Snaatwaamaraavateem naamneem nadeem parama paavaneem bhasmaangasita dehaa cha bahu vastra vivarjitaa/ Pralapanjirmvacchiva sandhaanam dehime Parameshwara, Tadaa roheddarivaram tyaktwaa krodaadhi vikriyaam/ (Parameshwara! After taking bath in the most Sacred Amaravati River, smearing bhasma all over the body which shines bright white and wearing limited clothing, do kindly show me the way up the mountains to Shiva Loka! This is how one should pray after winning over the proverbial ‘Arishad Vargas’ of ‘kaama krodha lobha moha mada matsaras’ viz. desire, anger, greed, infatuation, arrogance and envy and firmly resolve with grit, faith, and total dedication to ascend and successfully reach the final destination of Amareshwara up the frighteningly arduous and most tiresome mountain range!) Tadaa pranamya Devesham Guhastham Amareshwaram, Golakah kundaka vaapi yah kashchidatra nivritah, Sa bhavatu Gano Devi cheti satyana te shapey/ (Devi! As you perform earnest pranaams to Amareshwara Linga inside a mammoth cave, do not get awed and afraid by the picturesque vision of the Linga in the cave whether it presents itself in a Gola-akaara or Kundala-akaara, but assuredly and most truthfully magnificent and over-powering , as I swear, stated most emphatically by Maha Deva)
Shrunu vakshye Maha Tirtham Amareshasya Sundari! Yacchrutwaapi pramucchet maha paataka kotibhih/ (Sundari! I shall now narrate about the significance of Amaresha Maha Tirtha as whoever absorbs the essence of the legend should be freed from crores of sins piled up!) Sadaa sadaa seettato naivanaaseetkinchina Sundari, Niyatirabhavattasmaat paraaccha paraatparah/Niyatirahamutpanna iti shushruma Sundari, Ahaame Sarva Bhagavatsarve Devaah sa Vaasawaah/( Sundari! This account is a truth of perfection and reality that is being narrated and that is why has originated from purity of thought and mental discipline. I learn that I was originated from ‘niyati’ or such righteousness and self control). Rishayah Pitaraschaapi Gandhavoraga Raakshasaah, Yaksha Bhuta Ganaaschaapi Kushmaanaa Bhairavaadayah/ Manushyaa Jambukaah Krura Daitya Daanava pungaa, Yete chaanye cha bahava utpannaa niyateh swayam, Chaturdasha vidho bhuta sargah praadurbhutkalah/ ( It is out of this concept of ‘Niyati’ that all Devatas, Rishis, Pitru Devaas, Gandharvaas, Uragas, Rakshasas, Yaksha, Bhutas, Ganaas, Bhairavas, Manushyas, Jambukas, Krura Danava-Daityas and so on, on their own; in fact fourteen types of species were originated). Mritustaanagrasat sarvaan Devaabhi sa Vaasavaan,Devaste mrityunaa grastaavya kulaahyabhavam Priye/ Sametya sharanam jaguh sharanyam Parameshwaram, Tushtuvuh parama preetyaa Shankarah tamonaashranam/ (Mrityu tormented Devaas, headed by Indra, approached Parama Shiva for refuge and protection and appealed as follows to the ever merciful Shiva):
Om Namah Shivaaya Devaaya Vishnave Prabha Vishnave, Namaschindrakodbodha prakaashaananda rupine/ Paramaaryadashaasthaaya sthaanave Vishwa bhavane, Namaschityayachintyaaya chitijnaaya chidardhine/ (Our prostrations to you Parameshwara; you are Shiva, Vishnu and Prabhavishnu at the same time at once! You are of Chit Swarupa enriched with the splendor of Chandra Deva. You are the Paramardha dashaastha, Sthaanu, Vishwa Bhanu, Chitya, Achintya, Chitijna and Chidardhi! our earnest salutations to you!) Vishwa dravya Shitaashesha Swaanta Mohaaya Shubhave, Vimarshine Vidhigjnaaya Mukti Rupaayate namah/ (Parama Shiva, you are of the unique form of Vishwa dravya, Shitaashesha, Swaanta Mohana, Shubha Swarupa,Vimarshi, Mukti Rupa) Vishesajnaaya Devaaya Jaya Vishvopa kaarine, Vishwa rupaaya Devaaya Vishwa vaasaayate