Skandapurana 2.1.1

Veṅkaṭācalamāhātmya.
Nārada's vision of Yajñavarāha on the summit of Sumeru.
In the holy Naimiṣāraṇya, Śaunaka and the other great seers / performed a twelve-year sacrificial session for the protection of the world. // 1
To them came the story-teller, the pupil of Vyāsa of great intellect, / the sage named Ugraśravas, born of Romaharṣaṇa. // 2
Being duly worshipped by them, Sūta, the best of Purāṇa reciters, / narrated that divine Purāṇa named Skanda. // 3
He related in detail the story of the creation, dissolution, and lineages, / of the deeds of the dynasties, and of the manvantaras. // 4
Having heard the stories of the powers of the sacred fords, those foremost of sages / spoke to the self-controlled Sūta, eager to hear [more] stories. // 5
The seers said:
"O Romaharṣaṇa, all-knowing one, skilled in the meaning of the Purāṇas! / We wish to hear the māhātmya of the great mountains on earth. / Tell us, O fortunate one, which are the foremost mountains?" // 6
Śrī Sūta said:
"Formerly, on the bank of the Ganges, I asked this very question / to Vyāsa, the foremost of great sages; that best of teachers spoke to me." // 7
Vyāsa said:
"Formerly, in the age of the gods, O Sūta, Nārada, the best of sages, / having gone to the summit of Sumeru, shining with various jewels, // 8
and having seen in its center the vast, radiant, divine abode of Brahmā, / saw to its north an excellent pippala tree, // 9
a thousand yojanas high and twice as broad. / At its base was a divine pavilion, adorned with various gems, // 10
adorned with thousands of ruby pillars, / with rows of auspicious emblems made of beryl and pearls, // 11
strown with the nine jewels, beautified by divine archways, / filled with auspicious beasts and birds made of the nine jewels, // 12
having a great gate of topaz, a gateway tower of seven storeys, / beautified by two doors well-fashioned from radiant diamonds. // 13

Having entered, he saw within a divine pavilion of pearls;

the great sage ascended a lofty platform of beryl. // 14

In its center, lofty, peerless, adorned with eight legs,

he saw a throne covered with pearls, of great splendor. // 15

In its center was a divine lotus, adorned with a thousand petals,

white, lustrous as a thousand moons, bright with pericarp and filaments. // 16

Seated in its center, with the brilliance of ten thousand full moons,

having the form of Mount Kailāsa, handsome, having a human form, // 17

four-armed, with noble limbs, an auspicious boar-face,

bearing the conch, discus, and gestures of granting safety and boons, the Supreme Person, // 18

the god wearing yellow garments, with eyes long like lotus petals,

with a gentle face like the full moon, his lotus mouth fragrant with incense, // 19

sounding with the Sāma Veda, the embodiment of sacrifice, with a snout like a offering ladle and a nose like a sacrificial spoon,

resembling the ocean of milk, with his face radiant with a diadem, // 20

with the śrīvatsa mark on his chest, adorned with a bright sacred thread,

blazing with the splendor of the Kaustubha gem, having an elevated, broad chest, // 21

endowed with divine ornaments of excellent jewels made of gold,

radiant like an autumn cloud encircled by garlands of lightning, // 22

splendid on a footstool pressed by the sole of his left foot,

ever brilliant with bracelets, armlets, upper-arm bands, and earrings, // 23

by the four-faced [Brahmā], Vasiṣṭha, Atri, Mārkaṇḍeya, and other lords of sages,

and by Bhṛgu and many others, served day and night, // 24

and by the world-guardians headed by Indra, and hosts of gandharvas and apsarases—

having approached and bowed down to that God of gods thus served, // 25

and having praised the Supporter of the Earth with divine passages from the Upaniṣads,

Nārada, exceedingly pleased, stood in the presence of the god. // 26

Now the arrival of Dharaṇī before Varāha.

