shri kamakshi vilasa

7/25/2019 Shri Kamakshi Vilasa

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SHRI KAMAKSHI VILASA

Compiled, Edited and Translated by V.D.N. Rao, ormer !eneral Mana"er,

India Trade #romotion $r"anisation , #ra"ati Maidan, Ne% Del&i ,

Ministry o' Commer(e, !o)t. o' India

SHRI KAMAKSHI VILASA

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Contents #a"e

#rat&amaad&yaaya*

De)i Kama+s&i as Tripra Sndari -

D%itiyaad&yaa*

Kan(&ipra as &lo+a Vai+nt&a /

Tritiyaad&yaya

Hasti S&aila Maatmya 0

C&atrd&yaaya*

T&e Splendor o' Varada Ra1a S%ami 2

#an(&amaad&yaaya*

Va"a)ati #rab&a)a 34

S&as&t&yaad&yaaya*Rdra S&aalaa Ma&atmya 33

Saptamaad&yaaya*Si"ni'i(an(e o' E+aamra Vri+s&a 3-

Astamaad&yaaya*

!lories o' E+aamres&%ara and ala5 Tapa& Kama+s&i 36

Na)amaad&yaaya*

Sar)a Tirt&a Ma&ima 30

Das&amaad&yaya*

Kama Koti S&t&ala Nirnaya 32

E+adas&aad&yaaya*

E7altation o' Kama Koti ila 84

D%adas&aad&yaaya*

Ma"ni'i(en(e o' Ma&a Tripra Sndari 83

Trayodas&od&yaaya* Eminen(e o' &aya and&ana 9anardana 8-

C&atrdas&aad&yaaya*

S&i)a:s de'eat, ra&ma:s blindness, S&ri C&a+ra #1a and bene'i(iaries 86

#&ala S&rti 80

Anne7re I;

ra&ma:s (ommendation o' Tripra Sndari < Kama+s&i:s Des(ription 82

Anne7re II;

!ari*S&i)a Kalyana= S&i)a:s ra&ma Hatya < lessin"s to Das&arat&a -4

SHRI KAMAHSHI VILASA

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Shri Maha Tripura Sundaryai Nanamah , Shri Devi Kamashyai Namah

Ayodhyaa Mathuraa Maayaa Kashi Kaanchi hyavantika

Puri Dwaravati chaiva Saptaitaah Mokshadaayikaah/

#rat&amopaad&yaaya*De)i Kama+s&i as Tripra D&aarini

As a part of Markandeya Puranas Vidya Khanda, King Suratha* prostrated efore Maharshi

Markandeya and re!uested him to en"ighten him aout the Se#ret and hitherto undis#"osed detai"s of

$Peetha Trayas% The Maharshi e&p"ained that in the entire 'hu Manda"a spread over fifty #rore

yo(anas, there indeed )ere si&ty four thousand $Maha Peethaas Aodes+ of Devi of )hi#h si&ty

Peethas )ere Superior fifty of these )ere the se"e#ted ones ut t)enty four ones )ere further

se"e#ted among these #"ose"y se"e#ted Peethaas )ere eighteen in numeer ut fina""y Three of the

-utstanding Peethaas )ere Kamara1a #eet&a)hi#h )as a"so kno)n as $Vaakhava Kutaa or of

Vaakhava 'ee(a .Aim, )hi#h )as )orshipped y 'hagavan /ayagriva the se#ond one )as #a""ed

9aaland&ara #eet&a )hi#h )as Madhya Kutaa or of Manmadha 'ee(a0Kleem, )hi#h )as

)orshipped y 'hrigu Maharshi this )as #a""ed as $1)aa"a Mukhi Kshetra2 some #a"" it as the1)a"aa Mukhi Temp"e in the Area of Mannur near -ngo"e in Andhra Pradesh and some others opine

that this is in Assam as the Temp"e of the same name3 the third one )as #a""ed $dyaana #eet&a

kno)n as the Shakti Kutaa of the Shakti 'ee(a0Souh, )hi#h )as )orshipped y Veda Vyasa Maharshi

in Kamarupa 4egion 2stated to e in Assam3%

-f these Three -utstanding Peethaas #a""ed the Tri Peethas, the Kamara(a Peetha is stated to e in

Kan(&ipra in Dakshina 'harat situated near the Sea to)ards 5ast and this Samudra )as "essed that

there )ere no restri#tions of athing in it irrespe#tive of day and night and )ou"d e e"igi"e for

$Vishnu Pada Prapti% To the Nirruti South 6est+ of the 5astern Sea )ithin a si&ty yo(ana distan#e

)as a Sa#red 4iver #a""ed 4iverDakshimna Pinakini the Shiva Dhanush or Shivas 'o) )hi#h )as

"ying on 'humi 7round+ )as "ifted y 'hrigu Maharshi and as he "ifted it up there sprang a 4iver

named y the Maharshi as Pinakini and "essed the 4iver that )hosoever athed in it )ou"d e freed

from a"" his8her sins and )ou"d attain Vishnu 9oka% To the Vayavya North 6est+ of the 5astern Sea

)as situated )ithin a seven :o(ana distan#e, a San#tified Shilaahrada or a 4o#ky 6ater 'ody )here

9ord /anuman )ashed $San(eevini -ushadhi;ndigenous Medi#ine+ and ena"ed 9ord 9akshmana to

get revived in the "atters att"e )ith ;ndra(it the son of the 4amayana 5pi#s King 4avana this Tirtha

)as "essed to any person athing in the /o"y 6ater )ou"d "ive "ong )ith Saint"y Stan#e and then

a#hieve Vishnu 9oka% To the ;shana North 5ast+ of the 5astern Side of the Shi"aahrada )as situated

Swami Pushkarini Tirtha)hi#h indeed )as 4iver Vira(a in the days of yore 'hagavan Narayana

desired to )ed Padmavati and on assuming the Sour#e> Devi 'hagavata+

)as Dundeera Manda"a ru"ed y the virtuous King Dundeera and region )as the famedMaha

Balipuram )as origina""y #onstru#ted 'a"i =hakravarti )ho made severe Tapas to Paramesh)ara and

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se#ured great aff"uen#e and fortune efore defeating Devas% To Nirruti the South 6est of Maha 'a"i

Pura )asDevaki Pura )here King ?grasena )orshipped /ara Deva and sighted a maiden named

Devaki and thus the P"a#e )as kno)n y that name% 'rahma Deva #reated a P"a#e #a""ed Virinchi

pura for the sake of Apsara 4amha to the Vayavya North 6est+ of Devaki pura )here 4amha

)orshipped Mahesha and )as "essed y the "atter to get #"oser to ;ndra% To the ;shanya North 5ast+

of Virin#hi pura )as a P"a#e #a""edaa!ahala )here Maha Deva devoured $/aa"aha"a during the

#ourse of Deva0Danavas #hurning of $Ksheeraahdhi to otain Amrita ne#tar+ not far from this

Area )as Tapovana )here Devi Parvati meditated for "ong and got ha""o)ed% To the 6est of

Mahaa"ipura )ere Triveni San!ama pura )hi#h yie"ded the enefit of athing in Triveni Sangama at

Prayaga and Vyaa!hra Vana )here Parama Shiva performed Shiva Tandava =osmi# Dan#e+ at the

re!uest of Maharshi Vyaghra Paada )ho meditated and p"eased Shiva%

A"most of )a"king distan#e of Vyaghra Vana )asKsheeraa"dhi a!ar)here Narayana o"iged a

'hakta )ith the vision of 'hagavans "ying posture on the -#ean of Mi"k% Again not distant from

