Hararoma Samudbhuta Sarva Titrha samudbhuta Sarva Tirtha Samanvayaat, Sarva Tirthaarthaahyamam Vandey Kampayaa Puritam sarah/
(I commend the Sarva Tirtha which was a Grand Fusion of Koti Tirthas that materialized from Maha Deva’s body hair-roots including Kampaa Jala collected from the Kapaala Paatra of Pralaya Bandhini Durga).
Maharshi Markandeya described the unique significance of the Sarva Tirtha near the Rudra Shaalaa to the Nirrtti Disha of Ekaamreshwara as that Tirtha was a Sangama of the waters from Koti Nadis as emerged from Shiva’s body-hair roots. These incuded the flows of Nandi Shaila, Kshhera Nadi, Gopura, Varaaha namaka Paksha Puri, Ambikaanagara, Deva Mula, Chuta Mula, Surya Pushkarini, Chandra Pushkarini, Kshetraprastha, Kundika, Ksheera Nadi called Nishanna, and Samudra which indeed was the final destination of Koti Nadis. Most significantly, this Sarva Tirtha included the Kampaa Jala that got collected in the Kapaala that subdued the most ferocious flow of Ganga despatched by Maha Deva himself as executed by Pralaya Bandhini as referred to in the preceding Chapter; Devi Gauri called her maids Maha Kaali and Durga as she desired to perform Tapas without disturbance caused by the roar of gushing water of Ganga and appreciated as to how Kaalika Devi displayed the Kapaala in her hand and restrained the sound and fury of the high rising flow of Ganga and granted her the Epithet of Pralaya Bandhini.
The back ground of the Kampa Jala was that once when Maha Deva embraced Gauri Devi he found the marks of his wrist ornament on her breasts and he was amused but Gauri got confused and embarrassed; in order to make a diversion Maha Deva pulled out a hair from his ‘Jataajuta’ and trampled a flow of Ganga under his feet which went underground then; it was that powerful flow that assumed the ferocity and huge roar of sound and went to Devi Gauri as Pralaya Ganga to test her concentration in Tapas as commanded by Maha Deva.
When Shiva realised that the ‘Sarva Tirtha’ contained Kampaa Jala also, he felt somewhat sentimental and instructed Vishvakarma to construct the banks of Sarva Tirtha proper steps and paved surroundings to enable those to take baths. Bala Gauri took her Snaana there and thereafter invited Ruk-Yajur-Saama-Atharva Veda Jnanis and gave away generous daanaas to them of Go-Bhu-Hiranyaas to recite Vedic Acclamations of the Sarva Tirtha to exist till ‘Achandrataaraarka’ or as long as Surya Chandra Nakshatraas would last on the Sky! She then entered ‘Kama Koshtha’( literally the Belly of Desires but meaning of the Treasure Store of Wishes), got a Dharma Shaala constructed , worshipped Maha Tripura Sundari, performed thirty two Dharma Karyas or deeds of Virtue, arranged an ‘Akshaya Paatra’or an Ever Lasting Vessel, a Kaama Dhenu or a Desire Fulfilling Cow, a Kalpa Vriksha or a Tree of Boons, ‘Chintaamani’or a Jewel for Providing Materials; a Dharma Shaalaa; besides appointing a King to administer all these Items judiciously. Kamakshi thus materialised an elaborate infrastructure of Dharma, worshipped Kacchapeshwara, prostrated before Ekamreshwara and Pradakshinas, reached Sarva Tirtha to perform Pradakshinas and gave the boon to all those who took even a single Sacred Bath in the Tirtha would be granted the Fruit of performing in all the Punya Tirthas elsewhere.
To illustrate the High Sacredness of ‘Sarva Tirtha’ Snaanas, Maharshi Markandeya conveyed to King Surata about a legend of ‘Sama Vedaadhyaayi’ Soma Sharma and a Tapaswi who however committed an indiscretion of sleeping with a youthful low class woman and begot a child. When Soma Sharma once performed the Shraaddha of Pitras, the ‘Pindas’ offered at the Ceremony turned out to be worms. Soma was agitated and did atonement of proceeding on Tirtha Yatras ; as he reached Rudra Shaala and took bath in the Sarva Tirtha, the Shraaddha Pindas that he offered henceforth were retained with ‘Anna Rupa’or of the Form of Cooked Rice. As this miracle was experienced, Soma Sharma decided to stay at the rest of his life and finally achieved ‘Shambhu Loka’.
Those who take Sacred Baths in the Sarva Tirtha and Darshana of Rudra Shaala, Ekamra Vriksa, Devi Kamakshi and of Ekamreshwara would be advised to recite the following ‘Dwadasha Shloki’ for reaping the benefit of Koti Sarva Tirtha Snaanas and Moksha Prapti:
Shrishailasyaagnidigbhaagey yojaneychaiva vimshakey, Kaveri Krishna yormadhey tatra Goari tapovaney/
Kmpaaaa Dashiney Kooley Rudra Shaalaa dharaataley, Ekaamra naayakasshambhu –ssadaa sadaa taraiva vartatey/
Umaalingana samkraanta Kuchakankana mudritam, Linga Ekaamra naadhasya Saikatam samupaasmahey/
Yorchaye Rudraa shaalaayaam Lingamekam prayatnatah, Koti Lingaarchana phalam Shiva Lokam cha Gacchati/
Yo Vasey Rudra shaalaayam Kshanaartham vaa tadardhakam, Muchyatey Sarva Paapebhyah Sakshaabhargo Naraakritih/
Shiva Puja samudbhutam Veda shaakhaabhirujjvalam, Mrikandu tanayaadhaaram Rasaalam tam namaamyaham/
Shrimadekaamra Vrikshasya, Yo Vaseynmula bhutaley, Guna Vriddhyaa Muhurtasya Koti Lingaarchanam Bhavet/
Suprasannam Mahaa Devyaa Niya Kalyaana Sundaram, Mahaa Pralaya Paapaghnam Rasaalesha Maham bhajey/
Chutesaambika yoph Kaamchyaam Shivaa virbhaava Vaasarey, Kalyaanam krvatah Koti Kanyaa daana phalam bhavet/
Koti Lingaprathishthaa –yaam yatphalam sthaapakasya tu, Tatphalam labhatey Marthyasskrutcchutesha sevayaa/
Hara roma samudbhuta Sarva Tirthasamanvayaat, Kampayaa ritam vandey Paatram tatssarva Tirthakam/
Yaatrayaa Sarva Tirtheshu snaanato yatphalam Nrinaam, Sarva Tirthey Sakutsnaanaattatphalam labhatey narah/
Those who read or hear the contents of this Adhyaaya on Sarva Tirha Snaanas would achieve the fruits of performing ‘Sarvatirtha Sarovara Snaana Punya.’