In the meantime, there arose the sound of divine kettledrums. // 27

Then goddess Dharaṇī came there together with her companions,

radiant in divine garments resembling an ocean of excellent jewels, // 28

bent low under the weight of breasts shaped like Sumeru and Mandara,

dark as fresh dūrvā grass blades, adorned with all ornaments, // 29

accompanied indeed by her two friends Ilā and Piṅgalā.

Then, scattering at the feet of the glorious god Varāha

the heap of flowers brought by those two, the Earth, // 30

having bowed to the God of gods, stood with joined palms. // 31

Then the glorious Varāha, having embraced that goddess and placed her on his lap, // 32

Now the dialogue of Dharaṇī and Varāha.

asked the Earth about her welfare, his mind disposed to affection. // 33

Glorious Varāha said:

"Having placed you, O goddess Earth, upon the comfortable head of Śeṣa,

and having established the world upon you, and mountains as your helpers,

I have come here, O goddess. For what purpose have you come here?" // 34

The Earth said:

"Having lifted me up from Pātāla onto the lofty, jeweled head of Ananta,

adorned with a thousand hoods, as if onto a jewel-seat,

and having made me firmly fixed, O god, and having established the mountains // 35

capable of bearing me, holy, identical with you, O Supreme Person,

tell me of the foremost among them, O mighty-armed one, that are my supports." // 36

Now the description of Śeṣācala surpassing all mountains.

Glorious Varāha said:

"Sumeru, Himavat, Vindhya, Mandara, Gandhamādana,

Sālagrāma, Citrakūṭa, Mālyavat, Pāriyātra, // 37

Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Siṃhādri, and Raivata,

and the great golden mountain named Añjana, the son of Meru— // 38

all these excellent mountains are your supports, O Vasundharā,

which are frequented by me, and by hosts of gods, and by hosts of seers. // 39

Among these I will declare the foremost in truth; listen, O Mādhavī:

Sālagrāma, Siṃhādri, and Gandhamādana, the king of mountains..." // 40

These best of mountains, O goddess, are situated in the northern direction;

now I shall describe the famous mountains in the south, O Vasundharā: // 41

Aruṇādri, Hastiśaila, Gṛdhrādri, Ghaṭikācala—

all these best of mountains stand near the Kṣīranadī. // 42

To the north of Hastiśaila, at a distance of five yojanas,

flows the foremost of rivers, named Suvarṇamukharī. // 43

On its northern bank is a lake called Kamala;

on its shore dwells the blessed lord Hari, granter of boons to Śuka, // 44

joined by Balabhadra—Kṛṣṇa, who destroys the distress of his devotees,

perpetually worshipped by the immaculate hosts of Vaikhānasa sages. // 45

To the north of Lake Kamala, in an excellent forest,

at a distance of just two and a half krośas, adorned with yellow-sandal trees,

is the great abode of Vāsudeva named Śrīveṅkaṭācala. // 46

Seven yojanas in breadth, one yojana high,

this lord of mountains is golden, O goddess, possessing peaks of jewels and extending far. // 47

Hosts of gods beginning with Indra, lords of sages beginning with Vasiṣṭha,

Siddhas, Sādhyas, and Maruts, Dānavas, Daityas, and Rākṣasas,

and troops of apsarases beginning with Rambhā dwell there constantly, O earth; // 48

Nāgas, Garuḍas, and Kinnaras perform austerity there.

Occupied by these, sacred-looking rivers are there,

and various divine lakes exist here, O Mādhavī. // 49

Now the description of the superiority of Svāmipuṣkariṇī over all sacred fords.

Hear indeed the foremost among all the sacred fords: // 50

Cakratīrtha, Daivatīrtha, and likewise Viyadgaṅgā,

Kumāradhārikātīrtha, and Pāpanāśana,

the sacred ford named Pāṇḍava, and likewise Svāmipuṣkariṇī— // 51

these seven, they say, are the best on the auspicious Nārāyaṇagiri.