Ksheeraahi Nagari )asandi #an!aapura )here Maha Deva sho)ed his kindness to "et a =handa"a

athe in 7anga )hi#h emerged through a $Vrishaha Mukha or the mouth of u"" and the =handa"a)as "essed to attain Kai"asha% ;n the midst of a re#tangu"ar around Nandiganga pura )as a P"a#e

#a""edBrahma Shaala )here 'rahma performed Ash)amedha :agna% /ard"y one yo(ana a)ay from

Triveni Sangamapura )as the Aode ofPaanchaalikaa Dur!a )hi#h )as a /ari Kshetra and hard"y

a)ay from there )asKanyakeswara a Shankara Kshetra% Surya Pushkarini )as the Sa#r ed Tirtha

Sarovara+ and right on the anks of the Tirtha )as Sweta Vishnu Temp"e the other side of the Tirtha

#a""ed $handra Pushkarini )ere the aodes of Kshetraan!i Dur!a andPaanchaalika Dur!a%

Su#h )ere the ha""o)ed environs of Kan(&i Ks&etra )here 'hagavan Vishnu stayed and 'hagavan

Shiva too resided there itse"f% /o)ever Maha Shaktis prominen#e )as predominant>Maha Shakti

Pra"haavaadhyam Shakti praadhaanya Vai"havaat,Vinaasha rahitam Kshetram Tasmaatsatya

vrataahvayam/ As Shaktis inf"uen#e )as of prima#y, this Kshetra )as indestru#ti"e and as su#h)as of 5terna" Truth hen#e it )as rep"ete )ith Satya Vrata%+ The Kshetra )as fu"" of Temp"es put up

over 4iver and hi""s and thus designated as $'haskara San(naka or representative of Surya Deva it

)as a"so representative of ta"" i")a trees and hen#e #a""ed $Dai(asa San(naka or representative of

=e"estia" 'eings%

Shiva Shaktyaatmikam Kshetram tathaa &ari &araatmikam, 'aatma Shakktirmaha Mayaa saa

Mayaa Swa!unairdwidhaa/ Vishnu Shakti Bhaavaa"hyaam ir!unaa hyekadhaa cha saa, Tatra

pravartatey Devee Sa!unaa Trividhaatmikaa/ Tasmaatsaa Mahaa Khsetrey Sunya Streepumsa

"hedatah, Trividhaatmakarupaadhyam Kshetram Shaaktaahvayam varam/ This Kshetra is $Shiva

Shaktyaatmika or of the Sou" of Shiva Shakti% ;t )as a"so $/ari /araatmika or of Vishnu and Shiva

S)arupas and of Maha Maya S)arupa or the Parama Shakti asi#a""y eing 5ka 4upa or of ?ni!ue 8

Singu"ar


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that this 6ater 'ody )as in the


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Vapaaparimalollaasa Vaasitaadhara Pallavam, Mukham Varada *aa)asya Mu!dhasmitamupaamhe+

; imp"ore Shri Va rada 4a(a S)amis #harming and petite smi"ing fa#e )hi#h is "ike the tender and

ever0 fragrant f"o)er ud so des#ried Markandeya to King Suratha%+

;n Kan#hipura, there )as Kshetraangi Durga to her Agneya )as Purandes)ara S)ami and to his

South )as Pan#ha"i Durga% A Simha"aya )as ui"t to Pan#ha"i Durga )hi#h again )as stationed the

afore mentioned Kshetraangi Durga% ;n the =enter of this S!uare )as shining the ido" of Varadara1aHari.Any #harity performed in this Kshetra )as stated to get mu"tip"ied y a #rore and )as thus

a##"aimed as Punya Koti Kshetra% To the Agneya of the Kshetra )as Vighnes)ara )hom 'rahma

)orshipped efore he performed Vaa(apeya :agna to )ard off osta#"es% There )as a"so Kartikeya to

the east of 7anesha )hom 'rahma )orshipped efore performing an Ash)amedha :agna% 'rahma

a"so )orshipped Pan#ha"ika Durga to Kartikeyas Southern side as a"so Kshetraanigika Durga as the

"atter ki""ed /ayasura efore e&e#uting /ayamedha :agna% To the south of Kshetraangika )as

Kamudharini Durga )ho )as )orshipped y 'hagavan Vishnu and se#ured his Shankhu or

#on#hshe""% 'aanaamika Durga resided in the Vi""age of that name to Kamudharinis $Agneya

Disha and to her Southern side )as S)ayamhu Kotesh)ara Shiva )hom 'rahma )orhipped

'rahma a"so )orshipped to Manikanthesh)ara in )hose honour 'rahma did an Ash)amedha :agna%

To the ;shana of Manikanthesh)ara )as Satyanadhesh)ara )ho esto)ed the oon of thousand eyes

to 9ord ;ndra% A Digamara Vishnu in a "ying posture )as positioned in the Northern dire#tion of

Satyanadhesh)ra and the Digamara /ari destroyed the ego of Devi Vani% A 7uha Simha Vishnu

resided to the Agneya of Digamara and to the Nirruti of 7uha Simha /ari )as Ashta 'hu(a Vishnu

)ho fe"" do)n Maya Ka"i and sat on her head% Vidyakunda naama /ari )as the Southern 4esident of

Ashtahu(a Vishnu and this /ari ki""ed Kapa"ika the pra#titioner of 5vi" Mantras% To the North of

Vidyakunda /ari )as Deepaadhaara 1anardana )ho terminated Maya Vahni and he"d a $Deepa y his

hand% That Vidyakunda sho)ed to the King Tundeera the S)arupa of Vaikuntha /ari )ho )as in the

dire#tion of ;shanya% 9ord 1anardna )as the resident of Vaikuntha /ariss ;shanya and 1anardana tore

the stoma#h of a daitya and drank his "ood thus #onverting his ody "ood red% To this "ood red

1anardnana 'hudevi )orshipped )ith f"o)ers and se#ured =haturhu(a Vishnu as her husand% There

were two -i.ards o #old and Silver hun! on a ceiln! !irder to the 0ast o $hatur"hu)a Vishnu and

these -i.ards were two Brahmanas cursed "y 1ndra+To the Southern side of these 9i@ards )eret)enty four steps )hi#h )ere origina""y ui"t y Vish)akarma the 'ui"der of Devas for use at Shri

Shai"a Kshetra%To the )estern side of the Steps Devi 9akshni )as )edded to /ari and o##upied

Vishnus $Ardhaasana% There )as a $Punyakoti Sang(nika Vimana gifted y Mahendra to Vishnu to

the ;shanya of 9akshmi Devi and to the Vayavya of the Vimana )as Adisesha Sarovara and

)hosoever took ath there,espe#ia""y on Saturdays, and prayed there )ou"d s#ure $Kaveri Snaana

Pha"a% Not far from there )as 'haktodaya Tirtha in )hi#h athing on 5kadashis )ou"d yie"d

Ksheeradhi Snaana pha"a Pourandara Tirtha Snaana on 6ednesdays provided :amuna Snaana

pha"a simi"ar"y Pan#ha"aka DurgaTirtha Snanaa during Shravana Nakshatra provided Vi#tory in a""

deeds as Devi Ka"ika gave Sudarshana #hakra gave Sudarshana =hakra to Vishnu and Dhanishtha

Nakshatra Snaana in the same Tirhtha )ou"d grant Vira(a Nadin Snaana% ;n a"" in the Varadara(a /ari

Kshetra, there )ere the Aodes of one Vighnesh)ara, one Shanmukha, Three 4esiden#es of Shivas,

5ight of 1anardana, their < ive Mudras and five of Tirthas%

The Agneya dire#tion of Kan#hipura )as a##"aimed asBhuloka Vaikuntha and a"" the 4esidents of the

