Chapter 30 - Offering Lights to Anarakeśvara

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vyāsa said:

1. O dear one, narrate to me everything: What is the benefit of offering this lamp? What is the procedure whereby it is offered? What is the splendid origin of the (practices of) lamp-offering?

Sanatkumāra said:

2. Formerly, in Kṛtayuga, O Vyāsa, Śaṅkara approached Pārvatī with a request. But he also was approached by her with a request.

Pārvatī said:

3. O Śaṃbhu, my body is black in colour. It mars the beauty. Hence I earnestly request you. Be pleased, O Lord of divine eyes.

4-6. She was described by Bhava as extremely splendid unto him. “You always appear all the more beautiful like the (black) colour of eyelashes, just as a black bee that settles on a white lotus makes it more beautiful.”

Then the bull-seated Dhūrjaṭi was begged by her: “You are the bestower of beauty unto the ugly; but you do not pay heed to my words. Becoming disaffected (unattached to the world) I shall perform a difficult penance.”

7-10. Bhava, on being requested thus by her once, caught hold of her hand (in marriage). The Lord then requested his beloved for sexual dalliance. She consented and gave him that pleasure, but he boisterously laughed calling her Kālī. She became very miserable and turned away her face leaving him off. Recollecting the (taunting) words of the Lord, she angrily uttered: “I am going to the penance-grove now for acquiring perfectly white complexion. I can gain your love only when I get excellent complexion and beauty of form, not otherwise.”

11-13. Speaking thus, she went to the Vindhya mountain. Hara bewailed her: ‘Where has she gone leaving me off?’ He remembered her behaviour and the previous words. ‘At that time I did not know her (request) duly. In vain did I rejoice (in her discomfiture). The daughter of the Himālaya Mountain, the most beautiful lady in all the worlds, was not respected by me as before. Hence she has gone away forsaking me.’

14. He said thus further: ‘I have not the power to endure this severe separation from the beloved.’ He then vanished.

15. Thereupon the entire universe became chaotic and excessively frightened. Suras, Asuras and great sages became excessively dejected.

16. They left their abodes because they were extremely sad. Those persons who were almost surprised eulogized Hara.

Sanatkumāra said:

17. When Lord Rudra with the crescent-moon for his crest-jewel was not to be seen, the entire universe lost its light and became a desolate forest.

18. When Rudra was gone, the three eyes of Rudra viz. the sun, the moon and fire, did not shine in this world consisting of mobile and immobile beings.

19. When the darkness became impossible to be penetrated by eyes and caused hairs to stand on ends, the Suras and Asuras were enveloped in darkness. They could not see one another.

20. For the attainment of their object, this (intelligent) plan occurred to them—the plan whereby the Lord of the universe, the consort of Pārvatī could be known.

21-26. Without that (Lord) with the moon, the sun and fire for his eyes, there could not be any light. Miserable on account of the lack of awareness (of each other) they called out to each other: “O Lord, O Sage, O Siddhi, O anchorite, O Night-stalker, O Daitya, O excellent one among Danujas, O guide of men! In which direction have you gone, O dear one? Who has been found by you? Have you any resort for rest anywhere? Have you any support anywhere? Have you any viaticum? In what direction, and what unknown place? Have you light, a vehicle, an umbrella, food, bed, abode anywhere? Where are you? How do you get water? Or mental peace and pleasure? Have you any kinsman or son, O dear one who are (like) cool shade of trees?”

Speaking thus to one another in piteous tone, all those Devas with Indra at the head became utterly anxious and worried.

27-29. “Those creatures which resort to the cavities or hollow places of the earth, Daiteyas and Serpents who are stationed in Rasātala, do not have the sun, the moon or the other great planets, or Agni, the mouth of gods, lightning or the crores of stars. Neither the men in this world nor those of the other worlds see with that type of light whereby those stationed in Narakas see.

30-33. He who walks about along (with us), he who bestows hundreds of desired things, he who is like water unto the thirsty cooked food unto the hungry, a vehicle unto the tired, bed on level ground, boat in water, a good attendant during illness, riches during ailment and difficulties, along with excellent medicinal herbs and effective Mantras, a friend in a foreign country, shade in heat, smokeless fire in winter, succour in great danger and guiding light in long great night, the bestower of everything on all, the bestower of hundreds of desired things, you alone are the shining luminary and we know you in the midst of darkness.”

34. Saying thus they heard the sweet speech of Viṣṇu of unparalleled deeds, the voice they had heard before.

35-36. They did not know where Lord Keśava stood and talked: “Listen to these words of mine, ye all, with great attention. Dāna alone is the thing well-known as equivalent to Cintāmaṇi (wish-yielding jewel). Of all Dānas the gift of a Dīpa (light) is praised the most.

