Devi Parvati next desired to hear from Maha Bhairava Deva about the Sarala Narayana Tirtha and of the Khilya Graama Brahmanas and how they too attained Amaranath Darshana. Maha Bhairava replied: Shrunu vakshye Maha Devi Tirtham Khilyayam param, Yatcchutwaa muchyate jantur mahapaataka sanchayaat/ Devi! Now let me enlighten you about the reputation of Khilya Tirtha, where in the days of yore Maharshi Khilya and his follower Siddhas called ‘Vaala khilyas’ lived and performed rigorous ‘Tapas’ by way of constant ‘Upavasas’, continuous practice of abstinence and homa karmas and deep meditation by standing erect on feet thumbs, hanging down the tree branches and so on caring none even in extreme climates. Vishnu dhyaana paraashaktaah shantamano mahaahjasah, Birena Bhagavan Vihnuhu darshanameeyaavaan prabhuh/ (The Maharshi and his followers executed intense and totally dedicated meditation to Maha Vishnu and he obliged finally and granted his darshan). Neela jeemuta sankaasham prafulla jalajekshanam, Shankha chakra gadaa padmapaani paapa haarim Harim/ (Descending from Garuda Deva, Maha Vishnu emerged from the high skies with gorgeous glow of thick blue clouds, sporting a smile, joyous looks from the eye corners akin to luminous lotus and carrying conch-shell named Panchajanya, Sudarshana Chakra and a mace- all typical of his prowess!). The Khilya Rishis who were in a trance at the celestial vision of Vishnu and extolled Him: Maha Vishnum Prabha Vishnum Puraanam Meedhushtam Shipivishtam Shravishtam,Gareeyaamsam Chaaruhaasam Varishtham pradyemarasharanam Taaraamshishtam/Vedaatmakam Veda Vedyam Puranam Varam Varenyam Varadam twaam sharanyam, Hiranyagarbham Aadidevadhidevam Hiranyabaahum sharanam twaam prapadye/ Trilokanaadha Lokapalesha Esha Lokaadhara Lokavandya Mahesha Loka dwaara, Vishwarupa Purana Lokatmakam twaam haranam prapadye Partharupam Kshanam baalam tarunam vaikshanam twaam/Prasarya jaalam raagadoshaadi tantram drushtam manahpakshinam praana madhye, Dashagraaham parigrihati satyam Mahapadam sharanam prapadye/ Anadyantam savitaaramajesham Puraatanam navanave, Vedanta vedyam saankhyayogena yogyam bhuyo bhuyah sharanam twaam prapadye/ (Maha Vishnu, Prabha Vishnu, Purana Purusha, Meedhushta, Shipivishta, Shravishta,Sarva Shreshtha,Varishta, Chaaruhaasa, Vedaatmaka, Veda Vedya, Vara, Varenya,Varada, Hiranya garbha, Devadi deva, Hiranya baahu, Trilokanadha, Loka paalaka, Esha, Lokadhara, Lokavandya, Mahesha, Loka dwaara, Vishwarupa, Lokatma, we seek refuge to us. Partharupa! You are at once a child, a youth and a Vilakshana or without features! You are the one who spreads desires and blemishes all around, you are the one who visions the bird like life-force called ‘praana’ among various Beings and their inner consciences; you are the Maha Pada or the Great Refuge Point surrounded by Grahas. You are the Anadi or the One without Origin and without Termination, the Savitaarama or the One fond of Day Breaks, Vedanta Vedya, the unique Destination of Sankhya Yogis; Maha Vishnu! We sincerely seek your protection!’) Maha Bhairava continued his narration to Devi Parvati: Iti stutwaa Maheshaam Maha Vishnum Maheshwaram, Pranamya patitaa Bhumou punarutthaapitaah priye/ (This was how the Khilya Rishis extolled Maheshwara-Maha Vishnu by falling on ground and stood up in ecstasy. Maha Vishnu replied that he was extremely delighted to bestow a boon of their choice which might not be available even to Devaasuras. The reply was: Kyonyo varah shreshthi Maheshwara, Tathaapi Varadaamasta teerthamuttamam/ (What else could be a bigger boon to us than our being in our midst!) YatraVaasaan Maha Vishnoh Siddhim protyamanuttamam, Shrutwaa teshaam vachassoumya maanandaashru pariplutah/ Drushtim padoh samadhaaya Gangaam samudachalayat, Pavanam chaashramam teshaam Muneenaam bhaavitatmanaam/ Swayam tasthaicha tatraiva graamey Khilyaabhi- dheyinaam, Abhuta samplavam taavadidam parama paavanam/ Baalakhilyaamitham teertham bhavishyativu na samshayah, Ityuktwaa taamstadaa Vishunurgatontwardhaanamachytah/ (Where there is Maha Vishnu, there itself is the Singular Place for all of us to stay! As this was the reply from the Khilya Rishis, Vishnu decided to settle there itself and the Rishis too washed His feet with their ‘Ananda ashru’ or the flow of their joyful tears even as Ganga flowed down there as Valakhilya Teertha. Ever since there this Grama has come to acclaim as a Maha Narayana Kshetra!) Maha Paataka yukto vaa yukto vaahyupapaatakaih, Sadyah pramuchyate snaatwaakshetre Narayanaabhidhe/ Naaraayanaabhidhe kshetrey snaatanvya -mavishankayaa, Ghoraati Kaliyugaaddevi bheerunaa Purushena hi/ Ajanma yhadi Deveshi peeyate madiaa mudaa, Maasa maatram jalam tatra peetwaa mucchayedasamshayam/ Naari vaa Purushovaapi graame Khilyaapane pare, Snaatwaa peetwaa cha vidhivanmuchyate Varshatah Priye/ Maatrushwa srupitrushwam bhraaturjaayaabhi kaamukah, Bhrunahaa Brahmahaa chaapi Vyabhichaari tathaiva cha/– Khilyaayana samam teertham na bhutam nabhavishyati, Naro muktimavaapnoti snaana daana japaarchanaih/ Iti Khelanake graame Kshetre Naraayanaabhidam, Shritwaa pathitvaa muchyeta Maha Paataka kotibhih/(Those who bathe in this Narayana Kshetra are instantly freed from Maha Patakas and Upapatakas. Men who are timid and facing dangers should especially take bath here so that they pick up immense courage and bravery to withstand the risks of severe Kali. Persons who are in the habit of drunkenness and intoxication are cured forever. All the severe sins of wrong doings by fallen women of bad character, or sinners even on account of Matru-Pitru-Bhratru-Mitru-Patni-Shishu-Sahodari hatyas too are washed off their sins. There is hardly any Tirtha as significant as thisNarayana Kshetra and the fruits of snana-daana-japa-archana are indeed unparalleled; who ever even reads, hears or absorbs the outcome of this account is blessed forever!)