Kshetra )ere virtua""y $Vaikuntha Vaasis% This Vaikuntha had


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#"aimed 7argi to take him a)ay to Narakas% 'ut Vishnus fo""o)ers made a #ounter #"aim saying that

first"y 7argi e"onged to /ari Kshetra and thatprima acie,he shou"d rea#h Vaikuntha )hat )as

more 7argi gave a)ay p"enty of gooseury fruits to a Trave""er 'rahmana and saved the "atter from

#onsidera"e thirst and a"so sho)ed him the )ay to a )ater ody% -n oth these #ounts 7argi shou"d

attain S)arga 6hen Dharma 4a(a approa#hed Vishnu, the "atter e&p"ained that 7argi )as a

#onfirmed sinner through out his "ife, ut he )as a 'rahmana, Vishnu 'hakta, and saved the "ife of the

Trave""er and as su#h he deserved Vishnu 9oka sin#e fire )ou"d urn off the materia" that )hite ants

destroyed too% ;ndeed, )hosoever reads or hears the 9egend of 7argi )ou"d rea"ise the signifi#an#e

of $/ari Kshera Nivasa

Triteeyod&yaaya*Hasti S&aila Ma&ima

Markandeya Maharshi des#ried the Si"ni'i(an(e o'Hasti S&aila to King Suratha > /asti Shai"a )as

an ornament of /ari Kshetra and )as famed among the Punya Koti Kshetras of 'harata )here

Mahendra e#ame an 5"ephant as a vi#tim of Devi Saras)atis $shaapa=urse+% At one stage,

Saras)ati assumed se"f0pride and arrogan#e that she )as the 7oddess of 9earning in the )ho"e

?niverse% Simi"ar"y, Devi 9akshmi fe"t egoisti# that she )as the root0#ause of 6ea"th and Prosperity

par ee""en#e% 'oth Saras)ati and 9akshmi entered into arguments #"aiming mutua" seniority of

status and importan#e and rea#hed Mahendra to de#ide% ;ndra rep"ied that 9akshmi )as indeed

superior sin#e not on"y e#ause he )as the #onsort of Narayana ut a"so e#ause she )as the 4oot

=ause of $'hoga 'hagyas or of 6ea"th and


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e&pertise in Ar#hery and #heated the tourists and trave""ers y frightening them and earning enornous

money% -n "earning of the dirty )ays of 7anu 'rahmana as a mena#e to the trave""ers, one strong and

va"iant hero overpo)ered the 'rahmana, tied him up, shaved his head, insu"ted him and thre) him in

a gutter% 7anu 'rahmana )as put to shame and )hi"e trave""ing for some time rea#hed Kan#hi

Kshetra providentia""y and )ent up the /asti 7iri and out of e&haustion #o""apsed and died%

Surprising"y, $Vishnu Dutaas )ere )aiting 7anu 'rahmana to "ift him to y Vimana to Vishnu 9oka

Maharshi Markandeya assured that )hoever )ou"d read out or hear the a##ount of $Kari 7iri

Darshana shou"d e re)arded )ith /asti Shai"a Darshana Pha"a

C&atrd&yaaya* T&e Splendor o' Varadara1a S%ami

Sin#ere"y greeting that Paramatma a##"aimed as Varada Ra1a S%ami , Maharshi Markandeya

revea"ed the 7"ories of that 1agatsrashta )ho appeared in Kan#hipura fo""o)ing the su##essfu"

#on#"usion of the famed Ash)amedha :agna e&e#uted y the =haturmukha 'rahma%Atha tatra ripa

Shreshtha &ari Kshetra dharaataley ta Vaarana Shailasya shrin!ey Devaadhiraa)akah/ Vartatey

Varadastatra (a!anmohana Vi!rahah, Shankha $hakra !adaa"heetirdadhaanassyaamalaa krtih/

Sarva "hushaa "hushitaan!o eela maanikya sundarah, Divya Padmadalod"haasinayana dwaya

sho"hitah/ Shri Vatsa Shri Dharashyasshriman Shrin!aara rasa shevadhih, Sachaamararamaa

"hu"hyaam Savya dakshinayoryutah/ Padmanaa"ho *atna !ar"hah Kiriti Kundaloo))walah, Punya

kotathyaam nivaasena Punyakoti Padaanvitah/ A"heeshta Varado Vishnuh Puraa Padmaasanaaya

cha, Srishti danda pradaataa cha Sar)ana hetavey/ Sadaham Sampravakshyaami Puraavrittam

$haritrakam, Tasya Shravana maatrena Sarva Paapaih pramuchyatey/ Shri Varada 4a(a S)ami

ee""ed himse"f in the /ari Kshetra on the /asti Shai"a Shikhira esto)ing desired oons to

humanity as Devadhi Deva, $Tri(aganmohanaakaara or he )ho mesmerised Tri"okaas )ith his

striking"y #harismati#


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Vagdevi then #reated $Karaa"a Vadana Ka"ika and instru#ted the Maha Shakti to demo"ish the :agna

ut Vishnu assumed an 5ight0/and S)arupa and having suppressed the Shakti sat firm on her

shou"ders% 'athaaham Vira)aa teerey mama Vaikuntha pattaney,

(a!advyaapana sheelaavaad Vishnuritya"hidhaayutah/ Prasiddho nivasaamyatra tathaa Kaanchi2

purottamey, &arikshetram samaashritya Sarvaa"heeshta pradaanatah/ Varadaa"hidhayaa khyaato

nivasaami nirantaram, Sarvey "havanto mad"haktaassada maddarshaney rataah/ Sarvadaattraiva

tishthantu Vaikunthaadati paavaney, Varshey Varshey Meshamaasi mama (anmadiney Shu"hey/

#hritadhaaraa sahasraa"hishechanam mama pu)anam, 3tsavamcha prakurut Vipra"ho)ana

purvakam/

My 'haktaas 1ust as ; had sett"ed in Vaikuntha on the anks of 4iver Vira(a and got spread a"" over

the ?niverse as Vishnu, ; )i"" no) reside in the /ari Kshetra of Kan#heepura hen#e those desirous ofvisioning me #ou"d do so )ith my name as Varada or he )ho )ou"d e the 'esto)er% ;n fa#t ; )i""

stay here for good thus making /ari Kshetra as signifi#ant as Vaikuntha if not even etter :ou may

therefore even reside at this Kshetra% 5very year on my irthday during Mesha month you shou"d a""

therefore perform $7oghritha dhaaraa sahasra 0ahishekaaor thousand Ahishakaas of =o) 7hee

athing+ of my Murti and #e"erate this day as a


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7oku"a after some time passed a)ay 'hanu varna )as eing f"o)n to S)ar"oka y Devaganaas to

honour him )ith the status of ;ndra ut $/aridootaasinter#epted his Sou" and took it a)ay to the

5ver"asting Vishnupada su#h indeed )as the gra#efu" gesture of Varadara(a S)ami 6hoever re#ites

the aove a##ount of Varadara(a S)ami )ou"d #ertain"y se#ure Varadara(a Darshnana, as assured y

Maharshi Markandeya%

#an(&amaad&yaaya*Ve"a)ati #rab&aa)a

Markandeya Maharshi greeted Devi Saras)ati )ho )as frustrated and as Vegavati merged )ith 4iver

Payoshni ut having departed from the "atter after fifteen yo(anas made her Sangama fina" fusion+

)ith the 5astern -#ean Vegavati )as a"so reputed as $Punyakoti sin#e is she entered the Punya Koti

