ESSENCE OF SHRI KAMAKSHI VILASA LALITOPAKHYAANA OF MARKANDEYA PURANA INCLUDED x 1 TRANSLATED & COMPILED BY V D N RAO PREFACE On the conclusion of the Series of Essence of Puranas in English, HH Vijayendra Sarasvati of Kanchi mutt at Kanjeevaram, Tamil nadu instructed me to highlight Shri Kamakshi Vilasa, as Maharshi Markandeya described in the Vidya Khanda of Markandeya Maha Purana in great detail. Translations in Telugu and Tamil are also available. The ‘Essence of Kamakshi Vilasa’ has fourteen chapters viz.Devi Kamakshi as Tripura Sundari, Kanchipura as Bhuloka Vaikuntha, Hastishaila Mahatmya, details of Varadaraja Swami, the vastness and significance of Vegavati River, Rudra shaala, The Sacred Tree of Ekaamra, Ekaamreshwara and Tapah Kamakshi, SarvaTirtha Mahima in the Bhuvana Vaikuntha, Kamakoti Nagara Nirnaya, Kamakoti ‘bilwa’or the secret passage, glories of Maha Tripura Sundari, eminence of Janardana deva the destroyer of fears and difficulties, and superiority of Devi Kamakshi overMaha Deva Shiva Himself! Till date, a holy visit to Kanchi ever sustains lasting experience; the unity of the roads connecting the followings of Varada Raja Swami and Ekamareshwara is unique. And the outstanding ability to unify the routes of Shiva and Vishnu are truly amazing as reinforced by the Maha Shakti Devi Kamakshi’s outstanding presence at Kanchi; in the Ultimate Analysis one needs to deeply meditate the Power par excellencewhich is ‘Avyatam Shasvatam Vishnum Anantam Ajam Avyayam’ or the UltimateTruth is Unmanifested, Boundless, All Pervasive, Endless, Unborn, and Everlasting.! I am ever beholden to the lasting blessings of HH and the confidence that he has reposed in me to let larger audience reach in translating the original and present the same as Essence of Shri Kamakshi Vilasa into English. It is my humble opportunity to reach larger readership in English as already released vide the website kamakoti.org/news. V. D. N. Rao , Chennai ESSENCE OF SHRI KAMAKSHI VILASA LALITOPAAKHYAANA OF MARKANDEYA PURANA INCUDED Contents Page 2 Preface 4 Prathamaadhyaaya-Devi Kamakshi as Tripura Sundari 5 Dwitiyaadhyaa- Kanchipura as Bhuloka Vaikuntha 8 Tritiyaadhyaya- Hasti Shaila Mahatmya 9 Chaturdhyaaya- The Spendour of Varadaraja Swami 10 Panchamaadhyaaya- Vagavati Prabhava 12 Shashthyaadhyaaya- Rudra Shaala Mahatmya 13 Saptamaadhaya- Significance of Ekaamra Vriksha 15 Ashtamaadhyaaya- Glories of Ekaamreshwara and Bala/ Tapah Kamakshi 16 Navamaadhyaaya -Sarva Tirtha Mahima 19 Dashamaadhyaya-Kamakoti Sthala Nirnaya 20 Ekadashaadhyaaya- Exaltation of Kama Koti Bilwa 21 Dwadashaadhyaaya-Magnificence of MahaTripura Sundari 22 Trayodashodhyaaya- Eminence of Bhaya Bandhana Janardana 25 Chaturdashaadhyaaya- Shiva’s defeat, Brahma’s blindness and Shri CakraPuja and beneficiaries Phala Shruti 29 Annexures I: Brahma’s prostration to Tripura Sundari / Kamakshi 30 AnnextureII:Top Five, Parvati’s sin and Pralaya, Brahma Hatya, Shiva’s atonement and Gauri-Shiva Kalyana and famed wonders of Devi Kamakshi 32 Markandeya Purana’s Lalitopakhyanam - Lalita Sahasranama & Trishati 33 ESSENCE OF SHRI KAMAKSHI VILASA Shri Maha Tripura Sundaryai Nanamah, Shri Devi Kamashyai Namah Ayodhyaa Mathuraa Maayaa Kashi Kaanchi hyavantika Puri Dwaravati chaiva Saptaitaah Mokshadaayikaah/ 3 Prathamopaadhyaaya-Devi Kamakshi as Tripura Dhaarini As a part of Markandeya Purana’s Vidya Khanda, King Suratha* prostrated before Maharshi Markandeya and requested him to enlighten him about the Secret and the hitherto undisclosed details of ‘Peetha Trayas’. The Maharshi explained that in the entire Bhu Mandala spread over fifty crore yojanas, there indeed were sixty four thousand ‘Maha Peethaas’( Abodes) of Devi of which sixty Peethas were Superior; fifty of these were the selected ones buttwenty four ones were further selected; among these closely selected Peethaas were eighteen in numeber but finally Three of the Outstanding Peethaas were Kamaraja Peetha which was also known as ‘Vaakbhava Kutaa’ or of Vaakbhava Beeja –Aim, which was worshipped by Bhagavan Hayagriva; the second one was called Jaalandhara Peethawhich was Madhya Kutaa or of Manmadha Beeja-Kleem, which was worshipped by Bhrigu Maharshi; this was called as ‘Jwaala Mukhi Kshetra’[ some call it as the Jwalaa Mukhi Temple in the Area of Mannur near Ongole in Andhra Pradesh and some others opine that this is in Assam as the Temple of the same name]; the third one was called Odyaana Peetha known as the Shakti Kutaa of the Shakti Beeja-Souh, which was worshipped by Veda Vyasa Maharshi in Kamarupa Region [stated to be in Assam]. Of these Three Outstanding Peethaas called the Tri Peethas, the Kamaraja Peetha is stated to be in Kanchipura in Dakshina Bharat situated near the Sea towards