The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c18.14

v2.c18.14

But whatever the age when the change took place, Koṇārak has been noted from a long period as a holy one and especially beneficial to those who are afflicted with leprosy. The *Kapila Saṃhitā* is particularly eloquent in its praise. It says : ‘The forest called Maitreya was produced by the penances of the sage Maitreya. A person going thereto immediately cures himself of the frightful disease. Those who wish to dwell there without passion and free from sin have their desires fulfilled by the lord of day. Those who give up their life in the delightful forest of Maitreya, casting aside all their sins, repair to the region of light. Those who devoutly behold the image of the sun on a Sunday in the sacred abode of Ravi, and those who die in the Maitreya forest, attaining immortality and freedom from all subsequent births, repair to the region of the Devas and enjoy eternal felicity with the sun. Whoever worships Bhāskara there with ardent faith immediately frees himself from all sins and obtains whatever he wishes. There exists the holy pool named Maṅgala which bestows desirable rewards to gods. A person bathing in it on a Tuesday for certain obtains prosperity. There also exists the sacred pool Sālmalibhāṇḍa, the purifier of the three regions, the remover of all sins, the pure, the adored of Siddhas and Gandharvas, surrounded by many saints and the giver of salvation to all. Bathing therein men attain the light of the sun. Bathing in the Sālmalibhāṇḍa and then beholding the lord of shadows, a person, destroying his sins, repairs to the region of the sun. There is not, verily there is not a river on earth equal to the Sūryagaṅgā. Bathing in the sea before the place a person purifies himself from all sins. The lord of waters, the sea, is the noblest of all sacred waters and in the waves of the lord of rivers there exists the sacred Rāmeśvara which Rāma worshipped for the good of created beings ; and those good men who worship that Rāmeśvara with due faith, obtain desirable rewards from Rāmacandra himself. Whoever worships Maheśvara there with aromatics, flowers and edibles, goes to the region of Śiva in a celestial car. Those who bathe in due form in the waters of the Candrabhāgā, attain a body resplendent as that of the moon, and ultimately translate themselves to the mansion of Indra. There exists an all-granting tree named Arkavaṭa, adorned by numerous birds and at its foot dwell many saints, and whoever goes to this salvation-giving banian tree, becomes for certain indestructible. For the good of animated beings Sūrya himself has become that tree and those who recite the excellent *mantra* of Sūrya under its shade in three fortnights attain perfection. On the earth this Arkavaṭa is the same with the Nandana tree of heaven and I verily say unto thee hereby dwell [148] Siddhas. Those who there reflect on Viṣṇu obtain the favour of Viṣṇu. Whoever dwells under that tree is doubtless a Siddha. Those who worship the maker of day on the day of Vijayā-saptamī become successful everywhere and free from sin. Those who devoutly behold the Car Festival in the Maitreya forest, behold the real body of the sun’.