Kshetra% As she had the $Maanahanga y her vie) of Vishnus nakedness, she )ent to Paataa"a and

resorted to a high"y austere Tapasya to Narayana )ith the re!uest to him to aso"ve her from the sins

of disrupting her $Pativratyaand $Maanahanga and purify her ody and mind she prayed to Vishnu

to give her the oons of $PavitraTat)aand attainment of norma"#y in her strained re"ationship )ith

her husand 'rahma% The ever0mer#ifu" Narayana assuaged Saras)atis )ounded fee"ings and stated

that she shou"d "eave her ego and repent for her arrogant deeds of fighting )ith 'rahma and even

himse"f, that she )as after a"" of his $Amsha, that she shou"d merge )ith the Saagara and at thatvery time she )ou"d e "essed )ith his oons so that =haturmukha )ou"d possess her a#k as his

o)n and everything )ou"d e a #"osed =hapter% Thus Saras)ati se#ured the pardon of 'rahma and

Vishnu and they oth gave oons to Vegavati as )hosoever athed and s)am in that 4iver )ou"d

pave their paths to Moksha eventua""y%

An i""ustration )as narrated y Markandeya Maharshi to King Surata aout a 'rahmana named

Dhoumya of 7angaapura on the anks of 7anges )ho no dout )as an erudite s#ho"ar of Sama Veda

and ri#h ut )as a )omaniser and a vi#tim of venerea" diseases eventua""y he #hanged his "ife0sty"e

out of remorse and #ame to kno) that a visit to /ari Kshetra and athing in the Sa#red Vegavati 4iver

)ou"d #ure him of his diseases and destroy his sins% A##ording"y he undertook a (ourney to /ari

Kshetra for a ho"y dip in the 4iver Vegavati and darshan of Varadara(a S)ami% -n his return to

7angapura he )as a fu""y transformed person physi#a""y and menta""y and at the termination of his"ife se#ured Vishnupada%

Markandeya re#ommended to the devotees of posterity that re#itation of the fo""o)ing D)adasha

S"okas )hi"e taking ath in the Sa#red Vegavati 4iver fo""o)ed y /ari Kshetra Darshana )ou"d

readi"y otain $'aahyaantara Shu#hi physi#a" and interna" #"ean"iness+>

#an!aayaa Dakshiney "haa!ey yo)anaanaam Shatadwaye,

Pancha yo)ana maatrena Purvaam"hodestu Paschimey/

Ve!avatuttarey theerye Punyakotyaam &ariswayam,

Varadassarva"hutaanaa madyaapi paridrusyatey/

Vapaa parimalollaasa Vaasitaadhara pallavam,

Mukham Varada *aa)asya Mu!dhasmitamupaasmahey/

'o dadaati &arikshetrey daanam yaadharthya "havatah,

Koti 'a!)na phalam la"dhwaa Vishnulokam sa !acchati/

'o Vasey &arikshetrey Kshaanaarthwam vaa tadarthakam,

Muktassa Sarva Paape"hyassaakshaat Vishnurnaraakrutih/

Punyakoti vimaanaankam Tatwa Sopaana "hushitam,

risimhaadhishtita!uham &astishailam amaamyaham/

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0kaadashyaamahoraatram Vishnossamkeertanenacha,

'atphalam tad"havey runaam &asti Shailasya darshanaat/

Brahmaya!)na samud"hutam Divya Maanikya Sundaram,

(a!adaadi #urum Devam Varadam ta Maham "ha)ey/

&ari)anmadiney kaamchyaam #hrita dhaaraa sahasrakaih,

Varadam yo"hishimcheta Koti 'a!)na phalam "havet/

Koti Brahma pratishthaayaam yat phalam la"hatey narah,

Tatphalam samavaapnoti Sakrudvarada sevayaa/

amastey Brahma Patni+ Twaam Saridrupaam Sarasvateem,

Sarva paapa prasamaneem Ve!avatya"hidhaam stumah/

'ah Pumaan Praatarutthaaya Snaana Kaaley Pathecchhuchih,

Shloka dwaadasha paathena taduktaphalamaapnuyaat/

6hosoever )ou"d re#ite or hear the $Vegavati Prahaava as aove )ou"d se#ure the $Vegavati Nadi

Snaana pha"am+%

S&as&t&yad&yaaya *Rdras&aalaa Ma&atmya

Markandeya Maharshi e&to""ed E+aamres&%ara Lin"a as fo""o)s to King Suratha>

3maasamaalin!ana samkraanta kuchakumkuma karakankana mudritam,

-in!amekaamra naathasya saikatam Samupaasmahey/

; greet 5kaamresh)ara 9inga )ho has the shining imprint of the )rist ornament #o"oured red due to

the $Kumkuma of ?ma Devis reast0 emra#eof her husand+

To the Southern side of S)eta Prahaava Vishnu in Kan#hi Manda"a )as the Sa#red Presen#e of

!ayora&ana S&i)a and to the "atters 6est )as Kanya+es&%ara S&i)a% Kailaasanat&a S&i)a)as

p"a#ed to the North of Kanyakesh)ara% ;n the #enter of this S!uare 0at the Vayavya of Kan#hipura0

)as $4udra Shaa"a )here there )as a po)erfu" Shiva 9inga )hose $Ar#hanaahisheka )as stated to

esto) the fruits of Koti 9ingar#hana and that )as )hy this Shiva 9inga )as #a""ed Rdra Koti.

Neary the 4udrakoti and 7aayaadhirohana Shiva )as Vi+ata !anapati )ho in the past gifted

Suradshana =hakra to Vish)aksena and a"most ad(a#ent to Vikata 7anapati )as a 4asaa"a Vriksha

and underneath the Tree )as S&anm+&a De)a=Maharshi Markandeya #"aimed that it )as under that

Rasaala Vri+s&ahe attained $Sang(naata 1naanat)a% ;n the 5astern Side of the 4asaa"a Vriksha )as

#ralaya and&ini Dr"aas she rought 7anga 4iver under #ontro"% To the South of Pra"aya

'andhini )as Sampat+ariDr"a)ho out of #onsideration for 4ishis ki""ed !a1asra.NearySapatkari )as Ren+a Dr"a )ho esto)ed an eye to Vipra named 1amuka in the past% A "itt"e far

from 4enuka Durga )as Veera Vares%ari )ho mitigated the anger of Veerahadra after destroying

Daksha :ag(na% !ayaad&i&orana S&i)a re)arded the oon of $Sasharira S)argaor 5ntry to S)arga

a"ong )ith Morta" 'ody to King :ayati )hi"e 9%ara Hares&%araprovided re"ief from $Mahesh)ara

1)arato Devas and 4ishis% Ane+apes&%ara S&i)a gifted Va(raayudha to Mahendra to ki""

Vritraasura and Kailasa S&i)a granted Kai"aasa Nivaasa to King Tundeera in the past%

#as(&imes&%ara saved Vaa"akhi"yas from their fright of 4akshoganaas% Vis&%es%ara S&i)a )as the

on"y Deva )ho #ou"d asor from 7anga of a"" the sins of those )ho athed in her%

Dona+antes%ara re)arded $Khadga Shu"asto $Douna Kantaas% Smas&aanes&%ara ena"ed his

o)n Shakti 9a"itamika to ki"" 'handasura%

To the Nirruti of Smashaanesh)ara )ere #anda)a dta Krishna, C&andra"ee)a Mad&a)a, andS%eta Varna*a""" of 1anaardanaamsha% Pandava Duta Krishna sought pea#e from Kauravas efore

11


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Maha 'harata :uddha, =handragriva Madhava )ore =handra dyuti around his ne#k and S)eta Varna

)as i""uminated y =handravarna Daitya in darkness%

Bhumanalestu Sukshetram *udrashaaletu Vishrutam, Tatkshetravaasiney Purvey

Viproyam paapa sattamah/ Dadou Viprayaa tatkrodam matkukshou tat prashasyati,

Tasmaatta!)naana maatrena mama "haktoti punyavaan, 0sha Satkarma samyukto nishpaapi

matpadochitah/

There )as a Sa#red P"a#e #a""ed Rdra S&aala underneath the 5arth in the possession of Koushikano dout he might have #ommitted atro#ities in ignoran#e% 'ut as a Trave""er 4udra himse"f in