37-41. Hence that should be offered by all. Listen to the truth. It was with compassion for the Nāgas in Rasātala that the excellent Dīpa was created by me whereby the darkness has been dispelled. That lamp of such a nature is unextinguishable by winds. It has great lustre. It is motionless, free from impurities, pleasing to the mind, steady and having the lustre of the sun. It is neither too hot nor too cold. It has originated through the Yogic power of the Goddess. Gokarṇa experienced great exhilaration through the light of Dīpa. Śeṣa and other Nāgas were being urged in groups and they offered thousands of Dīpas from the original Dīpa before Śiva. They diverted themselves by lighting the Dīpas brightly on mountains, seas, forests, gardens and banks of the rivers.

42-50. They joyously took the milk, the five divine Mūlas (roots), puddings, meats, honey, rice soaked in ghee, cooked rice from Candraśāli paddy, seven types of betel leaf packs, eight types of liquor, the remnant after the wives had imbibed etc.

Embracing one another, they sported about on valuable beds, in the pleasing groves of trees, at the roots of all the trees beautified with ample shade of the trees. They practised all the diverse types of dalliance mentioned in the original texts of Kāmatantra (Science of Erotics) and kisses etc. They were free from the fear of sunshine and the fear of the moonlight. Similarly they were rid of the terrible fear originating from ants.

There may be burning due to the sunshine, chillness on account of the rays of the moon, fear of death originating from the ants, on account of the peacock, mongoose etc.

They made lamps of gold and gifted them to Brāhmaṇas. Thereby they made the city of Bhogavatī in Pātāla. They lived there in happiness eight times more than what is available in Svarga. Thus, O Devas, the blinding pitchy darkness of Pātāla disappeared on account of the Dīpa. This secret I have revealed due to my compassion for you all. Hence you also carry out the gift of lamps with mental concentration and purity.

51-53. The log of (wood in the form of) pitchy darkness cannot be burnt except through the fire of Dīpa.” The Devas devoted to Nārāyaṇa listened to this with mental concentration. They then joyously asked Lord Dāmodara: “O Lord of the universe, explain to us the Agni whereby Dīpa is kindled. We are submerged in terrible darkness. We do not know Agni.” Thereafter the Agni, the mental one (in the case of) of the Devas, was explained by Kṛṣṇa (Viṣṇu).

54. They kindled the Dīpa thereby; the Devas devoted to Śiva offered it with Śiva in view, Śiva—the bestower of all desired benefits.

55. When the Dīpa was offered by the Devas, the delighted Maheśvara was seen. That darkness whereby the whole universe was stupefied disappeared.

56. Then the Devas with Indra as the leader attained happiness in heaven. After attaining the kingdom full of all pleasures, they sproted about along with their women.

57. On realizing the benefit of Dīpadāna, the Daiteyas became surprised. So also, O Vyāsa, Yakṣas became surprised after knowing the benefit thereof.

58. After worshipping Mahādeva with flowers and pure waters, all of them offered thousands of Dīpas with great devotion to Siva.

59. Due to the offerings of Dīpa all of them became splendid in their respective regions. Accompanied by kinsmen, servants and others, they enjoyed pleasures as they pleased.

60. Thereupon Piśācas who had neither food nor place of resort, understood the benefit of Dīpadāna and all of them were surprised.

61-65. Devoted to Śiva, they took Agni from the (house of) Cāṇḍāla and offered Dīpa. They too accompanied by their sons and wives experienced the benefit of Dīpadāna. They consumed cooked food licked (by others),, devoid of juice, stinking and stale. Even the Ucchiṣṭa (remnant of food in dishes after meal) touched by a woman who had recently given birth to a child, the impure food and the food too much disgusting was consumed by them and they sported about joyously in the defiled areas.

Similarly Vidyādharas, human beings and Siddhas with their minds attached to Siva understood the benefit of Dīpadāna and offered Dīpa in front of Siva. Thereupon all of them were endowed with all types of pleasures as a fruit of Dīpadāna. They sported about joyously in their regions and they were happy, O Vyāsa. The darkness too in all the worlds disappeared due to the Dīpa.

66-74. Thereupon, the terrible Tamas remained in Pretalokas all the while. On seeing Pretaloka enveloped in the terrible darkness, all the excellent Suras said to Dāmodara, the Lord of the universe: “O Lord, all the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Siddhas,

Vidyādharas, Uragas, human beings and we too are always pleased after destroying the terrible darkness. We have all means of pleasures and enjoyments. We sport about in our respective regions happily. Those men who are in Pretaloka and who are enveloped in darkness, O Lord of the universe, continued to be miserable, O Kṛṣṇa, deluded much by the sins, they have not carried out that task (of offering Dīpa). They do not have anything which can shed light. They are submerged beneath the terrible Tamas. They do not have the sun, the moon, fire, assistant, wife, support and preceptors. They do not have vehicle and bed. There is only the great Tamas. The crores of Narakas have been grouped into twenty-eight classes. All of them are full of darkness (Tamas). They terrify the sinners always. O Kṛṣṇa, how are they to get happiness? The men are excessively miserable due to poverty, misery and ailments, Māyā and delusion too.”

