The Skanda-Purana, by Motilal Banarsidass

That's French for "the ancient system," as in the ancient system of feudal privileges and the exercise of autocratic power over the peasants. The ancien regime never goes away, like vampires and dinosaur bones they are always hidden in the earth, exercising a mysterious influence. It is not paranoia to believe that the elites scheme against the common man. Inform yourself about their schemes here.

The Skanda-Purana, by Motilal Banarsidass

Postby admin » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:17 am

The Skanda-Purana
Part 6
Motilal Banarsidass
1951



Contents:

• Skanda Purana, Book II: Vaisnavakhanda
• Section III: Badarikasrama-Mahatmya
o 1. Superiority of the Holy Place Badarikasrama over all Tirthas
o 2. Agni Eulogizes the Lord
o 3. The Greatness of Agnitirtha and Silas of Narada and Markandeya
o 4. The Greatness of the Rocks of Garuda, Varaha and Narasimha
o 5. The Greatness of Visala
o 6. The Greatness of Vasudhara
o 7. The Greatness of Pancadara and other Tirthas
o 8. The Greatness of Various Tirthas at Badari
• Section IV: Karttikamasa-Mahatmya
o 1. Praise of Karttika Vow
o 2. Rites to Be Observed in Karttika
o 3. The Glory Karttika
o 4. The Procedure of Karttikasnana
o 5. The Daily Routine of Duties in Karttika
o 6. Directions for Karttikavrata
o 7. Special Efficacy of the Gift of Lamps
o 8. The Greatness of Tulasi (Basil Plant)
o 9. Rites to be Performed on Vatsadvadasi, Yamatrayodasi, Narakacaturdasi and Dipivali
o 10. The Greatness of the First Day in the Bright Half of Karttika
o 11. The Efficacy of Yamadvitiya (The 2nd Day of Karttika)
o 12. The Efficacy of Dhatri
o 13. Previous Life of Satyabhama
o 14. The Birth of Jalandhara
o 15. The Victories of Jalandhara
o 16. Narada Visits Jalandhara
17. Dialogue between Narada and Jalandhara
o 18. Rudra's Anny Defeated
o 19. The Fall of Virabhadra
o 20. Fight between Siva and Jalandhara
o 21. Vrnda's Self-Immolation
o 22. Jalandhara Attains Salvation
o 23. The Origin of Dhatri and Tulasi
o 24. The Legend of Dharmadatta
o 25. Kalaha Attains Liberation
o 26. Dialogue between King Cola and Visnudasa
o 27. King Cola and Visnudasa Liberated
o 28. Dharmadatta Attains Salvation
o 29. The Story of Dhanesvara
o 30. Fasts and Austerities of the Month
o 31. The Rite of Kusmandanavami
o 32. The Efficacy of Bhismpancaka Vrata
o 33. Rules Pertaining to Prabodhini
o 34. The Procedure of Concluding the Vrata
o 35. Vaikuntha Caturdasi Vrata
o 36. The Efficacy of Listening to the Purana
• Section V: Margasirsa-Mahatmya
o 1. Fruit of the Holy Bath in the Mobth of Margasirsa (Obtained by Gopis)
o 2. The Application of Tripundra
o 3. Imprinting Marks of Conch, etc.
o 4. Worshipping the Conch
o 5. The Fruit of Conch Worship
o 6. The Fruit of Offering Tulasi Twigs and Sandalpaste
o 7. Superiority of Jati Flower
o 8. The Greatness of Tulasi
o 9. The Procedure for Naivedya
o 10. The Concluding Rites in the Lord's Worship
o 11. The Story of Ekadasi
o 12. Uninterrupted Ekadasi Vow
o 13. Importance of Jagarana in Ekadasi Vrata
o 14. The Greatness of the "Matsya" Festival
o 15. Efficacy of the Name of Krsna
o 16. The Greatness of Srimadbhagavata
o 17. The Greatness of Mathura
• Section VI: Bhagavata-Mahatmya
o 1. The Greatness of Vrajabhumi
o 2. Pariksit and Others Meet Uddhava
o 3. Dialogue between Pariksit and Uddhava
o 4. The Recitation of Bhagavata
• Index to Section III
• Index to Section IV
• Index to Section V
• Index to Section VI
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Re: The Skanda-Purana, by Motilal Banarsidass

Postby admin » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:50 am

Chapter Fourteen: The Greatness of the "Matsya" Festival

[This chapter is a pert of 'Dvadasi Kalpa' in which it it laid down that a fish of gold should be worshipped with due formalities (vv 23-38) and is to be given to one's preceptor (v 33). The 'fish' comes in this Kalpa as probably fish was the first incarnation of Visnu.]

Sri Bhagavan said:

1. Then in the morning on Dvidasi day, in the bright half of the month of Margasirsa, the Matsya festival is to be celebrated by the wise, with due offerings and services in accordance with the injunctions.

2-7. On the tenth day in the month of Margasirsa, with due self-control, the devotee should perform worship of the Lord. The intelligent devotee then should perform the sacred rites in the holy fire in accordance with the injunctions.

Clad in clean clothes, he should, with a delighted mind, cook the consecrated Havya rice and walk five steps. Then he should wash his feet. He should then take a twig eight Angulas long from a Ksiravrksa (a tree that exudes milky juice) and brush his teeth. Thereafter, he should perform the Acamana rite carefully.