Foremost among these, O goddess, is the auspicious Svāmipuṣkariṇī. // 52

On its western bank I reside together with you;

on its southern bank dwells Śrīnivāsa, the lord of the world. // 53

Equal to all sacred fords including the Gaṅgā is that lake, O earth ocean-clad;

whatever sacred fords, lakes, and rivers there are in the three worlds,

lordship over them has accrued to the Svāmisarovara, O earth. // 54

To serve the holy Svāmipuṣkariṇī on this divine mountain,

all the sacred fords reside; I shall tell you their number: // 55

there are sixty-six crores of sacred fords on this sacred, best of mountains;

and among them, six sacred fords are paramount, O Vasundharā. // 56

Among five kingly fords, the great Tumba is like a womb;

it destroys the fear of entering the womb for those who bathe [there] on this best of mountains. // 57

Dharaṇī said:

Six sacred fords on the mountain have been mentioned by you, O mighty-armed one;

tell me their māhātmya, along with the proper time and the proper injunction,

and tell [me] the fruits for men who bathe in them, O maintainer of the earth. // 58

The glorious Varāha said:

I shall tell the māhātmya of Nārāyaṇādri; hear, O Mādhavī: // 59

gods, seers, and yogins beginning with Sanaka,

and wise men declare this mountain to be the abode of the Supreme Self—

as Añjanādri in the Kṛta age, Nārāyaṇagiri in the Tretā age, / Siṃhaśaila in the Dvāpara, and Śrīveṅkaṭācala in the Kali age. // 60–61

The wise here declare that mountain to be the abode of the Supreme Self.

Even one stationed at the end of a thousand yojanas or gone to another continent,

who bows in devotion facing in the direction of this lord of mountains,

is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Viṣṇu. // 62

I will describe to you the māhātmya of the six sacred fords there, according to the proper time. // 63

Now the māhātmya of Kumāradhārā.

Listen attentively, O auspicious one, [to what] destroys all sins:

when the sun resides in Aquarius, in the month of Māgha, on the great lunar day of the full moon, // 64

joined with the Maghā asterism, on this lord of mountains, O Vasundharā,

there is a pool named Kumāradhārikā that purifies the world, // 65

where dwells Pārvatī's son, Kārttikeya, who was born from fire,

joined with Devasenā, worshipping Śrīnivāsa, O pure one. // 66

Hear the fruit of merit of one who bathes in it at midday:

One who bathes with regularity in all sacred fords such as the Gaṅgā, O Earth,

for twelve years, O supporter of the world, obtains that very fruit.

One who gives food at that sacred ford according to one's capacity, accompanied by a fee,

reaps that same fruit, just as the fruit has been described for the ritual ablution.

Now, the māhātmya of the Tumba sacred ford.

When the sun is stationed in the Mānasa, on the full moon day, O Earth,

conjoined with Uttarāphālgunī, at the fourth auspicious period,

among the five sacred fords, then at Tumba in the mountain cave,

the person who bathes, O goddess, is not born into a womb again.

Now, the māhātmya of Ākāśagaṅgā.

When the sun is in the constellation of Agnivāha, conjoined with the Citrā nakṣatra,

on the holy lunar day called the full moon, and likewise at dawn,

having bathed in the river Ākāśagaṅgā, one attains liberation.

Now, the māhātmya of the Pāṇḍava sacred ford.

When the sun is in Taurus, in the month of Vaiśākha, on the twelfth lunar day, on a Sunday,

whether in the bright or dark fortnight, conjoined with Tuesday;

or in the bright or dark [fortnight] conjoined with Sunday,

or conjoined with the Puṣya nakṣatra or conjoined with the Hasta constellation:

the person who bathes here at the sacred ford named Pāṇḍava at morning-time

incurs no suffering in this world, and enjoys happiness in the next.

