The Yugas of Arunachala and the Origin of the Fords

Verse 1 (skanda.1.108.1)

पार्वत्युवाच । कथमग्निमयं लिंगमभिगम्यमभूद्भुवि । प्राणिनामपि सर्वेषामुपशांतिं कथं गतः

pārvatyuvāca kathamagnimayaṁ liṁgamabhigamyamabhūdbhuvi prāṇināmapi sarveṣāmupaśāṁtiṁ kathaṁ gataḥ

Parvati said: How did this linga of fire become accessible upon the earth? And how did it come to bring peace to all living beings?

Verse 2 (skanda.1.108.2)

तीर्थानामुद्भवः पुण्यात्कथं चारुणपर्वतात् । उपसंहृतसर्वांगः कथं वा वद मेऽचलः

tīrthānāmudbhavaḥ puṇyātkathaṁ cāruṇaparvatāt upasaṁhṛtasarvāṁgaḥ kathaṁ vā vada me'calaḥ

How indeed did the sacred fords come to arise, and how did this from the mountain Aruna? And how did this unmoving one come to withdraw all its parts within itself — tell me this.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.108.3)

गौतम उवाच । कृते त्वग्निमयः शैलस्त्रेतायां मणिपर्वतः । द्वापरं हाटकगिरिः कलौ मरकताचलः

gautama uvāca kṛte tvagnimayaḥ śailastretāyāṁ maṇiparvataḥ dvāparaṁ hāṭakagiriḥ kalau marakatācalaḥ

Gautama said: In the Krita age it was a mountain of fire; in the Treta, a mountain of gems; in the Dvapara, a mountain of gold; and in the Kali age it is a mountain of emerald.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.108.4)

बहुयोजनपर्यंतं कृते वह्निमये स्थिते । बहिः प्रदक्षिणं चक्रुः प्रशाम्यति महर्षयः

bahuyojanaparyaṁtaṁ kṛte vahnimaye sthite bahiḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ cakruḥ praśāmyati maharṣayaḥ

In the Krita age, when it stood ablaze with fire for many yojanas, the great sages performed circumambulation from outside, and thereby it grew calm.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.108.5)

शनैः शांतोरुणाद्रीशः श्रीमानभ्यर्थितः सुरैः । लोकगुप्त्यर्थमत्यर्थमुपशांतोऽरुणाचलः

śanaiḥ śāṁtoruṇādrīśaḥ śrīmānabhyarthitaḥ suraiḥ lokaguptyarthamatyarthamupaśāṁto'ruṇācalaḥ

Growing calm little by little, entreated by the gods, the glorious Lord of the red mountain became, for the protection of the worlds, utterly at peace.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.108.6)

अथ गौरी मुनिं प्राह कथं शांतोऽरुणाचलः । कथं वा प्रार्थयामासुर्देवेशं त्रिदशा इमम्

atha gaurī muniṁ prāha kathaṁ śāṁto'ruṇācalaḥ kathaṁ vā prārthayāmāsurdeveśaṁ tridaśā imam

Then Gauri asked the sage: 'How did Arunachala become calm? And how did the thirty gods entreat this Lord of gods?'

Verse 7 (skanda.1.108.7)

इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा गौतमस्त्वभ्यभाषत । प्रशस्य भक्तिमतुलां तस्यास्तत्त्वार्थवेदिनीम्

iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā gautamastvabhyabhāṣata praśasya bhaktimatulāṁ tasyāstattvārthavedinīm

Hearing these words of hers, Gautama spoke, praising her matchless devotion, one who knew the very truth and meaning of things.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.108.8)

गौतम उवाच । अग्निरूपं पुरा शैलमासादयितुमक्षमाः । पुरा सुराः स्तुतिं चक्रुरभ्यर्च्य क्रतुसंभवैः

gautama uvāca agnirūpaṁ purā śailamāsādayitumakṣamāḥ purā surāḥ stutiṁ cakrurabhyarcya kratusaṁbhavaiḥ

Gautama said: Of old, the gods, unable to approach that mountain in its form of fire, worshipped it with offerings born of sacrifice and praised it thus.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.108.9)

भगवन्नरुणाद्रीश सर्वलोकहितावह । अग्निरूपोऽपि संशांतः प्रकाशस्य महीतले

bhagavannaruṇādrīśa sarvalokahitāvaha agnirūpo'pi saṁśāṁtaḥ prakāśasya mahītale

'O Lord, ruler of the red mountain, bringer of good to all worlds! Though of the form of fire, be at peace, O radiant one, upon the surface of this earth.'