12


13/32

disguise visited Kaushika and he !uen#hed his thirst )ith genuine kindness The person )ho stayed

in that 4udra Shaa"a )as the most "essed eing ever and sin#e that person p"eased 4udra himse"f and

provided utter mi"k )ith sin#erity and genuineness . aeit on#e on"y0 shou"d deserve 4udra 9oka

Su#h indeed )as the signifi#an#e of 4udrashaa"a and its stay there 6hoso ever reads or hears of this

aove in#ident )ith sin#erity and faith )ou"d e "essed )ith $4udra Shaa"aa Nivaasa Pha"a+

Saptamaad&yaaya* T&e Si"ni'i(an(e o' E+aamra Vri+s&a

Shiva "ee)a samud"hutam Vedashaakhaa"hiru))walam, Mrukandutanayaadhaaram *asaalam tam

amaamyaham/ ; #ommend that 4asaa"a Vriksha vi@% 5kaamra Vriksha, )hi#h sprang from the

Shiva 4upa 'ee(a or of the Seed of Shiva and vivified )ith 'ran#hes of Vedas and s#ripted y

Maharshi Markandeya+

;n the i""ustrious 4udra Shaa"a to the 5ast of Pandava Tirtha there )as an 5kaamra Vana )hi#h )as

maintained Deva Parvati herse"f that )as fu"" of Sa#red Trees and inhaited y Maha Munis% ;n this

$Vana )as a famed 4asaa"a Vriksha #a""ed E+aamraa"so popu"ar as $4udra Koti sin#e the Tree )as

situated in 4udra Shaa"a% The upkeep and safety of this Tree )as entrusted y Maharshi Markandeya

in the past% The a#kground )as providing this responsii"ty )as as fo""o)s> there )ere $=hatusshastikotior Si&ty


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Pra"aya this 4asaa"a Tree )as of Shankaras o)n Se"f and )hoever #onsumed the fruits of the 4asa"a

)ou"d e#ome Veda Vidya 7uru and attain $Koti 9ingar#hana Pha"a y the gra#e of Maha Deva%

Markandeya narrated the aove e&perien#e of his o)n aout the 5kaamra Vriksha Mahima to King

Suratha and further i""ustrated the Trees signifi#an#e as fo""o)s> There )as aVipra named Kroun#ha

)ho "ived on a $Shringi Shai"aor a Mountain Top on the anks of Tungahadra 4iver he sto"e a

7o"den Shiva 9inga from a Temp"e and eked his "ive"ihood% /e egot si&teen sons ut due to the sin

of stea"ing the 7o"den 9inga they )ere $9inga heenasor devoid of ma"e organs% /igh"y disappointed

y this #a"amity, he visited $4udra Shaa"aa Kshetraa"ong )ith his entire fami"y and rested under the

4asaa"a Vriksha (ust for a fe) moments he then e&perien#ed the mira#"e of gaining the mas#u"inity of

his sons and eversin#e then #ontinued his "ife at Kan#hipura itse"f ti"" his death and a#hieved 4udra

9oka% Su#h )as the grandeur of the 5kaamra Vriksha% 6hoso ever re#ited or heard aout the g"ory of

the Sa#red Tree sin#ere"y )ith faith )ou"d se#ure the fruit of residing under the shade of the 4asaa"a

As&tamaad&yaaya; T&e !lories o' E+aamres&%ara and aalaa >Tapa&? Kama+s&i

Suprasannam Mahaa Devyaa itya Kalyaana Sundaram,

Mahaapralayapaapa!hnam *asaaleshamaham Bha)ey/

'y greeting 5kaamresh)ara )ho manifested himse"f y destroying the effe#ts of Maha Pra"aya, )ho

en(oyed the gra#e of Devi Parvati a")ays and )ho provided auspiousness to one and a"", Maharshi

#ontinued the narration of Kamaakshi Vi"asa to King Suratha+

Devi Parvati insta""ed a 7rand Shiva 9inga made of sand to the 5ast of 5kaamra Tree in the 4udra

Shaa"a>&astapramaanaamulaat Kadali kusumaakritih, 3maalin!anasankraanta kuchakankana

mudrutah/ Kshitilin!aswarupascha chutalin!aakriti Swayam, Sadaa Shivaanu!rahaatmaa sa $hatur

murti madhya!ah/ Shivaamshasshiva)asshuli Kailaasaatsamupaa!atah, Mri!aankushavaraa"hiti

viraa)ita $hatur"hu)aha/ Kundendudhavalaakaaro itya Kalyaana sundarah, Vyaa!hra charma

paridhaano #a)acharmottareeyakah/ BhasmoddhulitaSarvaan!astrinetra Shashi Shekharah,

Sachaamom"ikaa #an!aa Savya Dakshina sevitah/ #an!aa"hu)an!avilasat )ataamakuta manditah,*udrakotyaam nivaasena *udrakotiriti shrutah/ 0kaamra nilayassham"huh Puraav Devyaa stuto

harah, Mahaa Pralaya Paapa!hnah punah Kalyaana hetavey/ Then Maha Deva 9inga )ho

manifested himse"f )as of hand si@e, of the shape of P"antain Tree


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esto) Moksha to the Muni and #o""e#t his $:oga Danda8 Sti#k, 1apamaa"a8 #ounting eads, Deepas,

=haamaras or hand fans used for )orship, Pustaka or 'ooks, Vyaghraasana or Tiger skin to sit on,

7anga Tirtha, 7anga0sand and umre""a to pro#eed to Varanasi for meditation%

Maha Deva stated that there )ou"d e a $Kshaamaor drought in Kasi and then Parvati shou"d

distriute $Anna food+ to one and a"" and se#ure the 5pithet of Annaprna De)i. Thereafter she

shou"d trave" to South and sett"e do)n at a P"a#e )hi#h )ou"d #a""ed Kan(&ipra@

'atra Vyaa!hraasanam Soma Vrittham tat Sutrakam #hatam, Saikatam -in!a *upam cha (apaaksho

Bilwa maalikaa/ a!a"hushanam chhatra Trishulam 'o!a dandakam, $haamaram 'uvati yu!mam

Vyan)anam Shukarupakam/ #hata deepa dwayam vahni rupam Dhenuscha Pustakam, Vidyaadharam

Suchikaam cha Taptamudram cha Saankuram/ #an!aatirtham Payorupam Bhavedyattra

Manonmani, Tat Kanchina!aram viddhi tatra Somasuvrittakey/

6here there is Vyaghraasana, Soma Vrittha or an 5difi#e to insta"" Shiva 9inga, Sutrakam or pipe to

drain ho"y )ater after Ahishka, a Saikata 9inga or a Sand0made 9inga, 1apamaa"a, 'i")amaa"a,

Naagaaharana or -rnaments of Serpents, =hhatra 8 ?mre""a, Trishu"a, :oga danda, =haamara,

:uvati :ugma or t)o maids, a Shuka or Parrot, 7hata Deepa D)aya or T)o Deepas made of Mrittika,Vya(ana or fan made of :aks hair, Dhenu or =o), Pustaka, Vidyadharam, Diksu#hika, a Tapta

Mudra, 7angaa(a"a and su#h other Sa#red items uti"ised for Shiva Pu(a )ou"d e the P"a#e #a""ed

Kan(&i Na"ara)here Devi Parvati shou"d sett"e do)n

Maha Deva instru#ted Devi Parvati further that she shou"d perform dai"y $Ksheeraahisheka to the

$Saikata 9inga on the Soma Vrittha a"ong )ith Soma Sutra adorned )ith 'i")amaa"a and

