The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.74

v2.c17.74

The religious merit of the water is lauded in the highest terms. The *Padma Purāṇa* says, "The person who bathes in the sacred pool of the Vindusāra, and then beholds the lord of the three regions (Tribhuvaneśvara) cleanses himself of all sin, and finally retires to the region of light," (*jyotirloka*). The *Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa* repeats the verse, with a slight variation, confining the reward "to the destruction of the accumulated sins of many former existences." The *Śiva Purāṇa* assigns the same reward, and the *Kapila Saṃhitā* changes it to "inexhaustible virtue." The *Brahma Purāṇa* does the same. The *Ekāmra Purāṇa*, being devoted exclusively to the merits of the sacred places of Bhuvaneśvara, is of course more profuse in its praises, and more detailed in its direction as to the proper times for bathing in the tank. According to it, "The man, who, restraining his passions, on the day of either of the equinoxes, bathes in this pool and drinks its waters, purifies himself of all sins committed, either wittingly or unwittingly. Those who, after bathing here, devoutly offer a funeral cake (*piṇḍa*) on the first day of the sun's motion, either to the north or to the south, repair to the region of the sun. The day of the eclipse of the sun or the moon, is known to be highly auspicious (for the purpose) ; it destroys all sins and all fears. Whoever bathes in the pure lake on the 14th of the wane, goes to the region of Śiva through the blessings of Kīrtivāsa. He who does so on the 8th of the waxing moon, in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, (Oct.-Nov.) attains the merit of performing an Atirātra ceremony. He who bathes in it on the 14th of the moon regularly for a year, repairs to that excellent place where dwells the lord of Haimavatī. The sages have ordained that a single bath in the Vindu Sāgara is equal in merit to the bathing in the noble Puṣkara for a hundred winters, or four times at Kurukṣetra. Bathing continuously for four times seven Yugas, during the eclipses of the sun and the moon at Benares, is unquestionably equivalent to a single bath in the 'lake formed of drops.' Whatever merits may be acquired by annual pilgrimages to the source of the Ganges (Gaṅgādvāra), to Prayāga, or where the Ganges pours into the sea, (Gaṅgāsāgara) repeated for ten years, may be acquired by a single bath in the Vindusāra, and the adoration of the great lord (Maheśvara) through the grace of Kīrtivāsa." The *Kapila Saṃhitā* is equally profuse in its praises, and adds that "the drinking of the water confers the dignity of Śiva, and that dignity lasts as long as the sun."