Verse 10 (skanda.1.108.10)

असौ यस्ताम्रो अरुण उत बभ्रुः सुमंगलः । इति त्वां सकला वेदाः स्तुवंति शिवविग्रहम्

asau yastāmro aruṇa uta babhruḥ sumaṁgalaḥ iti tvāṁ sakalā vedāḥ stuvaṁti śivavigraham

'"He who is copper-hued, ruddy, or tawny, of surpassing auspiciousness" — thus do all the Vedas praise you, the very form of Shiva.'

Verse 11 (skanda.1.108.11)

नमस्ताम्रायारुणाय शिवाय परमात्मने । वेदवेद्य स्वरूपाय सोमाय सुखरूपिणे

namastāmrāyāruṇāya śivāya paramātmane vedavedya svarūpāya somāya sukharūpiṇe

'Salutation to you, coppery and ruddy, Shiva, the supreme Self, of the nature known through the Vedas, of the form of Soma, of blissful nature.'

Verse 12 (skanda.1.108.12)

त्वद्रूपमखिलं देव जगदेतच्चराचरम् । निधानमिव ते रूपं देवानामिदमीक्ष्यते

tvadrūpamakhilaṁ deva jagadetaccarācaram nidhānamiva te rūpaṁ devānāmidamīkṣyate

'O God, this whole world, moving and unmoving, is your very form; this form of yours is seen by the gods as it were a very treasury.'

Verse 13 (skanda.1.108.13)

वर्षतां च पयोदानां निर्झराणां च भूयसाम् । सलिलोपायसंहारो युक्तस्ते युगसंक्षये

varṣatāṁ ca payodānāṁ nirjharāṇāṁ ca bhūyasām salilopāyasaṁhāro yuktaste yugasaṁkṣaye

'The gathering-in, by means of water, of the rain of the clouds and of the many streams, is fitting for you alone at the dissolution of the age.'

Verse 14 (skanda.1.108.14)

अग्नेरापः समुद्भूतास्त्वत्तो हि परमात्मनः । विश्वसृष्टिं वितन्वति विचित्रगुण वैभवात्

agnerāpaḥ samudbhūtāstvatto hi paramātmanaḥ viśvasṛṣṭiṁ vitanvati vicitraguṇa vaibhavāt

'Waters arise from fire — from you alone, the supreme Self; through their wondrous power of quality they extend the creation of the universe.'

Verse 15 (skanda.1.108.15)

शीतो भव महादेव शोणाचल कृपानिधे । सर्वेषामपि जीवानामभिगम्यो भव प्रभो

śīto bhava mahādeva śoṇācala kṛpānidhe sarveṣāmapi jīvānāmabhigamyo bhava prabho

'Become cool, O Mahadeva, O Shonachala, O ocean of compassion; become approachable, O Lord, to all living beings.'

Verse 16 (skanda.1.108.16)

इति स्तुतः सुरैः सर्वेरानतैर्भक्तवत्सलः । सद्यः शीतलतां गच्छन्नभिम्योऽभवत्प्रभुः

iti stutaḥ suraiḥ sarverānatairbhaktavatsalaḥ sadyaḥ śītalatāṁ gacchannabhimyo'bhavatprabhuḥ

Thus praised by all the bowing gods, that Lord, tender to his devotees, at once attained coolness and became approachable.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.108.17)

प्रावर्त्तत पुनर्नद्यो निर्झराश्च बहूदकाः । वर्षतामपि मेघानां न जग्राह जलं बहु

prāvarttata punarnadyo nirjharāśca bahūdakāḥ varṣatāmapi meghānāṁ na jagrāha jalaṁ bahu

Rivers and streams full of water began to flow once again; yet even from the raining clouds it did not absorb much water.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.108.18)