nama/ Nishedha jnaaya Devaaya Tatswarupaaya –tenamah, Namaste Sarva Mrigyaaya Sukshma Maargaarha darshine/(Our pranams to you Visheshajnaa, Deva,Tat Swarupa, Jaya, Vishyopakaara, Vishwa Rupa, Vishwaavaasa, Nishedhajgna, Tatswarupa, Sarva Mrigya Rupa, Shukshma Marga Darshaka) Namo niyati rupaaya tatwarupayate namah,Mahattwaaya Devaaya Sukshma Tatwaayate namah/ Namomritaaya Devaaya Namomrita swarupine, Mrityunjayaaya Devaaya bhuyo bhuyo namo namah/ (Our prayers to you Niyati Rupa, Tatwa Rupa, Mahattatwa, Sukshma Tatwa, Amrita Rupa, Amrita Swarupine, Mrithyunjaya, Maha Deva, Bhuyo bhuyo namyah). As the delegation of Devaas led by Indra commended as above, Maha Deva was pleased and on his enquiry, Indra explained about the constant threats posed by Mrityu to all of them: Yatah sa mrityur nashyayenno seveccha balena hi, Tatkurushwa Maha Deva bhaiktaanaamaarti naashana/ (Devadhideva! Do kindly show us a way out from the strangle hold of Mrityu so that it should not overcome us and torment us; kindly ensure that the desperation and constant threat to your Bhaktas like us be terminated forthwith.) Shrutwaa Deva vachah soumyam Maheshah pratyuvaacha taan,Mrityupaayam karishyaami sahadhwam kshanamuttamaah/ (Maha Deva realised the gravity of the problem and assured Devas of a solution soon) Griheetwaa shirastatra Haraschandra kalaam swayam, Sampeedyav Devaanna vadanmrithyu bheshaja peedanaat/ Yaa nisrutaa chaiva tathaa dharaa seetatraa paarmika Priye, Sauva bhutaa nede punyaa naamnaavaih Amaravati/Ye bindavaschayutaa Devi Shariremrita bindavah, Te bhasma rupataam prapyachyuscheshanataam gataah/ ( Bhagavan himself adjusted the Chandra Kala on his head and pulled out a flow of Sacred River named Amaravati from his body. The River materialised into chilled cool drops and as many drops of Amrita that flowed turned out to take the shape of a hallowed Linga decorated with Bhasma and that indeed was the Amara Natha Maha Deva Himself). Premaateshaam Maha Devi Shivopidravataamagaat, te drushtwaatu Shivam tatra dravibhutam Maheshwari/ (This was how Maha Deva got melted from the desperate cries of Devas to save themselves from the clutches of Mrityu) That indeed was the Origin of Amara Naatha Linga!) Tushtu vaargibhih pranemuscha muhurmuhuh/(Devas raised their voices and showered their ever grateful commendations and prostrated before the Linga again and again) Sa punardashayaa pusa Devanaam mita kaamyaya,Rasopishaanataam prapya Linga rupobhavatim/ Parama Shiva then gave them a limited darshan once again and then assumed the Holy Form of the Melting Linga) Lingam rupam Haravokshya dravibhutam Maheshwari, Punah punah pranemuste bhavam kaarumi kamparam/( Devi Maheshwari, Devas were moved and memerised by the most merciful ‘parama tatwa’of Maha Deva and prostrated before Him repeatedly). Devaannuti paraadrushtyaa provaacha Surattamah, Harah Paramayaa Vaachaa shrunutwam Devasattamaah/( Most pleased with the grateful commendations of Devas, Maha Deva addressed them as follows) Yasmaad bhavadbhidrushtam mePrama Lingam darigrihe, tasman Mrityurmushmaanave yadhattemadanugrahaat/(Devas! Just as you are visioning my Linga Swarupa replete with compassion and love, so does your fright of Mrityu melted off for sure?) Ihaivah Amaraa bhutwaa gacchavam Shivayujyataam/ (Be here always to accomplish ‘Amaratwa’ and ‘Shiva Saayujya’) Itah prabhutime Lingah Amareshaakhyamuttamam/ Devaah pradakshine kritwa swam swa maalayamaayamah/ Totally contented, Devas once again prostrated and returned back to their abodes in Swarga). Maha Deva who bestowed boons to Devas earlier, then disappeared himself to the other oblivion of the Mountains.
