{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/db/bk11ch21.htm","path":"hin/db/bk11ch21.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk11ch21.htm","text":"THE ELEVENTH BOOK\nChapter XXI\nOn G\u00e2yatr\u00ee Puras\u2019charanam\n1-55. N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said :-- Now I shall speak of the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee-puras\u2019charanam. Hear. By its performance all the desires are obtained and all the sins are destroyed. On the tops of mountains, on the banks of the rivers, on the roots of Bel trees, on the edges of tanks, within the enclosures of the cows (cow-stalls), in temples, on the root of As\u2019vattha trees, in gardens, in the Tulas\u00ee groves, in the Punya Ksetrams (holy places), before one\u2019s Guru, or wherever the mind feels exalted and cheerful, and gets strength, the Puras\u2019charanam if performed, lead to a speedy success. Before commencing the Puras\u2019charanam of a mantra (the Puras\u2019charanam means repetition of the name of a deity or of a mantra attended with burnt offerings, oblations, etc.,) first Pr\u00e2yas\u2019chitta (penance) is done in the shape of repeating one million times the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee with the Vy\u00e2rhitis. In any Vaidic Karma or in making Puras\u2019charanam of the mantra of the Devat\u00e2s Nrisinha, S\u00fbrya, Var\u00e2ha, etc., the first thing done is to repeat the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee. Without the japam of G\u00e2yatr\u00ee, no action is attended with success. The reason is this :-- Every Br\u00e2hman is a S\u2019\u00e2kta (a follower of S\u2019akti); he cannot be a Vaisnava or S\u2019aiva; for he is the worshipper of the Prime Force Vedam\u00e2t\u00e2 G\u00e2yatr\u00ee. Therefore obtain first the Grace of one\u2019s own \u00cesta Devat\u00e2 G\u00e2yatr\u00ee by Her Japam. Then worship the other Deities.\nThus one should purify one\u2019s j\u00e2pya mantra (the mantra that is to be repeated) by first repeating one million times the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee; then one is to commence Puras\u2019charanam. Again before purifying the mantra, one is to purify one\u2019s \u00c2tman (Self). In this purification of one\u2019s \u00c2tman three lakh times, in case of inability, one lakh times G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is to be repeated without one\u2019s \u00c2tman\u2019s purification, the Japam, Homa and other actions all become useless. This is specially noted in the Vedas. By Tapas e.g., Japam, Ch\u00e2ndr\u00e2yana and Vrata, (asceticism) mortify your body. By offering Tarpanam (peace-offerings) to the Fathers and the Devas, one can get self purification. If you want to get the Heavens and if you want to become great, practise Tapasy\u00e2. There is no other way. Tapasy\u00e2 is the intent calling of the Mother, That Call which penetrates through and through the\nBrahm\u00e2nda. The Ksattriyas should cross difficulties and dangers by force of arms; the Vais\u2019yas, by wealth; the S\u2019\u00fbdras, by serving the twice born; and the Br\u00e2hmanas should cross difficulties and dangers, by Tapasy\u00e2, Homa, Japam, etc. So the Br\u00e2hmanas should always be cheerful and in prompt readiness to do Tapasy\u00e2. Of all sorts of tapasy\u00e2s, mortifying the body by observing vows and fastings is the best. So say the Risis. (This mortification of the body gives self-reliance and self intuition more surely and speedily than all the other studies and other practices.) The Br\u00e2hmanas should purify themselves by following duly Krichhra Ch\u00e2ndr\u00e2yana vratas, etc., O N\u00e2rada! Now I am speaking of the purification of food. Hear. The following four occupations of the Br\u00e2hmanas are the best :-- Ay\u00e2chita, (without begging or asking for anything), Unchha, (the gathering in of handfuls of the corn left by the reapers), S\u2019ukla (the maintenance derived by a Br\u00e2hmana from other Br\u00e2hmanas; a pure mode of life). And Bhiks\u00fb (begging). Whether according to the Tantras or according to the Vedas, the food obtained by the above four means is pure. What