तथापि तरुणार्कोद्यत्कालाग्निशतकोटिभिः । समानदीप्तिरभजज्जीवानामभिगम्यताम्

tathāpi taruṇārkodyatkālāgniśatakoṭibhiḥ samānadīptirabhajajjīvānāmabhigamyatām

Even so, taking on a brilliance equal to the rising young sun and to a hundred million fires of dissolution, it attained approachability for living beings.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.108.19)

विसृज्य विश्वसलिलं नदीश्च रसविक्षरैः । संपूर्यः सकलैर्देवः सर्वदा संप्रकाशते

visṛjya viśvasalilaṁ nadīśca rasavikṣaraiḥ saṁpūryaḥ sakalairdevaḥ sarvadā saṁprakāśate

Releasing the water of the universe, giving rise to rivers from its own very essence, that God, filled with all the gods, ever shines forth.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.108.20)

तीर्थानि तानि तान्यासन्परितः प्रार्थनावशात् । दिक्पालानां सुराणां च महर्षीणां महात्मनाम्

tīrthāni tāni tānyāsanparitaḥ prārthanāvaśāt dikpālānāṁ surāṇāṁ ca maharṣīṇāṁ mahātmanām

Those various fords arose all around, each at the entreaty of the guardians of the directions, of the gods, and of the great-souled sages.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.108.21)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा गौरी कुतुकसंयुता । तीर्थानामुद्भवं सर्व श्रोतुं समुपचक्रमे

brahmovāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā gaurī kutukasaṁyutā tīrthānāmudbhavaṁ sarva śrotuṁ samupacakrame

Brahma said: Hearing these words of his, Gauri, filled with curiosity, began to inquire so as to hear the origin of all the fords.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.108.22)

पार्वत्युवाच । कानि तीर्थानि जातानि शोणाद्रेर्लोकगुप्तये । भगवन्ब्रूहि सकलं तीर्थानामुद्भवं मम

pārvatyuvāca kāni tīrthāni jātāni śoṇādrerlokaguptaye bhagavanbrūhi sakalaṁ tīrthānāmudbhavaṁ mama

Parvati said: What fords arose from Shonadri for the protection of the worlds? Tell me, O Lord, the whole origin of these fords.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.108.23)

इति तस्या वचः शृण्वन्गिरीशात्संश्रुतं पुरा । तीर्थानामुद्भवं सर्वं व्याख्यातुमुपचक्रमे

iti tasyā vacaḥ śṛṇvangirīśātsaṁśrutaṁ purā tīrthānāmudbhavaṁ sarvaṁ vyākhyātumupacakrame

Hearing her words, according to what he had heard of old from Girisha himself, he began to explain the origin of all the fords.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.108.24)

गौतम उवाच । ऐन्द्रं नाम महातीर्थमिंद्रभागे समुत्थितम् । तत्र स्नात्वा पुरा शक्रो ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहयत्

gautama uvāca aindraṁ nāma mahātīrthamiṁdrabhāge samutthitam tatra snātvā purā śakro brahmahatyāṁ vyapohayat

Gautama said: The great ford named Aindra arose in Indra's quarter; bathing there, Indra of old cast off the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.108.25)

ब्रह्मतीर्थं पुनर्दिव्यं वह्निःकोणे समुत्थितम् । परस्त्रीसंगमात्पापं वह्निः स्नात्वात्र चात्यजत्

brahmatīrthaṁ punardivyaṁ vahniḥkoṇe samutthitam parastrīsaṁgamātpāpaṁ vahniḥ snātvātra cātyajat

In the fire-quarter arose another divine Brahma-tirtha; bathing there, Agni cast off the sin arising from union with another's wife.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.108.26)

याम्यं नाम महातीर्थं यमभागे विजृंभते । अत्र स्नात्वा यमोऽत्याक्षीद्भयं ब्रह्मास्त्रसंभवम्

yāmyaṁ nāma mahātīrthaṁ yamabhāge vijṛṁbhate atra snātvā yamo'tyākṣīdbhayaṁ brahmāstrasaṁbhavam

In Yama's quarter extends the great ford named Yamya; bathing there, Yama cast off the fear born of a Brahma-weapon.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.108.27)

