Sri Guru Charitra - By Shri S.N.Huddar

May 8, 2006

Chapter VII - Soumini and Madayanti at Gokarna `I have committed a Brahmahatya. I performed sacrifices and several Vratas. I visited holy places and did

virtuous acts. Yet I am not relieved of this sin. I am fortunate to see your holy self to day,' replied the king. Goutam said, `You need not worry. Shri Shiva will protect you. You should go to Gokarna to get rid of this sin. Mrityunjaya (the conqueror of Death) Shri Shiva always stays there. Though the fire and the moon can do away with the darkness of the night, yet there is the necessity of the Sun. Similarly though your sins are not wiped off even after going to several holy places, still if you go to Gokarna, all your sins will be destroyed. Even if you have committed 1000 Brahmahatyas, all will be destroyed and you shall become sinless. Even Vishnu and Brahmadeo lived there for penance and their desires were fulfilled.

Gokarna is like Kailas and Shri Shiva stays there. At the instance of Shri Vishnu, Shri Ganesh installed this Shiva Linga. All the gods, demons, Rishis, Munis, Siddhas live and worship Shri Shiva and thereby they attain all the four valous (purusharthas) with the blessing of Shri Shiva. Brahma, Vishnu, Kartavirya, Vinayak, Durga and others have also installed Lingas here known after their names. All waters here holy. This is thus the most important holy place. In Krita Yug this Linga was white, in Treta it became red, in Dwapara yellow, and in the Kaliyug it has become black. The root of this Linga is in the Sapta Patal below. Even with the sight of this Linga one is relieved of the sins

of Brahmahatya, gets one's desires fulfilled and after death one attains salvation. The devotees staying here go to Kailas in the end. One should bathe and offer charities on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is virtuous to worship here on "Vyatipat", Makar Sankrant and Maha Shivaratri days. Bholenath Shiva passes judgment over all our actions. In the month of Magh, if one observes fast on the Shivaratri day and offers "Bel" leaf to Shri Shiva Linga, one's entrance in the heaven is ensured.' Goutam Muni further said, `so many have been benefited by visiting Gokarna. I myself have witnessed a most

wonderful incident, when I had been to that place. When I was sitting under a tree, I saw a leper sutra woman. She was without food the whole day. All her body was affected and pus and germs were seen all over. She had lost her teeth and had no clothes on her body. Being a widow, her head was shaved and she was much troubled due to midday hot Sun. She sat under a tree being tired, and soon died. Shiva Dootas came there with a divine place to take her to the Kailas. While living with the sutra, she ate flesh Shudras; she ate flesh and took wine daily. One day she killed a calf thinking it to be a lamb and reserved its head for the next day. When it was time for milking the cow she looked for the calf and she came to know that my mistake, she had killed it. In grief she

uttered the words Shiva' `Shiva' and `What a great sin I have committed unknowingly'. Fearing the wrath of her husband, she buried the head, flesh and bones of the calf and told people that a tiger took her calf away. When she died Yam Dootas took her to the Yampuri and placed her in hell. She suffered tortures and was again born as a Shudra woman. She was ugly, black and blind. Her parents cared for her for some time and afterwards she begged for her food. She was an orphan without any shelter. She developed leprosy and in course of time she grew old. Many people were going to Gokarna on Maha Shivaratri day expecting to get good alms, she also followed them. It being a fast day nobody offered her food. In-joke, some one placed "Bel" leaf in her hand. Knowing that it was not eatable, she threw it away, which by chance, fell on the Shiva Linga and thus she had the credit of worshipping Shiva in that dark night. This pleased Shri Shiva and hence we have come to take her to Shivalok. Shiva dootas sprinkled nectar on her body and soon she looked like a heavenly woman, she was then taken to Shiva Lok' Hearing this the king was delighted. He went to Gokarna and was relieved of all his sins. Gokarna has great significance. Hence Shripad Shri Vallabha

had also been there and stayed there for 3 years." To Be Contd... Devotees Can Read This Book from The Book Section of www.Saileelas.org/books/ShriGuruCharitra.doc

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