BRAHMA PURANA

CONTENTS PART I Preface vii Abbreviations xi Introduction xiii Purana: Definition xiii The Nomenclature xiv Extent xv Transmission of tradition xvi Text-criticism xvii Date of Composition xvii Place of Composition xix Religion and Philosophy of Brahma Purana xx Chapters 1. On the Origin of Devas and Asuras 1 2. Origin and glory of Prthu 19 3. Manvantaras 29 4. Evolution of Vivasvat Aditya 33 5. Review of the Solar Race 37 6. Kings of the Solar Race 45 7. Birth of Soma 53 8. Kings of the Lunar Race 56 9. Genealogy of Ancient Ksatriyas 61 10. The Narrative of Yayati 65 11. Dynasty of Yayati 69 12. Birth of Srikrsna 84 13. The Family of Vrsnis 88 14. How the Syamantaka jewel was brought back 93 15. Akrura obtains Syamantaka 97 16. Seven Continents 100 17. Jambudvipa 105 18. Magnitude of Oceans and Continents 108 19. Magnitude of Nether worlds 114 20. Hells in nether regions 117 21. Upper Regions 121 22. Pole Star 124 23. Holy Centres: Their Greatness 126 24. A Dialogue between Brahma and Sages 132 25. Bharata Subcontinent 135 26. The Glory of Konaditya 140 27. Efficacy of Devotion to Sun-god 145 28. Glory of Sun-God 150 29. Names of Sun-God 157 30. Nativity of Sun-God 160 31. One Hundred and Eight Names of Sun-God 170 32. Penance of Uma 174 33. Testing of Parvati 183 34. Parvati weds Siva 189 35. Hymn in Praise of Siva 201 36. Uma and Sankara leave Himalayas 205 37. Destruction of Daksa's Sacrifice 209 38. The Prayer of Daksa 217 39. The holy Centre of Ekamra 230 40. The holy centre of Utkala 237 PART II A. Abbreviations xiii B. Translation and Notes Chapters 41. The Narrative of Indradyumna; Description of Avanti 241 42. The Holy Centres Sighted 248 43. A Review of Past Incidents 254 44. Description of Holy Centres 261 45. Horse-sacrifice 264 46. Prayer for Welfare 272 47. Origin of Idols 280 48. Description of Purusottama 285 49. A visit to the Holy Banyan Tree by Markandeya 291 50. Markandeya views Annihilation 292 51. Markandeya wanders in the belly of the Lord 296 52. Prayer to the Lord 297 53. Markandeys's vision of the holy lord 301 54. Visit to Krsna shrine 308 55. Greatness of Narasimha 314 56. Greatness of Sveta Madhava 320 57. Mode of Procedure for a Holy Dip in the Ocean 328 58. Rules of worship and Mantras 334 59. Merit of a holy dip in the Ocean 339 60. Glory of five holy spots - Pancatirthi 341 61. Mahajyesthi Full-Moon day in the month of Jyestha 343 62. Holy ablution in propitiation of Krsna 345 63. Glory of holy procession: Gundika yatra 354 64. The twelve holy pilgrimages and their benefits 356 65. The world of Visnu 362 66. Glory of Lord Purusottama 368 67. Glory of Ananta Vasudeva 371 68. Glory of holy shrine of Purusottama 377 69. Narrative of sage Kandu 380 70. Doubts raised by sages 397 71. Lord's incarnation in the family of Yadus 404 72. Incarnations of Hari 407 73. Nativity of Srikrsna 411 74. Kamsa takes steps to ward off danger 415 75. Putana slain and Cart Smashed 416 76. Cowherd's cology shifted to Vrndavana 418 77. Suppression of Kaliya 421 78. Dhenuka and Pralamba are slain 425 79. Worship of Govardhana mountain 429 80. Coronation of Lord Krsna 432 81. Arista is slain 437 82. Kesin is slain 442 83. Akrura comes to the cowherd's colony 446 84. Retuen to Akrura 450 85. Kamsa is slain 457 86. The son f Sandipani restored 464 87. The onslaught of Jarasandha 467 88. Mucukunda's Prayer 468 89. Balarama returns to the cowherd's colony 472 90. Balarama's sport with Ploughshare 474 91. Return of Pradyumna 476 92. Rukmin is slain 479 93. Naraka is killed 482 94. The prayer by Indra 485 95. Lord Krsna marries sixteen thousand and one hundred virgins 491 96. Progeny of Sri Krsna 493 97. Usa and Aniruddha - their marriage 495 98. The burning of Kasi 500 99. Glory of Balarama 503 100. The monkey Dvivida is slain 506 101. Sri Krsna returns to his abode 508 102. Lord Krsna ascends heaven 513 103. Episode of Krsna concluded 514 104. Different manifestations of the Lord 522 105. Path to the world of Yama 535 PART III PREFACE vii ABBREVIATIONS xi CHAPTERS 106. Tortures in Hell 547 107. The Goal of the Virtuous 559 108. The Cycle of Worldly Existence 566 109. Gift of food the best of all charitable acts 573 110. On the performance of Sraddha and the associated legend 575 111. The details of the Sraddha ritual 584 112. The details of Sapindikarana Rite 588 113. Conduct of the Good 597 114. Assignment of duties to different castes and stages of life 612 115. Characteristics of mixed castes 617 116. Review of Virtue 622 117. Review of Virtue 627 118. Dialogue between Mahesvara and the sages 632 119. Goal of the devotees of Visnu 637 120. The benefits of singing devotional songs of Visnu while keeping awake at night 641 