नैर्ऋतं तु महातीर्थं नैर्ऋत्यां दिशि शोभते । भूतवेतालविजयं तत्र स्नात्वर्षयो गताः

nairṛtaṁ tu mahātīrthaṁ nairṛtyāṁ diśi śobhate bhūtavetālavijayaṁ tatra snātvarṣayo gatāḥ

In the southwestern direction shines the great ford named Nairrita; bathing there, the sages went on to gain victory over ghosts and vetalas.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.108.28)

पश्चिमे वारुणं तीर्थं दिग्भागे च प्रकाशते । शल्यकोशं पुरा लेभे स्नात्वात्र वरुणो निजम्

paścime vāruṇaṁ tīrthaṁ digbhāge ca prakāśate śalyakośaṁ purā lebhe snātvātra varuṇo nijam

In the western direction shines the Varuna ford; bathing there, Varuna regained of old his own lost weapon-sheath.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.108.29)

वायवे वायवीयं च तीर्थमत्र प्रकाशते । तत्र स्नात्वा ययौ वायुर्जगत्प्राणत्ववैभवम्

vāyave vāyavīyaṁ ca tīrthamatra prakāśate tatra snātvā yayau vāyurjagatprāṇatvavaibhavam

In the northwestern direction shines the Vayaviya ford; bathing there, Vayu attained the glory of being the very life-breath of the world.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.108.30)

उत्तरे चात्र दिग्भागे सोमतीर्थमिति स्मृतम् । तत्र स्नात्वा पुरा सोमो यक्ष्मरोगादमुंचत

uttare cātra digbhāge somatīrthamiti smṛtam tatra snātvā purā somo yakṣmarogādamuṁcata

In this same northern direction is remembered the Soma-tirtha; bathing there, Soma of old was freed from his wasting disease.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.108.31)

ऐशाने चात्र दिग्भागे विष्णुतीर्थमिति स्मृतम् । तत्र स्नात्वा पुरा विष्णुः श्रिया च सह संगतः

aiśāne cātra digbhāge viṣṇutīrthamiti smṛtam tatra snātvā purā viṣṇuḥ śriyā ca saha saṁgataḥ

In this same northeastern direction is remembered the Vishnu-tirtha; bathing there, Vishnu of old was united with Shri.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.108.32)

मार्कण्डेयः पुरा देवि प्रार्थयामास शंकरम् । सदाशिव महादेव देवदेव जगत्पते

mārkaṇḍeyaḥ purā devi prārthayāmāsa śaṁkaram sadāśiva mahādeva devadeva jagatpate

O goddess, of old Markandeya entreated Shankara: 'O Sadashiva, O Mahadeva, O God of gods, O Lord of the world!'

Verse 33 (skanda.1.108.33)

बहूनामिह तीर्थानामेकत्र स्यात्समागमः । केनोपायेन भगवन्कृपया वद शंकर

bahūnāmiha tīrthānāmekatra syātsamāgamaḥ kenopāyena bhagavankṛpayā vada śaṁkara

'How might these many fords here be brought together in one single place? Tell me, O Lord, by what means, out of your grace, O Shankara.'

Verse 34 (skanda.1.108.34)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवदेव उमापतिः । उपायं दर्शयामास मुनये प्रीतमानसः

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā devadeva umāpatiḥ upāyaṁ darśayāmāsa munaye prītamānasaḥ

Hearing these words of his, the God of gods, Umapati, his mind pleased, showed that sage the way.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.108.35)

महेश्वर उवाच । सदोपहारवेलायां सर्वतीर्थसमुच्चयः । सन्निधिं मम संप्राप्तः सेवते गूढरूपतः

maheśvara uvāca sadopahāravelāyāṁ sarvatīrthasamuccayaḥ sannidhiṁ mama saṁprāptaḥ sevate gūḍharūpataḥ

Maheshvara said: 'At every time of the food-offering, the entirety of all the fords, coming into my very presence, serves me there in hidden form.'

Verse 36 (skanda.1.108.36)

नान्यदन्वेषणीयं ते तीर्थमत्र महामुने । ममोपहारवेलायां दृश्यते तीर्थसंचयः

nānyadanveṣaṇīyaṁ te tīrthamatra mahāmune mamopahāravelāyāṁ dṛśyate tīrthasaṁcayaḥ

'You need seek no other ford here, great sage; at the time of my offering itself, the whole collection of fords is to be seen.'

