Oppiliappan sthalapuraaNam - chapter 3

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shrI:

shrIBhoomidevI sameta shrIShrinvasaparabraHmaNe namaH

Chapter 3

After a while, there was a famous rishi called MrikaNDu, who a

tejasvi, had an excellent knowledge of all the shastraas, and was

filled with bhagavat bhakti. He was mild tempered, controlled, had

many students and an only son. His son MarkaNdeyaa was a great yogi;

he was intelligent, an expert in the Vedas, was endowed with qualities

like forgiveness, humility, had conquered anger, and also had total

control over his senses. He knew everything about all the kshetraas

and thIrthaas and was an expert in the Puraanaas. He knew all the

secrets of Neethishasatram , he had Achaaram, and was also an expert

in Mnantraas and Smrithis. He was full of Bhagavatbhakthi and was

surrounded by numerous students.

MaakanDeya was traveling methodically, looking at all the Kshetraas

and Tiirthaas and reached TuLasIvanam. This place was full of

fragrant trees like champaka, tilaka, teak, lime, Kurundu, KaDambu,

jackfruit, ketaki, pomegranate, vakuLa, coconut, date, mango,

tamarind, gooseberry and many other trees as well. Cuckoos sang, bees

buzzed, peacocks danced and there was always a mild and pleasant

breeze. Groups of Apsaras were roaming about and Gandharavaas were

singing and there was the fragrance of numerous flowers wafting in the

air. Many rishis were doing japaas and musicians like Tumburu were

singing. There were streams and ponds and the rivers of Ganges and

Godavari flowed near. MarkanDeyaa was captivated by the beauty of

this place and wanted to live there.

"This seems to be the best among all keshtrams in the Bharata Kanda"

he thought. "If I live here, Bhoomi Devi will reincarnate as my

daughter. If I bathe in this thIrtahm and meditate on Bhagavan

continuously and do severe penance, She will be my daughter and

Bhagavan will be her Bridegroom. There is no doubt about this. Then,

I will ask Bhagavan to grant me salvation. Till then, I will do

penance here ". Having decided thus, he bathed in the

AhoraatrapushkariNi everyday and ate without salt –and only roots and

did penance beneath the TuLasI plant.

shrIBhoomidevI sameta shrIShrinvasaparabraHmaNe namaH

 

 

Shubha