Oppiliappan sthala puranam

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavathas,

I had an old Sthalapuranam published in 1927 by Shri Rangaswamy

Bhattachar and by Shri Ponnappa Bhattachar of Oppiliappn koil. It has

a Tamil translation by Vaikunta Vaasi Sri Srirama DsikAcchAr Swamy.

This is an attempt to give as much of the sthalapuranam as possible in

English.

I have been trying to do this for a few months, but was able to start

only now.

Those who have more info about all these great people, please share

with us. It is hard to imagine how much they would have tried to

bring this out 80 years ago.

Please forgive the English and read on- as all the bhagavathas are

well aware of, it is not possible to do justice to the originals.

This is for the benefit of Bhagavathas who are not too comfortable

with Sanskrit and/or Tamil.

This has 9 chapters and others will follow as soon as possible.

 

Shubha

Chapter 1

Sage Narada addressed Brahma thus:

` Oh Deva! Your eyes are like the lotus flower and you are seated on

the lotus. You are worshipped by all the devas and humans. You know

the power and glory of all the sacred places, waters, vimaanams and

mantrams as well. I request you to grant this wish of mine.

"Once, I was elated to listen to Bhagavan's pure and sacred splendour.

Hence I ask you now. When you were relating the powerful story of

Kumbhakonam, Markandeya kshetram was mentioned briefly. This is very

secretive, and is very pure; nevertheless, since I am your sishya,

please relate this Mahathmyam, for the benefit of the whole Universe.'

Hearing this Brahma was exhilarated and paid obeisance to

Lakshmipathi and started to speak thus:

" Listen Narada! The mere thought of MarkaNdeya kshetram destroys all

sins at that very instance. Anyone who takes salt inside the temple

will go to hell. Anyone who relishes a dish with salt inside the

temple will also go to hell. If someone sees someone else eat such a

dish and does not stop him, he attains all the sins of the world.

Someone who eats or gives a little bit of salt without knowing also

attains the same fate. This is true.

"On the other hand, someone who worships Bhumidevi's consort with the

leaves of Tulasi, attains Ashvamedha Phalan for every leaf. Someone

who goes to this kshetram attains Paundareeka Phalan for every step he

takes. Someone who offers even a little bit of land equal to the size

of a cow's hoof attains moksham. A person who offers sandalwood,

kumkumam, flowers, etc. is freed from even the worst of sins

(brahmahatti). So does someone who performs festivals(utsavam).

Someone who gives vessels for arghyam, incense, lamp, and

thirumanjanam will live in heaven for a number of years equal to the

grains of sand. One who conducts ceremonial celebrations for the

Bhagavan who destroyed Madhu, is freed of all unforgivable sins. So

does one who gifts bronze bell and exquisite clothes.

"On the thiruvonam day of Aippasi month, if one bathes in the

AhoratrapushkariNi with devotion and a pure mind, and presents a

Brahmin whatever he can, and then paraises Shri VAsudevan who resides

there with Bhoomi Devi, and then and serves at least five Brahmins

with Payasaannam, and then does the Pradakshinam around the kshetram

(kaatupradakshiNam), and goes back and again prostrates before Hari,

is freed form all kinds of unforgivable sins. He attains VaikunTam as

well.

"MarutgaNaas, devatas, Siddhaas, Saadhyaas, Vishvedevaas, Kinnaraas,

Yakshaas, Lokapalaas, Ganadharvaas, thiirthaadidevaas, Vanadevataas,

and othere devatas worship shrivasudeva even today. VAsihsta,

Kaahyapa, Kanva, MrukaNDu, Vaamadeva, Jaabaali, Jaangali, vitihotraka,

Dhaumyaskruta, Gaalava, Vyaasa, Kapila, Vishvamitra, Atri, Kutsa,

Jamadagni, Paraasharaa, Shataananda, Sumaali, Daksha, Vaaruna,

Bhrigu, AngaNaka, sharabhaNga, Gaarghya, Shaakala, Vatsa, VAtsanaabha,

and many other rishis come to this MarkaNdeya kshetram, bathe in the

AhoraatrapushkariNi and worship Bhoomi Devi's consort Shrinivaasa,

observing strict vratas.

"By contemplating on Shri Vasudeva, one gets the fruits of thousand

Aptoryamaas and one lakh PaunDariika Yagams. By listening about Him,

and by seeing Him one enjoys the results of one lakh Ashvamedha

yagnaas. If someone just utters the word "TuLasiivanam" he is freed

from all sins and reaches VaikunTam.

"Every year, during the waxing period of the month Aippasi, after

hoisting the flag (dwajaarohaNam) according to Vaikhaanasa rules, let

us perform ceremonial celebrations for nine days, and on the tenth

day, let us perform Avabhruta Snaanam in the AhoraatrapushkariNi along

with Apasaraas, Kinnaraas and Rishis. If those who come here for this

Brahmotsavam, will live in Vaikuntam, can anything be said about those

who live here in this kshetram?

"The trees there are said to be Devaas, the stone to be Rishis, and

tulasi tree is said to be Lakshmidevi herself. Bhodhi tree is

considered to be Brahma, kokilas are gandharavaas, peacocks are

apsaras and the temple itself is Pranavam. One who renovates the

temple is said to be endowed with devaamsham.

"Here Ganga and Goda flow towards the Lord's south. Previously,

Kaveri flowed to the west of Kumbhakonam around Shri Sharngapani like

a garland by becoming two streams. There the stream that flows in the

south also removes sins.

"Once Goda and Ganga - who flows in all the three worlds, came and

prostrated before me and said " He Brahman! All the people in the

world come and take dips in our waters and go back to their homes,

freed of all their sins. Please show us a way that is powerful enough

to get rid of these sins"

"Oh Narada! Listen to what I told them. go to the place where Kaveri

flows to the south of Shri Sharngapani. Go to her to the west of

MarkanDeyakshetram and become two streams there. You will provide

Thirumanjana Theertham for Shri Vasudevan forever and become pure-

there is no doubt about that." They did this – hence among the

streams that flow to the south of Lord Vasudeva, the first is Ganga,

the second is Godavari, and the third is Yamuna. Their fame has

spread all over the country and even today they are worshipping the

Lord who fulfills all wishes.

"During waxing of the moon, one who bathes in Ganga on Thursday gets

children, one who bathes on a Friday in Godavari attains wealth, and

one who bathes in Yamuna on Saturday (waxing moon) is free of all sins

and attains the Lord's feet.

"One who reads or listens to this Maahatmyam (which is very difficult

to get, and very secret), enjoys Vaikuntam for a long time. He

attains fame, all that is auspicious, long life, a lot of wealth and

the Lord protects those who read or listen to this everyday. One who

reads and/ or listens to this Maahatmyam during full moon, new moon,

Thiruvonam, Ashtami, Friday, the months of Chithrai, Adi, Aippasi and

Thai and during Sangramana times and during other seasons attain all

kinds of benefits"

Thus spoke Brahma.

 

ShrI BhoomidevIsametha ShrInivAsaparabrahmaNe NamaH