121. Manifestation of Maya 654 122. Foretelling future 662 123. Foretelling future 669 124. Description of Annihilation 677 125. The Natural Re-absorption 681 126. The Ultimate Re-absorption 685 127. Practice of Yoga 691 128. Review of Samkhya and Yoga 695 129. Review of Samkhya and Yoga 701 130. Review of Samkhya and Yoga 709 131. Review of Injunctions regarding Yogic Practice 714 132. Review of the principles of Samkhya 719 133. The perishable and the Imperishable 729 134. A dialogue between Vasistha and Janaka 733 135. A dialogue between Vasistha and Janaka 737 136. A dialogue between Vasistha and Janaka 745 137. A dialogue between Vasistha and Janaka 749 138. In Praise of the Purana 754 PART IV (Gautami-Mahatmya - The Glorification of Gautami) PREFACE vii ABBREVIATIONS xiii Chapters 1. Holy Centres 759 2. Siva's Marriage 762 3. Gift of a Watr vessel to Brahma 766 4. How Ganga Entered the Matted Hair of Siva 770 5. Vinayaka and Gautama 776 6. Descent of Gautami 784 7. Glory of the Holy River 789 8. The Descent of Bhagirathi 793 9. The Holy Centre Varaha 799 10. Kapotatirtha 801 11. Kumaratirtha 809 12. Krittika Tirtha 811 13. Dasasvamedha Tirtha 812 14. Paisaca Tirtha 815 15. Ksudha Tirtha 816 16. Indra Tirtha: Ahalyasangama Tirtha 819 17. Janasthana Tirtha 825 18. Cakratirtha 827 19. Asvabhanu Tirtha 832 20. Garuda Tirtha 835 21. Govardhana Tirtha 839 22. Paparanasana Tirtha 840 23. Visvamitra Tirtha 844 24. Sveta and other Tirthas 847 25. Sukratirtha and Mrtasanjivani Tirtha 851 26. Seven Thousand Holy Centres 854 27. Paulastya Tirtha 856 28. Agnitirtha 859 29. Rnamocana Tirtha 861 30. Kadru-Suparna-Sangama Tirtha 863 31. Sarasvatisangama 866 32. Review of the Greatness of Five Tirthas 868 33. Sami and other Holy Centres 869 34. Twenty-two Thousand Holy Centres 870 35. The Twnety-Five Confluences of Various Rivers 878 36. Amrtasangama and other Holy Centres 881 37. Description of Seventeen Holy Centres 885 38. Sixteen Thousand Holy Centres 893 39. Cakra Tirtha 905 40. Cakresvara and other Holy Centres 910 41. Nagatirtha a Holy Centre 932 42. Matrtirtha 940 43. Brahmatirtha and other Holy Centres 943 44. Avighnatirtha 945 45. Sesatirtha and other Holy Centres 947 46. Vadava and other Holy Centres 949 47. Atmatirtha 952 48. Asvattha and other Tirthas 954 49. Somatirtha 957 50. Dhanyatirtha 959 51. Vidarbhasangama and other Holy Centres 961 52. Purnatirtha and other Holy Centres 963 53. Ramatirtha and other Holy Centres 973 54. Putratirtha and other Holy Centres 991 55. Holy Centres Yamatirtha etc. 1004 56. The Holy Centre Tapastirtha and Others 1010 57. Holy Centre Arstisenatirtha etc. 1014 58. Holy Centre Arstisenatirtha etc. 1020 59. Holy Centre Tapovanatirtha etc. 1027 60. Apastambatirtha and other Holy Centres 1038 61. Holy Centres Yamatirtha and Others 1042 62. Holy Centres Yaksinisangama etc. 1047 63. Suklatirtha and other Holy Centres 1048 64. Cakratirtha and other Holy Centres 1050 65. Vanisangama and other Holy Centres 1051 66. Visnutirtha and other Holy Centres 1054 67. Laksmitirtha and other Holy Centres 1057 68. Bhanutirtha and other Holy Centres 1061 69. Khadgatirtha and other Holy Centres 1065 70. Anvindratirtha and other Holy Centres 1067 71. Kapilasangama and other Holy Centres 1071 72. Devasthana and other Holy Centres 1074 73. Siddhatirtha and other Holy Centres 1076 74. Parusnisangama and other Holy Centres 1077 75. Markandeyat tha and other Holy Centres 1080 76. Yayatatirtha and other Holy Centres 1081 77. Apsaroyugasangama Tirtha and other Holy Centres 1086 78. Kotitirtha and other Holy Centres 1088 79. Narasimhatirtha and other Holy Centres 1090 80. Paisacatirtha and other Holy Centres 1091 81. Nimnabheda and other Holy Centres 1094 82. Nanditata and other Holy Centres 1096 83. Bhavatirtha and other Holy Centres 1100 84. Sahasrakunda and other Holy Centres 1101 85. Kapilatirtha and other Holy Centres 1104 86. Sankhahrada and other Holy Centres 1105 87. Kiskindha - A Holy Centre 1106 88. Vyasatirtha - A Holy Centre 1109 89. Vanjarasangama and other Holy Centres 1113 90. The Holy Centre Devagamatirtha 1118 91. The Description of Kausatarpana and other Holy Centres 1120 92. The Holy Centre Manyu 1126 93. Sarasvata and other Holy Centres 1129 94. Cincikatirtha and other Holy Centres 1134 95. Bhadratirtha 1138 96. Patatritirtha 1142 97. Vipratirtha also known as Narayanatirtha 1143 98. Bhanutirtha and other Holy Centres 1146 99. The Holy Centre Bhilla 1150 100. Caksustirtha and other Holy Centres 1154 101. Urvasi and other Holy Centres 1162 102. Meeting of Godavari and the Sea in Seven Branches 1167 103. Rsisatra and Bhimesvaratirtha 1169 104. The Confluence of Ganga with Sea 1172 105. The Benefits of Listening to the Purana 1175 INDEX 1185