Nagaaharana, )hi"e #arrying Trishu"a, :oga danda and parrots on her shou"ders as #haamara )ou"d

e served y t)o maids on the sides and offering $Naivedya of Mudgaankura or of sprouted

greengram she shou"d then e&e#ute Dhyana amid $Pan#haagnis standing on $Su#hakoparita"aas%

Shiva then assured that her $Maha Paapa in #ausing Pra"aya y #"osing his Three 5yes )ou"d e

)ashed out%


16/32

sound and fury of the rushing )ater )as unstoppa"e not on"y y her maids ut even y herse"f, 7ouri

Devi prayed to her rother Purushottama so that her Tapas )ou"d not e distured% 1anadnana then

assumed a giganti# S)arupa from 5arth to Sky )earing =handra around his ne#k as C&andra*

Kant&aa+ya= Parvati shivered )ith fright that instead of Narayana, Maha Deva appeared himse"f as

that huge


17/32

Maharshi Markandeya affirmed to King Suratha that a Shamhu naamaka Vipra happened to see and

even parti#ipate in the ka"yana and re#eived $Sahasra Kanya Ka"yaana Pha"a 6ho ever reads or hears

the aove a##ount of Shri Kamakshi sahita 5kaamra S)ami Vaihaa )ou"d a#hieve Koti 9inga

Pratishtha Pha"a and Moksha

Na)amaad&yaaya; Sar)a Tirt&a Ma&ima

&araroma Samud"huta Sarva Titrha samud"huta Sarva Tirtha Samanvayaat,

Sarva Tirthaarthaahyamam Vandey Kampayaa Puritam sarah/

; #ommend the Sarva Tirtha )hi#h )as a 7rand


18/32

on#e performed the Shraaddha of Pitras, the $Pindas offered at the =eremony turned out to e )orms%

Soma )as agitated and did atonement of pro#eeding on Tirtha :atras= as he rea#hed 4udra Shaa"a and

took ath in the Sarva Tirtha, the Shraaddha Pindas that he offered hen#eforth )ere retained )ith

$Anna 4upaor of the


19/32

the son Trivikrama Vishnu )hom Adi Sesha )orshipped to provide him strength to ear the )eight

'hu Devi Madhu Murti Vishnu )ho rained Madhu at noon time Kaalaan!u Vishnu )hom Shiva

prayed and se#ured progenyBhattaarakeshwara Shiva to )hom 'rahma prayed and ana"ysed Vedas

Phanaadhara Shiva )ho as a Sarpa assumed "ue #o"our of his hoods y the D)adasha Suryas rays

Phaneesha)ho prote#ted Naagaas from the Sons of Devi Kadru "ike 7arutmanta Kancheeshwara

Shiva )hom 'rahma, Shaasta or Devasenaani, Ka##hapa, =handika, Kumara S)ami, Sanatkumara,

and Devas prayed to%


20/32

famed as the Kama+oti ila the ?ni!ue Provider of Purusharthaas or the of Dharma0Artha0Kaama*

Moksha or the Supreme /uman Aspiations or Desires% Kamakshi )as stated to have provided $Kama

to Kamesh)ara )ho "itera""y had no Kama sin#e he )as Lin"a &eena@ Markandeya narrated as to

ho) Maha Deva e#ame 9inga /eena% ;n the past, Maha Deva assumed the


21/32

Vipasya kaaranam/ Padmaasaney ishpaapaa saa Kamapeetha ivaasini, $hatur"hu)aa Trinayanaa

Mahaa TriputaSundari/ Mula Shaktir Brahma Vidyaa chaadi -akshmiriti Shrutaa, Atma Shaktir

(a!addhaatri *a)iva sadyashapra"haa/ Ardhendu Shekharaa Divya Kirita parimanditaa,

Paashaankushokshu Kodanda Pancha Baana -asatkaraa/ Tapanodupa taatankaa Meena Kundala

Dhaarini,Divya Shrin!aara Veshaadhyaa Divyaa"harana "hushitaa/ *aktaam"ara dhara *akta

*aa)iva Vara maalini, Sou"haa!yaa"haranopetaa Divya Man!alya dhaarini/ *a)ara)eshwari

*aamaa Mani man)eera raa)itaa, Shri $hakra a!araadheeshaa Shri Vidyaa Parameshvari/

Shankaraadhitokaaraa Shankaraatma Swarupini, Shaarira Kalaadheeshaa Sarva Tatwa Swarupini/

Praanini Vishya Bhutaashyaa Kaala $hakra Swarupini, Shri Kaanchi aaraadheeshaa

Kaanchitaartha Pradaayani/ Sachaaara *amaaVaani Savya dakshina sevitaa, Kaamakoteeti

Vikhyaataa Kaamaakshi Divya Man!alaa/ Sadaa Shiva Murtinaam #ouryaadeenaam cha Kaaranam,

(anani $hutalin!asya $huta Bee)aartha *upini/ Shivaadhikaa Shivaan!asyaa Shiva Murtirisshivan2

kari, Mahaa Kaamesha Mahishi Mahaa Tripura Sundari/ Puraa hitaaa Devaanaam

Bandhakaaraasuramardini, Tadaham Sampravakshyaami Puraavritam $haritrakam/ Tasya shravana

maatrena Sarva Paapaih pramuchyatey/ Devi Kamakshi is seated in Padmaasana in the -mkara

Kona of 7ayatri as 'i"a Peethaasana on the 7ayatri Mantapa in the Kama Koshta% She is Visha

Vyapaka Adi Shakti, S)ayam Vyakta S)arupini ot Se"f 7enerated 1aga((anani, =haturhu(a,

Trinayana, Mu"a Shakti, 'rahma Vidya, Adi 9akshmi, Atma Shakti, 1agaddhaatri or the 7rip of the?niverse, 9ustrous "ike 9otuses, Arthendu Shekara or )ith ha"f0 Moon retained head adorned )ith a

=e"estia" Kireeta or /eadgear $Paashankushekshu Kodanda Pushpa aana hraa(amaana

Karaamu(aa or )ith the right "otus0"ike hands #arrying Noose0 7oad0Sugar #ane "ike o) and


22/32

)ho as Maha Tripura Sundari e#ame furious at the sight of the Asura and assuned a Mammoth


23/32

Shata sh"okaas% Then on)ard Kan#hi Kamakshi Pu(as had een e&e#uted eversin#e as stated y

Maharshi Markandeya to King Surata%

Among the #rores of Devotees )ho visited and )orshipped Kamakshi Devi, there )as a poor

'rahmana, a Krishna :a(urvedi, named 1ayadeva )ho )as a"e to visit Kan#hi from a P"a#e on the

anks of 4iver 7odavari )ith great diffi#u"ty% After his darshana of Kamakshi Devi he returned to his

$Kutiraor a very modest aode )hi#h got #onverted as a ig 'ui"ding )ith a"" #omforts and "u&uries%Any visitor to Kamakshi Temp"e in Kan#hi and )orship the Devi most faithfu""y and hakti )ou"d

thus a#hieve mu"tip"ied enefits in severa" )ays and means that one #ou"d not even imagine 6hoso

ever reads or hears the #ontents of the aove Adhyaaya even #asua""y )ou"d #ertainy se#ure her

Darshan soon

Trayodas&aad&yaaya ; Eminen(e o' &taband&a 9anardana

Sthaana trayastam Devesham Trvidhaakaaramachyutam, Prati -in!aa!ra Samyuktam Bhuta

"andham Samaashraye+

Markandeaya Maharshi e&to""ed the 'hutaandha 1anardana e&isting on the top of the Trayaakaara

