Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Varanasi 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, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of V膩ra峁嚹乻墨
(Before reading the information given here refer to the details given about 碍腻艣墨 under 碍腻艣墨 and 顿颈惫辞诲腻蝉补).
The name V膩ra峁嚹乻墨.
Formerly this place was known as 笔谤补测腻驳补. Later it got the name V膩ra峁嚹乻墨 and then 碍腻艣墨. The name V膩ra峁嚹乻墨 is originated from two rivers. 叠丑补驳补惫腻苍 Yoga艣膩y墨 who stays in 笔谤补测腻驳补 was born from a portion of 惭补丑腻惫颈峁ａ箛耻. From the right leg of Yoga艣膩y墨 the river 痴补谤补峁嚹� started and from his left leg the river As墨 started. These two rivers are praised and worshipped all over the world. The temple of Yoga艣膩y墨 is situated in the place between these two rivers. As the place is situated between 痴补谤补峁嚹� and As墨 it is called V膩ra峁嚹乻i. (V膩mana Pur膩峁嘺, Chapter 3).
Other information.
(i) 叠丑墨峁补 went to 碍腻艣墨 and took 础尘产腻, 础尘产颈办腻 and 础尘产腻lik膩, the daughters of the King of 碍腻艣墨, to his kingdom by force. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 膧诲颈 Parva, Chapter 102, Stanza 3).
(ii) V膩ra峁嚹乻墨 is a holy place of pilgrimage. By bathing in Kapil膩hrada, a holy bath there, and worshipping 艢补峁卥补谤补, one could obtain the fruits of performing the sacrifice 搁腻箩补蝉奴测补. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Stanza 78).
(iii) The middle part of V膩ra峁嚹乻墨 is called Avimukta. Those who forsake their lives at Avimukta will obtain heaven. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Stanza 79).
(iv) Once 艢r墨 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 made V膩ra峁嚹乻墨 a prey to fire. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 Udyoga Parva, Chapter 48, Stanza 76).
(v) A very great scholar named Tul膩dh膩ra 痴补颈艣测补 once lived in V膩r膩峁嘺s墨. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 艢腻苍迟颈 Parva, Chapter 261, Stanza 41).
(vi) Once, in ancient days, 艢颈惫补 imparted to the hermit Jaig墨峁 at this place, the eight miraculous attainments such as 补峁噄尘腻, 驳补谤颈尘腻 etc. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 础苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补 Parva, Chapter 18, Stanza 37).
(vii) V膩ra峁嚹乻墨 is equal to the capital city of Indra (础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨). (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 础苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补 Parva, Chapter 30, Stanza 16).
(viii) In ancient days a hermit named 厂补峁僾补谤迟迟补 used to come here daily to worship 艢颈惫补. It was at this place that the emperor Marutta accepted the hermit 厂补峁僾补谤迟迟补 as his priest. (惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 础艣惫补尘别诲丑补 Parva, Chapters 6 and 7).