is earned by Bhiks\u00e2 (begging) is divided into four parts :-- one part is given to the Br\u00e2hmanas; the second part is given to the cows; the third part is given to the guests, the fourth part is to be taken by him and his wife. Whatever is fixed for taking (swallowing) mouthfuls of food, that is to be taken on a tray or a platter. First throw a little cow-urine over that and count duly the number of mouthfuls. The mouthfuls are to be of the size of an egg; the house-holders are to take eight such mouthfuls and the V\u00e2naprasth\u00ees are to take four such mouthfuls. The Brahmach\u00e2rins can sprinkle their food with cow-urine nine times, six times, or three times as they like; while sprinkling, the fingers are to remain intact. The G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is to be repeated also. The food offered by a thief, Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la, Ksattriya or Vais\u2019ya is very inferior. The food of a S\u2019\u00fbdra, or the companion with a S\u2019\u00fbdra or taking food in the same line with a S\u2019\u00fbdra leads one to suffer in the terrible hells as long as there are the Sun and Moon. The Puras\u2019charanam of G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is repeating this twenty four lakh times (i.e., as many lakh times as there are syllables in the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee). But, according to Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra, repeating thirty two lakh times is the Puras\u2019charanam of G\u00e2yatr\u00ee. As the body becomes useless when the soul leaves the body, so the mantra without Puras\u2019charanam is useless. The Puras\u2019charanam is prohibited in the months of Jyaistha, \u00c2s\u00e2dha, Pausa and Mala (dirty) months. Also on Tuesday, Saturday; in the Vyat\u00eep\u00e2ta and Vaidhriti Yogas; also in Astam\u00ee (eighth), Navam\u00ee (ninth), Sasth\u00ee (sixth), Chaturth\u00ee (fourth) Trayodas\u2019\u00ee (thirteenth), Chaturdas\u00ee (fourteenth) and Am\u00e2v\u00e2sy\u00e2 (New Moon), Tithis (lunar days); in the evening twilight and in the night; while\nthe star Bharan\u00ee, Krittik\u00e2, \u00c2rdr\u00e2, As\u2019les\u00e2, Jyesth\u00e2, Dhanisth\u00e2, S\u2019ravan\u00e2, or the Janma naksatra (Birth time star) is with the Moon; while the signs Mesa, Karkata, Tul\u00e2, Kumbha, and Makara are the Lagnas (signs in the ascendant). When the moon and the start are auspicious, especially in the bright fortnight, the Puras\u2019charanam performed, gives the Mantra Siddhi. First of all repeat Svasti v\u00e2chan and perform duly the N\u00e2ndi mukha S\u2019raddha and give food and clothing to the Br\u00e2hmanas. Take the permission of the Br\u00e2hmanas and begin the Puras\u2019charanam. Where the S\u2019iva Lingam exists, facing west, or in any S\u2019iva temple, commence repeating the mantra. The other S\u2019iva Ksettrams are :-- K\u00e2s\u2019\u00ee, Ked\u00e2ra, Mah\u00e2 K\u00e2la, S\u2019r\u00ee Ksettra, and Tryamvakam. These five are the Great Ksettrams, known widely on this earth, for the fructification and the siddhis of the Mantras. At all other places than these, the Karma Chakra is to be drawn according to the principles of the Tantra. And then they will be fit for Puras\u2019charanam. The number of times that the Puras\u2019charanam (the repeating of the mantra) is done on the first day, the same number is to be continued every day until completion; not greater nor less than that and also no intermission or stoppage should occur in the interval.\nThe repeating of the Mantra is to be commenced in the morning and should be done up to midday. While doing this, the mind is to be kept free from other subjects, and it is to be kept pure; one is to meditate on one\u2019s own Deity and on the meaning of the mantra and one should be particularly careful that no inaccuracies nor omissions should occur in the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee, Chhandas and in the repetition of the Mantra. One tenth of the total number of Puras\u2019charanams that are repeated is to be used for the Homa purpose. The Charu is to be prepared with ghee, til, the Bel leaves, flowers, jaya