9inga S)arupas or of Tri


24/32

Koshtham amaakshi tatra vartatey/ (a!atKaamakalaakaaram aa"histhanam Bhuvah Param, Pada

padmasya Kaamaakshyaah Mahaa Peetha mupasmahey/ Kamakotih smrita tasmaat Kaaranaa Deva

chinna"hah, 'atra Kaama kruto Dharmo (antunaa yena kenavaa/ Sakrudwaapi Sudharmaanaam

Phalam Phalati Kotishayah, 'o)apey Kama Koshthesmin Mantramishtaartha Daivatam/ Kotivarna

phaleynaiva Muktilokam sa !acchati, 'o vasey Kamakoshthesmin Kshanaartham vaatatardhakam/

Muchyatey Sarva Paape"hyassaakshiddevi araaritih, #ayatri Mamndapaadhaaram Bhu aa"hi

Sthaanamutthamam/ Purushaartha pradam Sham"hor Bilaa"hrantannamaamyaham, 'atkuryaat

Kama Koshthasya Bilaa"hrasya Pradakshinam/ Pada Sankhyaa kramenaiva #o!ar"ha)ananam

-a"het, Vishwa kaarana netraadhyaam Shrimat Tripura Sundareem/ Bandakaasura samhartreem

Kamaksheem taamaham "ha)ey,Paraa)anmadiney Kaachyaam Mahaa"hyantara mar!atah/

'orchayettatra Kamaaksheem Kotipu)aa phalam"havet,Tatphalotpanna Kaivalyam Sakritkaamaakshi

sevayaa/ Tristhaananilayam Devam Trividhaakaaramachyutam, Bhuta "andham ta maashraey+

C&atras&yaad&yaaya; S&i)a:s de'eat, ra&ma:s blindness, S&ri C&a+ra #1a and bene'i(iaries

Sarvaan!eem *atna"hushaadhyaam Shukra hastaam Shuchismitaam, Kanchee nivaasinim Vandey

Kamasheem Kamitarthadaam/

Maharshi Markandeya paid his homage to Suvarna Kamakshi )ho is tastefu""y de#orated )ith mostinva"ua"e and e&!uisite (e)e""ery in#"uding 7o"den Parrots in her right hand as she is the Paramount

Symo" of Purity and San#tity sett"ed in Kan#hipura a")ays ready to fu"fi"" any and every aspiration

of her devotees+

To the 5ast of Pan#ha Tirtha in the Kama Koshthi 4egion )as manifested Suvarna Kamakshi and

Markandeya )as eited to provide a rief portraya" of her to King Suratha as fo""o)s>

Paraa Phaalaakshi Sam"hutaa Kamakshi Swarna Vi!rahaa, Dwinetraa Dwi "hu)aa Shyaamaa

Daksha hasta lasatcchukaa/ -am"a Vaama Karaam"ho)aa Tri"han!i Dakshakunchitaa, Saa Dhanur

Vi!rahaa Tanvi Sarvaa"harana "hushitaa/ ava Padma Dalaankaara ayana dwaya sho"hitaa,

Peetaam"ara dharaa peetaa Manikundala manditaa/ Varaankitadharaa #ouri Brahmanaa rachitaa

krutih,Manonmani -in!a Shaktischuta -in!asya Valla"haa/ Brahmanaa krita "im"eysow puraasaannidhyamaatanot, Tadahamsdampravakshyaami Puraavrutam charitrakam/ Tasya Shravana

maatrena Sarva Paapaih pramuchatey/

Shri Kamakshi )as manifested from Paraa Shaktis forehead as of 7o"den


25/32

for the #reation of 'rahma0Vishnu and Mahesh)ara% Shiva tried to man0hand"e her out of his

physi#a" "ust as generated y Manmatha and a"so due the disgra#e inf"i#ted on him y his arro)s

Devi snued and repu"sed Shiva and asked him to apo"ogise to Manmadha% 9ater she #reated #rores

of Manmathas and instru#ted them to eat Shiva% /e in turn #reated Koti 4udras and there )as a

fier#e att"e et)een f"o)ery arro)s and Trishu"as Madanas had an upper hand and Shiva e#ame

he"p"ess% Kamakshi he#k"ed Shiva and asked him to go egging and handed over a egging o)" to

him% She then disp"ayed her rea" S)arupa as Maha Shakti and demanded that he shou"d take

prote#tion from her% Maha Deva prostrated efore Kamakshi and as per her instru#tion Manmatha

e#ame a Star on the 7a"a&y and #ontinued Devi Dhyana for ever

Some time "ater 'rahma visited a fe) Shiva Temp"es and found that there )as no presen#e of Shivani

there Virin#hi prayed to Kamakshi and the "atter granted her dispensation that a"" the Shiva Temp"es

from then#e forth )ou"d have the presen#e of Devi too eept Kamakoshta sin#e Shiva )as defeated

y Manmatha there y her gra#e and hen#e this P"a#e )ou"d e #a""ed $Shiva(it Kshetra% She further

stated that this )ou"d e an eeptiona" p"a#e )here 7auri )ou"d not e present in a Shiva"aya and

that she )ou"d do so on"y )hen Shiva #ou"d defeat Manmatha ;n other )ords 5kamresh)ara 9inga

#ou"d enter Kama koshtha on"y then 'rahma raised a dout as to ho) annua" #e"erations of 7auri0

5kamresh)ara Ka"yanaas e performed Then Kamakshi rep"ied that there #ou"d e some 5kama

Deva"ayas and that she )ou"d assume Sthaanu S)arupa in su#h Tepmp"es 5kaamesh)ara Temp"e

)as in a #ase in point -n the day of Kamakshi05kamresh)ara Ka"yana, the Sthaanu Vigraha of 7auri

e invoked for due )orship and after the #e"eration of the Ka"yana she shou"d e returned to a

$Dhruvaa"aya as Sthanu S)arupa )here no Pu(as to Devi e performed eyond t)o days it )ou"d e

a vio"ation of Devis instru#tion other)ise

Hema Kama+s&i made her appearan#e in Shri Mukha Samvatsara Kartika Krishna Dashami

#oin#iding )ith 9akshmi Vaasara at Suryodaya of Purva Pha"guni Nakshatra% As soon as she

manifested herse"f she )as of 'imakaara, Divya 9aavanya, 1apaa Maa"aankrita, 1ataamakuta D

harini, Prasanna Vadana, =hi##hakti 4upa, and Tripura Sundaryaakaara% 'rahma )orshipped her and

got an ;do" made as a Divya Vigraha in 9oha% As she )as $Dhruva Sthitaor Sthanu 4upa, She )as

invoked )ith Anga0Kara and other Nyaasas and )as )orshipped for si& months ut 'rahama de#idedto #e"erate )ith reveren#e her Ka"yana Mahotsava )ith Maha Deva%

ra&ma:s blindness and Saras)ati o''ers soltion; As 'rahma e#ame "ind a"" of a sudden, Devi

Sarasvati e&p"ained the reason of his "indness in Kan#hipura under the Kama Koshthathere )as the

7ayatri Mandapa eneath )hi#h Shiva ui"t a Kunda"ini 7riha and )ho ever visited that Mantapa

shou"d perform S&ri C&a+ra #1a and )ho did not perform so and )a"k a#ross )ou"d turn "ind

Sarasvati divu"ged this se#ret to 'rahma as she "earnt of it from Shiva% 'rahma visited Kama Koshtha

and perforned Shri =hakra Pu(a he a"so had a darshan of /ema Kamakshi sin#e on"y she #ou"d

pardon the sin of not performing Shri =hakra Pu(a and tramp"e the ha""o)ed P"a#e

Kama+s&i Naama #an(&a+a; Maharshi Markandeya en"ightened the King Surata that Devi

