SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 23 ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”.

SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA

“TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 23

ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”.

Suvarna River(ಸುವರ್ಣ ನದಿ)

ವೇದಾಚಲಹೃದುದ್ಭೂತಾಂ ಸುವರ್ಣಾಂ ಕೋ(s)ನುವರ್ಣಯೇತ್|

ಅಂಹಸೋ ದಹ್ಯಮಾನಸ್ಯ ಶ್ರಾವಯಂತೀಂ ಸ್ವನಂ ಜನಾನ್||46||

VEdAchalahrududBhUtAm suvarNAm kO(s)nuvarNayEt|

AmhasO dahyamAnasya shrAvayanteem swanam janAn||46||

SUMMARY: How can anyone be able to praise Suvarna River, who originates from the middle of Mount Veda, makes everyone who takes a dip in her waters hear the ‘chit, chat’ sound that is produced while she burns the sins?

From the western coast of Udupi, Sri Vadirajaru journeyed towards north and starts describing the holy places located in the western part of India. Some tradition-bound scholars opine that since the southern part of Payaswini River is lying at the central part of Kerala, where people are barred from travelling, Sri Vadirajaru abstained from describing this particular part. There is a town called Kalyanapura at a distance of four miles from Udupi in the north. Suvarna River flows in Manipal in the upper part of that region. It is said that Tunga and Bhadra rivers originate from that part of Mount Varaha (Kudremukh) which resembles the tusks, Netravati originates from that part of the same mountain that is like the eye and Suvarna originates from the hind portion of this mountain.  Suvarna River, later flows through the middle of a mountain range called Vedachala and joins the sea. It is popularly believed that while taking a dip in this river on KrishnAngAra Chaturdashi day, people can hear the sound of sins getting burnt. Sri Vadirajaru describes the greatness of this river by citing this popular faith. Suvarna means one having attractive color. It also means the letters that make her name are holy and sacred.  

Chaturdashi or fourteenth day during Krishna Paksha that happens to fall on Tuesday is known as Krishnangara Chaturdashi.   

Kumbhasi

ಭಾಸಿ ಕುಂಭಾಸಿಸಂಜ್ಞ ತ್ವಂ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಶ್ರೀಶಗಿರೀಶಯೋಃ|

ಯತ್ರ ಕುಂಭಾಸುರಸ್ಯಾಸಿಃ ಅಭಾಸೀದ್ ದ್ರೌಪದೀಪತಿಃ||47||

BhAsi KumBhAsisanjna twam kShEtra sreeshagireeshayOho|

Yatra KumBhAsurasyAsihi aBhAseed Draupadeepatihi||47||

SUMMARY: Oh great place named Kumbhasi! You are such a sacred place where Lord Narayana and Lord Rudra are existing, that it was here where Bheemasena, the consort of Draupadi, appeared like a sword to demon called Kumbha.

Kumbhasi is on the highway between Udupi and Kundapur. Huvinakere, a tiny village, is at about two miles away from Kumbhasi. Huvinakere is the birth place of Sri Vadirajaru, the author of this work “Teerthaprabandha”.

Earlier, during Dwapara Yuga, a demon called Kumbha was living at Kumbhasi. Kumbha was wreaking havoc on Rishis and saints in this place. The Rishis complained about the atrocities of Kumbha with Bheemasena. As requested by the Rishis, Bheemasena confronted Kumbha. Kumbha had secured a boon from Lord Rudra that half of the strength anyone confronting  him would automatically transferred to him. When Bheemasena was thinking of killing Kumbha, he heard a mystic heavenly voice stating: “Tie an elephant to the Ashwattha tree seen here. Place a sword in the mouth of that elephant and worship it. If you fight against Kumbha with that sword, then you will be able to kill that demon.” Bheemasena followed the instruction and offered worship to Rudra in this place before launching the war against Kumbha. Bheemasena succeeded in killing Kumbha in that war and therefore, the place came to be known as Kumbhasi.

Earlier, the Rishis, who were suffering a lot at the hands of Kumbha, worshipped Lord Rudra and sought a solution for their problem. Lord Rudra said that he, along with Hari, would manifest in that place. The Rishis were asked to place two utensils in topsy-turvy position and wait. However, the Rishis, due to anxiety and curiosity, opened up the utensils very early. As they could not find anything there, they appealed to Lord Rudra once again. Lord Rudra then consoled the Rishis by stating that Bheemasena would come there and relieve them from all troubles. An image depicted on the wall of a Ganesha temple at Kumbhasi relates to this incident. Lord Ganesha consecrated at Kumbhasi is said to be very powerful and the desires of devotees would be fulfilled by Lord Ganesha.  

Please read, comment and share. SDN