grain, honey and sugar; all mixed, are to be offered as oblations to the fire in the Homa. Then the success in the Mantra comes (i.e., mantra siddhi is obtained or the Mantra becomes manifested). After the Puras\u2019charanam one should do properly the daily and occasional duties and worship the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee that brings in dharma, wealth, objects of desire and liberation. There is nothing superior an object of worship to this G\u00e2yatr\u00ee, whether in this world or in the next. The devotee, engaged in the Puras\u2019charanam, should eat moderately, observe silence, bathe thrice in the three Sandhy\u00e2 times, should be engaged in worshipping one\u2019s Deity, should not he unmindful and should not do any other work. He is to remain, while in water, to repeat the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee three lakhs of times. In case the devotee repeats the\nmantra for achieving success in any other desired work (k\u00e2mya karma), then he should willingly stick to it until the desired success is attained. Now is being told how to get success in ordinary K\u00e2mya karmas. When the sun is rising, repeat the Purascharanam mantra daily thousand times. Then one\u2019s life will be lengthened, no disease will occur, and wealth and prosperity will be obtained. If it be done this way, success is surely attained within three months, six months or at the end of one year. If the Homa (offering oblations to the fire) be offered one lakh times with lotuses besmeared with ghee (clarified butter), Moksa (liberation) is attained. If, before the Mantra-Siddhi, or the success in realising the Mantra, is attained, one performs Japam or Homam for K\u00e2mya Siddhi (to get certain desires) or moksa, then all his actions become useless. If anybody performs twenty-five lakh Homas by curd and milk, be gets success (Siddhi) in this very birth. So all the Maharsis say. By this the same result is attained that is got by the aforesaid means, i.e., by the eight-limbed Yoga, whereby the Yogis become perfect.\nHe will attain Siddhi if he be devoted to his Guru and keep himself under restraint for six months only (i.e., practise Samyama) as regards taking food, etc., whether he be incapable or his mind be attached to other sensual objects. One should drink Pa\u00f1cha gavya (cow-urine, cow-dung, milk, curd, ghee) one day, fast one day, take Br\u00e2hmana\u2019s food one day and be mindful in repeating the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee. First bathe in the Ganges or in other sacred places and while in water repeat one hundred G\u00e2yatr\u00ees. If one drinks water on which one hundred G\u00e2yatr\u00ees are repeated, one is freed from all one\u2019s sins. He gets the fruit of performing the Krichhra vrata, the Ch\u00e2ndr\u00e2yana vrata and others. Be he a Ksattriya King, or a Br\u00e2hmana, if he is to remain in his own house, hold \u00c2s\u2019rama and be engaged in performing Tapasy\u00e2 then he will be certainly freed of all his sins. Be he a house holder or a Brahmach\u00e2r\u00ee or V\u00e2naprasth\u00ee, he should perform sacrifices, etc., according to his Adhik\u00e2ra (or his rights) and he will get fruits according to his desires. The S\u00e2gnik man (who keeps the Holy Fire) and other persons of good conduct and of learning and of good education should perform actions as prescribed in the Vedas and Smritis with a desire to attain Moksa. Thus one should eat fruits and vegetables and and water or take eight mouthfuls of Bhiks\u00e2nna (the food got by begging). If the Puras\u2019charanam be performed this way, then the Mantra Siddhi is obtained. O N\u00e2rada ! If the Puras\u2019charanam be done with the mantra thus, his poverty is removed entirely. What more shall I say than this that if anybody hears this simply, his merits get increased and he attains great success.\nHere ends the Twenty First Chapter of the Eleventh Book on G\u00e2yatr\u00ee Puras\u2019charanam in the Mah\u00e2pur\u00e2nam S\u2019r\u00ee Mad Devi Bh\u00e2gavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vy\u00e2sa.","title":"The Devi Bhagavatam: The Eleventh Book: Chapter 21","type":"page"}