Now, the māhātmya of the Pāpanāśana sacred ford.

In the bright or dark fortnight, a seventh lunar day falling on Sunday,

conjoined with the Puṣya nakṣatra or conjoined with the Hasta constellation:

on that lunar day, O fortunate one, in the one named Pāpanāśana,

the sacred ford on the summit of the king of mountains, one who bathes with regularity

—that best of men is released from sins accumulated over ten million births.

Now, the māhātmya of the Deva sacred ford.

Hear the supreme secret, O goddess, on the great mountain named Ananta:

to the northwest of my divine abode, on the peak, in a mountain cave,

is an exceedingly beautiful pool known as the Deva sacred ford.

I shall tell you the time for ritual ablution in that most holy [place], O goddess:

when Puṣya falls on a Thursday, at a Vyatīpāta, and likewise when Śravaṇa falls on a Monday—

hear the fruit of merit of one who bathes on these days:

Whatever sins are committed here through knowledge or ignorance,

all of them are destroyed at the exceedingly purifying Deva sacred ford.

Merits also increase from bathing in the Deva sacred ford;

one attains a long life, accompanied by sons and grandsons,

and at the end, having reached heaven, is exalted in Candraloka.

The giver of food on those days, O goddess, becomes [equivalent to] a giver of food for life.

This most secret [truth], O goddess, has been declared to you, O Earth.

Vyāsa said:

Having heard, the goddess Earth, her mind inclined with joy,

praised the supporter of the earth with pleasing words:

Now, the praise of Varāha by Earth.

Earth said:

Obeisance to you, O Lord of the gods of gods, O boar-faced, unswerving one,

resembling the ocean of milk, diamond-tusked, mighty-armed!

I was lifted up by you, O God, from the waters of the ocean at the beginning of the kalpa;

by you of a thousand arms, O Viṣṇu, I uphold the worlds.

You who are adorned with various divine ornaments and the sacred thread,

wearing deep red garments, embellished with divine gems,

whose lotus feet resemble the rising sun, obeisance, obeisance [to you]!

The tip of whose tusks gleams like the crescent moon, O you of great power and valor,

whose limbs are anointed with divine sandalwood, wearing earrings of refined gold,

adorned with golden armlets gleaming with sapphire gems,

who tore asunder Hiraṇyākṣa with the tip of your diamond tusk, O mighty one,

whose eyes are charming like lotus blossoms, captivating with the sound of the Sāmas,

whose self is the parting ornament of the Vedic texts, the soul of all, of beautiful strides,

praised by the four-faced Brahmā and Śaṃbhu, O wide-eyed one!

O you whose form is made of all knowledge, beyond the spoken word, salutations, salutations to you!

O infinite one whose form is bliss, the death of Death, salutations, salutations to you!"

Having thus praised him, the immovable goddess bowed at the feet of the lord.

Seeing her bowing, the god, his eyes blossoming wide,

lifted up the goddess Earth and embraced her with his arms.

Having smelled Earth's face and seated her on his left lap,

Now, the arrival of the lord Varāha along with Earth at Śeṣācala:

Mounting Garuda, the lord of birds, he went to Vṛṣabhācala,

the lord of the earth being praised by the lords of sages headed by Nārada.

On the western bank of the Svāmipuṣkariṇī, revered by the world,

the boar-faced one sits, worshipped there by lords of sages,

by the highly fortunate Vaikhānasa sages, equal to Brahmā, great souls.

Now, the occasion of hearing the māhātmya of Veṅkaṭācala:

Vyāsa said:

"Having seen him, O Sūta, Nārada spoke in ancient times to the sages;

that very teaching I heard right there in the assembly of sages.

Since I was asked by you, O Sūta, about the māhātmya of the mountains,

I have told it properly just as it was heard in ancient times from Nārada."

Now, the fruit of hearing this chapter:

"Whoever reads this purifying, righteous dialogue of us two, O Sūta,