Sthaana trayastam Devesham Trvidhaakaaramachyutam, Prati Lingaagra Samyuktam Bhuta bandham Samaashraye!
(Markandeaya Maharshi extolled the Bhutabandha Janardana existing on the top of the Trayaakaara Linga Swarupas or of Tri Formations of Shiva Lingas)
As Kanyakaa Devi assumed the mighty Swarupa of Tripura Sundari to kill Bandhakaasura, dragged his body to Kama Koshthi and installed the Victory Dhwaja, She asked Devas to dig up a specific spot and as they did so, Devatas spotted a Daitya called ‘Mallaka’ and the highly surprised Devas were taken aback; Vishnu then killed the Daitya. But each drop of the spilt blood of the dead body of the Asura created futher Asuras. Maha Deva sought to help Vishnu and pulled out a ‘Jata’ of his knotted hair and hit it on the ground. Two Bhutas were materialised of whom one was male and another was female. These Bhutas drank up the blood of the Asura’s body but as they were used to drink up blood ran after Sri Hari. Vishnu taught a lesson by subduing them and sat heavy on them, but they overpowered Srihari who fell down; this irritated Vishnu and trampled the Bhutas heavily so that the latter apologised and came to senses finally. They requested Vishnu to purify their minds and the merciful Janardana prayed to Maha Deva in the latter’s Pancha Mukha Form and Shankara released Ganga from his Five Faces as ‘Pancha Dhaaraas’ which fell on the Kama Koshtha and these flows fell down as Pancha Tirthas. Srihari asked the Bhutas to bathe in the Pancha Tirtha as Maha Deva blessed the Pancha Tirthas. Shiva further stated that whoever took bath in the Agneya side of Pancha Tirtha would be relieved of ‘Swarna Steya Paataka’ or the sin of stealing Gold; Dakshina ‘Dishaa Snaana’would relieve of Surapaa Paana Pataka; Pashima Dishaa Snaana would nullify ‘Paradaara Sangama’; Uttara Disha Snaana would destroy Praana Harana Pataka; and the Tirtha Madhya Snaana would rectify the sin of cooperating any of the earlier Patakaas. Maha Deva then manifested a Tri-Linga Swarupa and Vishnu addressed Devas and Manavaas that whosoever jumped in the Pancha Tirtha would attain Brahmanatwa even if that person was not so then, that he or she concerned be relieved of Bhuta-Preta-Piscacha-Graha difficulties, that the person be blessed with good progeny and eligibility too secure Vaikuntha. Thus Devas took snaana in Pancha Tirtha and secured the boons and worshipped Bhuta bandhana Janardana as also the Pancha Mukha (Five-Faced) Maha Deva.
Maharshi Markandeya narrated an incident related to a Vipra called Girindra of Ramapura on the banks of River Krishna. He married five women but was not fortunate to beget a child. He visited Kama Koshtha and along with his wives and bathed in the Pancha Tirtha; there after he deeply meditated Bandha Mochana Janardana who appeared before him and gave him Divya Madhu (Honey). Having consumed it he returned home and was able to obtain hundred sons and attained Vaikuntha after his death. The Maharshi recommended fully that the devotees visiting Kanchipura ought to bathe in Panch Tirtha and experience miracles by the grace of Janardana and Devi Kamakshi. Recitation of the following ‘Dwadasha Shloki’ while taking early morning Snaanaas should instantly experience fulfillment of desires:
Swaami Pushkarini Tirtha Prva Sindhuh Pinaakini, Shilaahradaschatur madhyam Yavat Tundeera Mandalam/
Madhyey Tundira Bhu Vritham, Kampaa Vegavati dwayoh,Tamor madhey Kaama Koshtham amaakshi tatra vartatey/
JagatKaamakalaakaaram Naabhisthanam Bhuvah Param, Pada padmasya Kaamaakshyaah Mahaa Peetha mupasmahey/
Kamakotih smrita tasmaat Kaaranaa Deva chinnabhah, Yatra Kaama kruto Dharmo Jantunaa yena kenavaa/
Sakrudwaapi Sudharmaanaam Phalam Phalati Kotishayah, Yojapey Kama Koshthesmin Mantramishtaartha Daivatam/
Kotivarna phaleynaiva Muktilokam sa gacchati, Yo vasey Kamakoshthesmin Kshanaartham vaatatardhakam/
Muchyatey Sarva Paapebhyassaakshiddevi Naraaritih, Gayatri Mamndapaadhaaram Bhu Naabhi Sthaanamutthamam/
Purushaartha pradam Shambhor Bilaabhrantannamaamyaham, Yatkuryaat Kama Koshthasya Bilaabhrasya Pradakshinam/
Pada Sankhyaa kramenaiva Gogarbhajananam Labhet, Vishwa kaarana netraadhyaam Shrimat Tripura Sundareem/
Bandakaasura samhartreem Kamaksheem taamaham bhajey, Paraajanmadiney Kaachyaam Mahaabhyantara margatah/
Yorchayettatra Kamaaksheem Kotipujaa phalambhavet, Tatphalotpanna Kaivalyam Sakritkaamaakshi sevayaa/
Tristhaananilayam Devam Trividhaakaaramachyutam, Bhuta bandham ta maashraey!