Maha Bhairava continued his conversation with Devi Parvati futher:Amaam Soma kalaam Guhya Devaanaam hita kaamyaya, Mrityu naashamchakaaraashu tasmaaddhaih Amareshwarah/ (Devi! Having absorbed the Chandra Kalaas day by day following ‘Amavasya’ and thus demolished the fear of Mrityu, then onward Maha Deva attained the fame and name as Mrityunjaya Amereshwara) Mrityu heenaa yato Devi cheshwarena kritasuraah, Tatah proktam puraavidbhiramareshwara sanjakam/(Devi! Parameshwara had blessed Devas to destroy Mrityu and as such the writers of Puranas and Itihaasas as also Tatwavidhis accorded the title of Amareshwara to Him.) Bhava rogam cha guhyati Bhaktaayaam cheshwarah, Swayam yaddarshanaat proktam hyamereshwaraakhya muttamam/(Bhagavan Shiva destroyed bhavarogaas or the evils of Samsaara especially diseases and problems of body and mind and that is another reason of naming His abode as Amareshwara) Amaam prabhuti puraantam Kalaam guhyaaticheshwarah, Tatah proktascha tatwagjnaih Bhagavaannamareshwarah/ (As He destroys all kinds of blemishes during the period of Amavashya to Purnima, Bhagavan is named Amareshwara) Yadaa Suranaaschaiva jaraamarana naashanam, Moksha ishwaryaprada yasmaat proktamamara sanjnakam/(He bestows moksha or Ultimate Salvation and opulence, destroys old age and untimely deaths and that is why, he is titled Amareshwara) Idam rasamayam Lingam Mahaprema samudbhavam, Samarasya pradam Devi tava snehaatprakaashitam/ (Devi! This Rasamaya Linga is splenderous by virtue of your wishes too providing excellent rapport between the undoubted faith and devotion of the devotees and me) Yatraam kritwaa cha Devehi snaatwaamara te jaley, Bhasmanaa lipyachaangaani Moksha maapnoti Maanavaah/ (Devi! Those who perform idea bathing in the Amarendra River and smear Shuddha Bhasma all over the body are blessed with their dedicated worship to me shall certainly attain moksha!) Kritwaatu tandavam Devi! Guhaayaamcha suharshitah, Amareva kathito Narah parama paavanah/ (Those Manavas who enter the Cave with joy and take to performance of dance with frenzy are stated to purify themselves totally!) Yassavaasaa grihasta sa yaatii narakam ghoram yavadindra -schatudarshayaa/ (Those Grihastis or house- holders who wear showy clothing and enter the cave are cursed to get punished in Narakas for fourteen Divya years – each such year making hundred human years) Yah pasched bhasma heenaango Rasa Lingam Sanatanam, Sa kushteecha Bhavaddevi janturjanmani janmani/ (Those humans who do have a darshan of Rasa Linga without ‘bhasma lepana’on the body would suffer leprosy for repeated births) Yaatramakrutwayo Devi pasheddai Amareshwaram, Sayaati daarunaan ghoraannarakaanneka vimshatam/ (Those who seek to make a casual visit for fun only without devotion shall be punished in hells for 21 years) Similarly, those who do observe the pre-requirements of the Linga Darshana viz. tandava natya, formal puja, and daan dharma would attract retributions of Teerta Droha, Naraka prapti, Kaala Sutra Naraka respectively. However, Amara naadha Darshana in a formal manner yield untold benefits: Bhruna haa Guru talpi Suraapi swarna haarakah, etatdrushtwaa Maheshaanamamareshwara danjnakam, Muchyante takshanaat Devi mahaa patakinopi -cha/ (Persons who have committed heinous crimes like Bhruna hatya or destroying human embryos, highly decieving