He then surveys the entire sky and meditates on me, the Lord holding the iron club. He meditates on me as one who is clad in yellow robes, who wears a crown, who has the conch, the discus and the iron-club in his hands, whose lotus-like face is delighted and who is characterised with all distinctive features.

After meditating thus the man takes water in his hand, meditates on the Lord as one present in the middle of the Sun and offers the Arghya with the water in his hand. At that time, O Four-faced One, he should utter these words:

8. “O Pundarolalsa (Lotus-eyed One), I shall remain without food on the Ekadasi day and take food on the next day. Be my refuge, O Acyuta.”

9. After saying this, he should, on the night (of the same day) repeat the words “(obeisance) to Narayana" himself in accordance with the injunctions, in the presence of my idol.

10-11. Then in the morning he should go to a river that joins the sea or any other one, or a lake, or remain in the house itself and take the pure clay therefrom. The man should salute the Lord after taking the clay with the following Mantra and he shall become pure:

12-16. (The Mantra for taking the clay) “O Goddess (Earth), it is by you that all the living beings are always sustained and nourished. By that truth, O auspicious one, remove my sin.

All the Tirthas within the Cosmic Egg have been touched with their hands by Devas. Therefore, I handle this clay touched (by them) and taken from you.


O Varuna, all the Rasas (liquids, juices) are perpetually present in you. Therefore, flow on this clay and sanctify it. Do not delay.”

After propitiating the clay and water thus, he should apply the same on himself three times by means of the entire lump of clay. It is then washed off in the water. The man shall always take his bath only in this water. Away from the crocodiles and tortoises, he should take his bath, perform the necessary rites, and go to my abode then.

17-22. There, O great Yogin, he should propitiate Lord Narayana, Hari. "Obeisance to Kesava''—(he should worship) the feet. "Obeisance to Damodara"—the waist. "Obeisance to Nrsimha"—the pair of knees. "Obeisance to one having Srivatsa" —the chest. "Obeisance to one having Kaustubha in the navel" — the neck. "Obeisance to Sripati" — the bosom. "Obeisance to the conqueror of the three worlds"—the arm. "Obeisance to the soul of everyone"—the head. "Obeisance to the holder of the discus"— the face. "Obeisance to Sritkara"— (he should worship) the conchshell. "Obeisance to Gambhira"— the iron club. "Obeisance to Sintamurti"— the lotus.

After worshipping Lord Narayana, Lord of Devas, thus, the wise devotee should place four pots in front of the Lord. They should be filled with water and smeared with white unguents and sandalpaste. Flower-garlands should be put upon them. The tender leaves of a mango tree must be kept upon them. They should be wrapped in white cloth. Copper vessels with gold pieces in them and filled with gingelly seeds should be placed upon them.

23-24. The four pots are glorified as the four oceans. In the middle of those pots the devotee should keep a pedestal with a cloth in the centre. Upon it a vessel made of gold, silver, copper or wood shall be placed. If a vessel of the kind mentioned before is not available, a cup of the leaf of Palasa (Butea frondoza) is recommended.

25-28. The vessel should be filled with water. A replica of Lord Janardana in the form of a fish should be made in gold and put in that vessel. It should be fitted with all the ancillaries of the Lord of Devas.
It should be adorned with Vedas and Smrtis. There should be many kinds of foodstuffs, fruits and flowers enhancing the splendour thereof. The Lord should be duly worshipped with scents, incense and cloths: "Just as, O Lord in the form of fish, all the Vedas that had been taken to the nether worlds were lifted up by you, so also, O Kesava, redeem me up from the ocean of the worldly existence." After uttering this he should perform the rite of Jagarana in front of it.

29-32. (The festival shall be celebrated) in conformity with one's affluence.

When the day has dawned clear, the four pots should be given to four Brahmanas.

The vessel kept in the East shall be given to a Bahvrca (one who is conversant with Rgveda); that in the South shall be given to a Chandogya (Samavedin); the devotee should give the excellent vessel kept in the West to a person well-versed in Yajurveda. He should give the vessel in the North to anyone he pleases. This is the prescribed procedure.

While giving the vessels away, he should utter thus: "May Rgveda be pleased in the East. May Samaveda be pleased in the South. May Yajurveda be pleased in the West and may Atharvaveda be pleased in the North.’’

33. The golden replica of fish should be given to the preceptor after honouring him duly and in the proper order, with scents, incense etc. and cloths.

34. The Acarya should conduct everything including the secret (method of worship) by means of (the requisite) Mantras. After giving the gifts duly, the donor shall have a crore times the benefit.

35. A base man who, even after getting the preceptor, acts in contravention due to delusion, is cooked (i.e. tortured) in hell in a crore of births.

36. He who offers injunction is called Guru by the wise. After giving everything in accordance with the injunction on the Dvadasi day, he should worship me.

37-39a. He should feed the Brahmanas and present them with monetary gifts according to his capacity. There must be plenty of well-cooked, well-dressed food. Afterwards the man himself should take food along with Brahmanas. He should have full restraint upon his speech and sense-organs. O most excellent one among truthful persons, listen to the benefit and merit of that man who celebrates the Matsya festival in accordance with this procedure.

39b-41. If one has one million mouths and the longevity equal to that of Brahma, O performer of great holy rites, one can describe (adequately) the benefit of this pious activity.

He who devoutly expounds or listens to this excellent Dvadasikalpa shall be liberated from all sins.
 
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