 or 8 ghee oblations.

[4]: [4] : According to calculation of the Solar Year this reconciles the previous statement.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23148, revision 71614 (2016-06-21T11:25:23Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371731.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.