Verse 37 (skanda.1.108.37)

तस्माद्भक्तियुतैर्नित्यं सर्वतीर्थसमागमः । मुनिभिश्च सुरैः सर्वैर्नैवेद्यांते विलोक्यताम्

tasmādbhaktiyutairnityaṁ sarvatīrthasamāgamaḥ munibhiśca suraiḥ sarvairnaivedyāṁte vilokyatām

'Therefore, let this confluence of all the fords be beheld always, at the close of the food-offering, by devoted sages and by all the gods.'

Verse 38 (skanda.1.108.38)

इति देवि पुरा देवो मार्कडेयाय शंकरः । उपादिशदमेयात्मा तीर्थसंदर्शनक्रमम्

iti devi purā devo mārkaḍeyāya śaṁkaraḥ upādiśadameyātmā tīrthasaṁdarśanakramam

O goddess, thus, of old, the God Shankara, of immeasurable soul, taught Markandeya this order of beholding the fords.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.108.39)

गौतम उवाच । सर्वाण्यपि च पुण्यानि तीर्थानि शिवसन्निधौ । सदोपहारवेलायां दृश्यानि किल मानवैः

gautama uvāca sarvāṇyapi ca puṇyāni tīrthāni śivasannidhau sadopahāravelāyāṁ dṛśyāni kila mānavaiḥ

Gautama said: All those sacred fords standing in Shiva's very presence are, at the time of the food-offering, indeed visible to men.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.108.40)

व्रतं तीर्थं तपो वेदा यज्ञाश्च नियमादयः । योगाश्च शोणशैलेशदर्शनाद्दृष्टसंचराः

vrataṁ tīrthaṁ tapo vedā yajñāśca niyamādayaḥ yogāśca śoṇaśaileśadarśanāddṛṣṭasaṁcarāḥ

Vows, pilgrimage, austerity, the Vedas, sacrifices and observances, and even yogas too — the working of all these is seen through the mere sight of the Lord of Shonashaila.

Verse 41 (skanda.1.108.41)

निशम्य वाक्यं मुनिपुंगवस्य प्रसेदुषी पर्वतराजपुत्री । अवोचदत्यद्भुतमेतदत्र त्वयोपदिष्टं भुवि तीर्थजालम्

niśamya vākyaṁ munipuṁgavasya praseduṣī parvatarājaputrī avocadatyadbhutametadatra tvayopadiṣṭaṁ bhuvi tīrthajālam

Hearing this word of that foremost sage, the daughter of the mountain-king, her heart gladdened, said: 'Most wondrous is this, that you have here taught me this whole net of fords upon the earth.'

Verse 42 (skanda.1.108.42)

अहं कृतार्था तपतां वरिष्ठ त्वत्संगमात्संप्रति तीर्थजालम् । प्राप्ता नमस्तेऽस्तु तपोविशेष शिवोपि मेऽत्रादिशदेव कर्तुम्

ahaṁ kṛtārthā tapatāṁ variṣṭha tvatsaṁgamātsaṁprati tīrthajālam prāptā namaste'stu tapoviśeṣa śivopi me'trādiśadeva kartum

'O best among ascetics, through union with you I am now fulfilled, having obtained this net of fords; salutation to you, O one of surpassing austerity — Shiva himself commanded me to accomplish just this here.'

Verse 43 (skanda.1.108.43)

कथं गिरीशः पुनरत्र देवः स्फुरन्महावह्निवपुर्धरोऽपि । प्रशांतरूपः परमेश्वरोऽयमभ्यर्चनीयो भुवि मर्त्यवर्गैः

kathaṁ girīśaḥ punaratra devaḥ sphuranmahāvahnivapurdharo'pi praśāṁtarūpaḥ parameśvaro'yamabhyarcanīyo bhuvi martyavargaiḥ

'But then how is it that this God Girisha, though bearing here a flashing body of great fire, has become, in this peaceful form, this Supreme Lord fit to be worshipped upon the earth by the ranks of mortal men?'