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Puranic encyclopaedia

by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222

This page describes the Story of Mahiratha included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).

Story of Mahīratha

A King who earned great merit by observing Vrata in the month of ղś (May). This King gave to those in hell his one day’s ṇy and all of them were released from hell. Mahīratha was a King who became prosperous by accrued ṇy. śⲹ貹 was his guru. The King entrusted the affairs of the state to his ministers and led a very immoral life. The country began to decay day by day and one day śⲹ貹 gave Dharmopadeśa to Mahīratha. The Guru said: "Oh King, your body which was in a state of sinning has attained a state of virtue by your association with me. Those well-versed in the Vedas say that the body is of three different kinds. Firstly there is the one which is evil-natured without either virtue or knowledge. Secondly, there is the virtuous one with good conduct. Thirdly, there is the agonising body which hides both virtue and evil. The body without virtue and salvation is always a body of sins. Your body has now become virtuous by becoming devotional to your guru and attending to my words. You are now fit to do virtuous deeds and I shall now make you enjoy the benefits of ղśsnāna (a bath with religious rites in the month of ղś (May).

After that śⲹ貹 made him take the bath and worship with proper Vedic rites in the month of ղś. The King became old and died. At once the servants of (King of Death) came to fetch the soul of Mahīratha. But angels from Ѳ屹ṣṇ came and thrusting aside the agents of took charge of the soul of Mahīratha. Nymphs from above sang in praise of the King whose sin had waned because of ղśprātassnāna (early morning bath in the month of ղś). The angels from վṣṇ carrying the soul of the King to Svarga took him through hell. The King heard the agonising cries of those suffering from different kinds of torture in hell. The King made enquiries and feeling compassionate requested those in charge of the hell to release those there in hell then by accepting a portion of the ṇy acquired by him. The angels agreed to that and the King gave away the Puṇya he had acquired during one day by observing the ղśvrata. At once all those in hell were released from the agony and were sent to heaven. (ղśmāhātmyaprakaraṇa, Padma Purāṇa, Pātālakhaṇḍa).

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