Sanatkumāra said:

75. On hearing the request of the Devas, the Garuḍa-emblemed Lord said these pleasing words:

76-83. “O ye gods, listen to what I am about to tell you. There is a Tīrtha in Avantī which dispels sins immediately. It is a Tīrtha of great merit called Anaraka. It is the most excellent of all excellent Tīrthas.

A devotee should with great concentration of mind take his holy bath there on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika. He should be engrossed in the meditation of Yama and be devoted to the Piṭrs. With the sense-organs under control, O excellent Suras, in midday, he should face the South and offer libations with black gingelly seeds, wearing the sacred thread over the right shoulder and repeating the following Mantras: ‘Obeisance to Yama, to Dharmarāja, to Mṛtyu, to Antaka, to Vaivasvata, to Kāla, to Dakṣa, to Manu, to Kṛṣṇa, to Kṛṣṇagupta, to Pretalokapara (the greatest benefactor of the world of the departed), to Hari, to the son of Ravi, to the brother of Kālindī, to the Śrāddhadeva, to the Lord of Pitṛs.’

The Mantras are to be uttered perfectly with Om in the beginning and namas in the end. The libations should be offered with Darbha grass and gingelly seeds.

84. A wise devotee should offer the libations to Lord Yama and with great mental attention offer the vessel of gingelly seeds to a Brāhmaṇa. He should not have hesitation to spend money.

85. If anyone offers libation unto Yama in accordance with this procedure, all his ancestors become liberated even if they had fallen into hell.

86-88. At night the man entertaining some desire should offer Dīpa for the whole of the month of Kārttika uttering the following Mantras: ‘Obeisance to the Pitṛs, to the departed ones; obeisance to Dharma; obeisance to Viṣṇu; obeisance to Sūrya; obeisance to Rudra; obeisance to Kālāntapati.’

The Dīpa should be filled with ghee. His riches will increase. When the month of Kārttika is over he should perform the Udyāpana (concluding rite unto the Dīpa).

89-90. On a Sunday when the sun has set, the wise devotee should think of Yama with devotion and offer the wick of the Dīpa of the size of a man. It should be mounted on a wooden post shaped like a sacrificial post. It is fixed in the ground a Hasta (hand) deep. On the top, the extent shall be two Hastas with eight petal-like structures. Four excellent (metal) Paṭṭikās (flat pieces) should be fixed to them with holes four Aṅgulas apart.

91. The wick of great light of the Dīpa should be at the pericarp. It is offered with great devotion. In the eight petals the Dīpas should be facing the north and will be filled with ghee.

92-93. The cloth used for the wick should be very white or bright red. It should not have been put on before. In each light there should be two pieces unbroken and equal and of good quality, and very smooth. They (wicks) are placed on cakes of rice flour so that they do not slip out or shake. The numbers of the wicks shall be in sets of three and its multiples. The Dīparāja (excellent Dīpa) should be in the middle.

94. For the sake of additional beauty and for the realization of desires, eight bells should be kept suspended with flower garlands. The beauty of the cloth should add beauty.

95. The ground should be smeared with cow-dung and then with scented water. Eight petals should be made with diverse colours and the (sacred) Maṇḍala should be completed in the shape of a beautiful lotus.

96-98. Eight beautiful pots should be filled with cool water. Above them fruits, roots and sugarcane along with honey, ghee, curds and milk should be placed (in separate pots). They should be placed from the South-West to South in the following order with the following deities: Dharma, Śaṅkara, Dāmodara, Brahmā, Prajāpatis, Pretas, Indra and the Pitṛs. The vessel of Homa etc. should be given to Brāhmaṇas with powered gingelly seeds and with due Dakṣiṇās.

99-100. To the excellent Brāhmaṇas with higher learning and to the Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Purāṇic lore, gifts should be made with cows, gold, silver, cloth, fruits, roots, barley, grains, horse, elephants and other pleasing things. With the Dīpas placed on the petals offered thus, Yama and others shall become propitiated duly.

101. The Dīpa in the middle should be offered to Dharma after getting the formal consent of the preceptor. There should be programmes of good dances, songs, and excellent instrumental music.

102. All this should be done in accordance with the injunctions, after carefully considering one’s own capacity and wealth. Inviting Brāhmaṇas of good character and intentions, the sensible Brāhmaṇa should tell them? with great devotion:

103. ‘Excepting nine Dīpas, O Brāhmaṇas, you should take everything else that is here.’ He should circumambulate them and formally dismiss the Brāhmaṇas. He should take food only at night.

104-106. If everything is performed in this manner, there shall be more happiness unto the people stationed in Pretaloka than what is obtained in Nāgaloka.” O Vyāsa, listen with attention to the benefit derived by one who makes Dīpadāna in this manner at Anaraka (Tīrtha). He shall go to heaven being borne in divine aerial chariots capable of bestowing all desires and served by celestial damsels. He shall stay there as long as the moon and the sun exist.