one’s won Guru by spoiling Guru patni etc., drunkards, gold robbers etc. shall be pardoned outright by achieving formal darshana and Puja) Go maamsa bhaksho Madhupah Surejya tyagi Vatsaha Balahaapi, Garbhaghati Shavakrut paata kruthcha Sadyomuchedre dikshamaam Linga rupam, Maha krodhi lobha mohaabhi bhutah swarnasteyi Parajaamagaabhi, Chidrapekshi Saadhu nindaaratas -cha dambhaachari Anritavaak alpa buddhih/ ( Parvati! Perpetrators of differenrent sins like cow meat eating, wine drinking, abandoning of Deva Puja, killing calves and children and committing patakas; as also Maha krodhis, Maha Lobhis, swindlers of gold articles, habitual indulgers in sex, boasters, nagging critics of others especially Sadhus or the virtuous, the narrow minded and so on would be blessed to completly reverse their actions and rectify themselves at the mere darshan of Amar naadha Linga). Drishtwa Devamamaresha swarupam dravibhutam parvata, nucchhettaasamaa maatra paapasandhascha Devi Satyam Satyam naanrutam te vadaami/Chandraayana Maha krucchhai shatamaantaru naischa yat , Phalam prapnoyasya darshayaat/ (Devi! The unique vision of the gigantic Linga melting fast shall indeed redeem oceanful like sins and this indeed is the Truth and Truth again; the fruits of sighting Amareshwarah would equate Chandrayana-Maha Kruccha Vratas in hundreds). Kuru kshetre Prayaage cha Naimishe Kurujangale, Gavam koti sahasarya sampradattayam yat phalam, Tat phalam samavaapnoti Amareshasya darshanaat/ (what ever ‘phala’ or reward is available from the charity of thousands and crores of cows at the most Sacred Tirthas like Kurukshetra, Prayaga, Naimisha and Kurujaangala might equate with Amareshwara Linga Darshana). Susukshmaih sweta vaasobhirmriga kunchuka chandanaih, Karpura swarna pushpascha roupaivaapi Maheshwari, Pujayitwaamaresha -akhyaam Linga Divyam sudhaamayam/ (Maheshwari!Those who perform dedicated puja to Amareshwara with tiny white robes, Mriga Kumkuma Karpura chandanas and golden flowers are certain to become Rudras by themselves and would not get a rebirth!) Nari va Purusho vaapi pujaye Lingamuttamam, Sayaati Shiva saayujyam yatra gatwaanasho –chati/ Amaresham aha Lingam drushtwaa sprusshwaa kalaam Narah, Sadyo hyamarataam yaati Satyam Satyam Varaanane/(Be they men or women who have darshan, sparshan and perform ‘Shodashopachaara puja’ in full detail with devotion should indeed attain Amaratwa or Divinity definitetly and this is the absolute Truth assured Maha Bhairava to Devi Parvati) Peetwaa Amara dhaaranttu patitaantu grihantare yopi yaati Shiva sthaanam yatra naasti kritaakrite/ (Even those who take in the melted water of the Maha Linga would be blessed with Shiva Sthaana and there is no bar in doing so but with faith and belief!) Drishtam Amaranaadhasya rudam yaschavrajeda grihaat, Pade padeshwarudhaanaam yagnjaanaam labhate phalam/ (Those who resolve to take up the Yatra to Amara naadha from their homes shall reap the fruit of performing Ashwamedha Yagna by each and every step towards the destination) Kapotaamstu ganamstatwaa drishtwaannyandajaan narah, Sa eva Rudro bhavati jayeti pravadanmuhuh/(Those yaatris who happen to sight doves or damaruka ganas or even other birds or elephants in the high domes of the cave or its premises, should greet with victory sounds of ‘Jai Jai’ as they shall attain Rudra Rupas!)