East and this Samudra was blessed that there were no restrictions of bathing in it irrespective of day and night and would be eligible for ‘Vishnu Pada Prapti’. To the Nirruti ( South West) of the Eastern Sea within a sixty yojana distance was a Sacred River called RiverDakshimna Pinakini; the Shiva Dhanush or Shiva’s Bow which was lying on Bhumi (Ground) was lifted by Bhrigu Maharshi and as he lifted it up there sprang a River named by the Maharshi as Pinakini and blessed the River that whosoever bathed in it would be freed from all his/her sins and would attain Vishnu Loka. To the Vayavya (North West) of the Eastern Sea was situated within a seven Yojana distance, a Sanctified Shilaahrada or a Rocky Water Bodywhere Lord Hanuman washed ‘SanjeeviniOushadhi’(Indigenous Medicine) and enabled Lord Lakshmana to get revived in the latter’s battle with Indrajit the son of the Ramayana Epic’s King Ravana; this Tirtha was blessed to any person bathing in the Holy Water would live long and then achieve Vishnu Loka. To the Ishana (North East) of the Eastern Side of the Shilaahrada was situatedSwami Pushkarini Tirtha which indeed was River Viraja; in the days of yore Bhagavan Narayana desired to wed Padmavati and on assuming the Form of a Siddha Muni directed each of his disciples to bring in the waters of various Tirthas which was basically converted as Viraja River, eventually named as Swami Pushkarinki; those who would bathe in this consecrated Tirtha would enjoy fulfillment of life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *King Suratha was defeated by enemies and took refuge in the Ashram of Sage Sumedha and the Sage taught the Shodashaakshari Mantra of Devi Chamundi; a Vaishya named Samadhiwho was disenchanted with his family alsoapproached the Sage and was taught the Traykshari Mantra of Devi; both the King and the Vaishya did severe Tapas and Devi gaveboons to King to regain his Kingdom and Vaishya who opted for Salvation secured his wish. ( Source: Devi Bhagavata) Significance and Advantage of the age-old Kanchipura’s Location:Dundeera Mandala ruled by the virtuous King Dundeera and the region was the famed Maha Balipuram whichwas originally constructed Bali Chakravarti who made severe Tapas to Parameshwara and secured great affluence and fortune before defeating Devas. To Nirruti ( South West) of Maha Bali Pura was Devaki Purawhere King Ugrasena worshipped Hara Deva and sighted a maiden named Devaki and thus the Place was known by that name. Brahma Deva created a Place called Virinchi purafor the sake of 4 Apsara Rambha to the Vayavya (North West) of Devaki pura where Rambha worshipped Mahesha and was blessed by the latter to get closer to Indra. To the Ishanya (North East) of Virinchi pura was a Place called Naagahalawhere Maha Deva devoured ‘Haalahala’ during the course of Deva-Danavas’ churning of ‘Ksheeraabhdhi’ to obtain Amrita (nectar); not far from this Area was Tapovana where Devi Parvati meditated for long and got hallowed. To the West of Mahabalipura were Triveni Sangama purawhich yielded the benefit of bathing in Triveni Sangama at Prayagaand Vyaaghra Vana where Parama Shiva performed Shiva Tandava (Cosmic Dance) at the request of Maharshi Vyaghra Paada who meditated and pleased Shiva. Almost of walking distance of Vyaghra Vana was Ksheeraabdhi Nagarwhere Narayana obliged a Bhakta with the vision of Bhagavan’s lying postureon the Ocean of Milk. Again not distant from Ksheeraabhi Nagari was Nandi Gangaapura where Maha Deva showed his kindness to let a Chandala bathe in Ganga which emerged through a ‘Vrishabha Mukha’ or the mouth of bull and the Chandala was blessed to attain Kailasha. In the midst of a rectangular around Nandiganga pura was a Place called Brahma Shaala where Brahma performed Ashwamedha Yagna. Hardly one yojana away from Triveni Sangamapura was the Abode of Paanchaalikaa Durga which was a Hari Kshetra and hardly away from there wasKanyakeswara a Shankara Kshetra.Surya Pushkariniwas the Sacred Tirtha ( Sarovara) and right on the banks of the Tirtha was Sweta VishnuTemple; the other side of the Tirtha called Chandra Pushkarini were the abodes of Kshetraangi Durga and Paanchaalika Durga. Such were the hallowed environs of Kanchi Kshetrawhere Bhagavan Vishnu stayed and Bhagavan Shiva too resided there itself. However Maha Shakti’s prominence was predominant: Maha Shakti Prabhaavaadhyam Shakti praadhaanya Vaibhavaat,Vinaasha rahitam Kshetram Tasmaatsatya vrataahvayam/( As Shakti’s influence was of primacy, this Kshetra was indestructible and as such was of Eternal Truth; hence it wasreplete withSatya Vrata.) The Kshetra wasfull of Temples put up over River and hills and thus designated as ‘Bhaskara Sanjnaka’ or representative of Surya Deva; it was also