Kamakshi had five names vi@% S)arnaningi, Shuka /asta, =huta 9inga Va""aha and Dharma Devi

and the Dhruvatma Sthanu S)arupa+ had five other tit"es vi@% Tapasvini, 7hana Shyama, Sarva

Shaiva"aesh)ari, Kamakshi and Ka"ika% 'hagavan Shankara had the names of =huta 1yoti,

Nirgunatma, Shiva, Kamesh)ara and 5kaamranadha% /e a"so )as kno)n as :agodhava, Punya Koti,

Maha Deva, Deva 4a(a and Aheeshta Varada% Kan#hi had thus the fame of Three S)arupas vi@% Shri

Devi, Shiva 4upa and of Vishnu S)arupa% -ne shou"d meditate the Nirguna0Saguna S)arupa of

Shakti hava Shiva and that )as ho) 9a"ita Paramesh)ari )as tit"ed $Shiva Shaktaika 4upini

S&i)a S&a+tai+a #1a Vid&ana;;n vie) of the -neness of Shiva and Shakti, one must a")ays

perform Shiva Shaktaika Pu(a for augmenting propitiousness% The Pu(a e first performed as

addressed to Shiva fo""o)ed y Paraa Shakti Pu(a Markandeya emphasised that )hi"e performing

Pu(a , Shiva shou"d not e #on#eived in 7auri 'ima and 7auri shou"d not e prayed to in Shiva

'ima in fa#t the Maharshi )arned not to #onfuse the spe#ifi#s of the Pu(a for good resu"ts of Mukti

and any mi& up might end up in adverse #onse!uen#es of Naraka The 'ima Pu(a shou"d definite"y

fo""o) this instru#tion 7enera""y speaking, there shou"d e a)areness of 'ima 'heda, :antra

25


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'heda, Tantra 'heda and Mantra 'heda 6hi"e e"aorating of spe#ifi# $'imas, Markandya

#"arified that Purnaamsha Devi )as manifested in the Tripuraa 'ima, Ka"aatma Devi in 7auri

'ima, Dhruvesh)ari in ?tsava :ogya 'imas, Nirguna S)arupa in 4asaa"a Vriksha, Saguna

S)arupini in 5kaamra 9inga and Purusha 4upini in Varada 4a(a Vigraha% /o)ever, the $Purnaamsha

or =omp"eted Magnifi#en#e )as stated to e in Kama Koti or Kamara(a Peetha and those )ho had a

darshan of that ha""o)ed P"a#e )ere "essed indeed

S&ri C&a+ra #1a; Those )ho might not e fortunate to visit Kamara(a Peetha might as )e"" perform

Shri =hakra Pu(a% ;n the Shri =hakra, one shou"d pray to ones 7uru on the Tri Kona Purvaagra or the

en#ir#"ed Triang"es right top% At the same P"a#e prayers )ere to e offered to Parama 7uru,

Parameshthi 7uru, Paratpara 7uru, Narayana, Padma Samhava, Vasishtha, Shakti, Paraashara,

Vyaasa, Shuka, 7oudapaada, Kou"iki and Manavoughama and ponder aout Maha Kameh)ari Kuta

)ith Shri Vidya or Pan#ha Dashi Mantra% 9ater on, one shou"d the Kou"ika Dharma Vettha the

Performer of the Pu(a+ must re#ite Shri Vidya at"east one thousand times% ;f the $=haapaka or the

Person responsi"e for the Pu(a )as una"e to perform $Anna Daana then he or she shou"d seek

pardon from Shri Devi% 'ut the most signifi#ant aspe#t of Shri =hakra Pu(a )ou"d e the $Shri Vidyaa

:a(ana or the 1apa as pres#ried%

;n the past, the Shri Vidya =hakra Pu(a )as su##essfu""y e&e#uted y Devi 9akshmi, /ayagriva,

Manu, Dasharatha, Tunda, Kantaara =ho"a, Pannaga 4a(a and Shiva>

ene'i(iaries o' S&ri C&a+ra #1a; At the time of Samudra Mathana, Vishnu )ho )as of a

natura""y fair #omp"e&ion turned "ue and 9akshmi (oked )ith Vishnu that she )ou"d not e fit to e

her husand as she )as of go"den #omp"e&ion Vishnu gave a repartee to her that she )as o"d and

#ursed her to turn of $An(ana Nee"a #omp"e&ion% Then La+s&mi did $Shri Vidyopaasana and

regained her natura" #o"our% Haya"ri)a Mni )as engaged in #ontinuous meditation of Shri Vidya of

Devi Kamakshi )hen on#e a 4akshasa named Padma sat on the Muni and for#ed him to trave" to

Pataa"a 9oka as a horse Devi Kamakshi appeared in Pataa"a to save the Muni y ki""ing the Asura%

/ahagreeva assumed Vishnu S)arupa and tri#ked 4akshasa 7uru Shukraa#haarya and took a)ay the

$Akshaya Kumha of Mrita San(eevani kept )ith the A#harya for the reviva" of dead Asuras and

performed Ahisheka of the San(eevini to Devi Kamakshi% Vai)as%ata Man assumed Manvat)a as

esto)ed y his father Surya Deva ut he had no kno)"edge )hat so ever aout the fine distin#tions

of Paapa0Punyas and as advised y Vasishtha Muni and visited Kama Koshtha Durvasa Maharshni

provided the $?padeshaor instru#tion of Shri Vidya Mantra and the Manu did Dhyana and Tapas to

Devi Kamakshi for hundred years% Then Kamakshi arrived near Manu in the


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Sha"ya =ho"a aided y his s#hemy friend Par(anya% Vikrama =ho"a and his )ife roamed aout

aim"ess"y and "u#ki"y rea#hed Kama Koshta and organised a f"o)er garden and supp"ied ee""ent

gar"ands to Devi Kamakshi dai"y% P"eased y their servi#e and devotion, Devi "essed them a fema"e

#hi"d% As the daughter gre) of marriagea"e age, Kamakshi appeared in a dream to the Pandya King

?ddhaa(it and asked him to defeat a att"e )ith Sha"ya =ho"a and marry the daughter of the "atters

e"der rother )ho present"y )as supp"ying f"o)er gar"ands to her% The Pandya King fo""o)ed Devis

instru#tions and )ith passage of time King Vikrama =ho"a retired in favour of his son and devoted his

time in the servi#e of Kamakshi% Among various deeds of virtue, he deve"oped gardens y e&tending

them into forests thus se#uring the epithet of Kaantara C&ola. 6hi"e he )as )orking in the forests,

he had a serpent ite and he as )e"" as the serpent attained Moksha y the gra#e of Devi%

#&ala S&rti

Those )ho read or hear Shri Kamakshi Vi"asa is "essed y her gra#e and grandeur% The renderings

aout Devi as Tripura Sundari, Kan#hipura as 'hu"oka S)arga, /asti Shai"a Mahima, Sp"endour of

Varada 4a(a S)ami, Vegavat Nadi Prahava, 4udra Shaa"a Mahatmya, Signifi#an#e of 5kaamra

Vriksha, 7"ories of 5kamresh)ara and 'a"a 8 Tapas Kamakshi, Sarva Tirtha Mahima, KamakotiStha"a Nirnaya, Kamakoti 'i"a, Magnifi#en#e of Maha Tripura Sundari, the pro#eedings of Shiva0

Kamakshi Ka"yana, 5minen#e of 'huta andha 1anardana, Shivas dis#omfiture y Manmadha,

'rahmas "indness, Shri =hakra Pu(a Vidhana and i""ustrations of the 'enefe#iaries of Shri =hakra

Pu(a nota"y of 9akshmi0/ayagriva, Vaivas)ata Manu, King Dasharatha, King Tundeera and King

Kantaara =ho"a /ema Kamakshi Seva Pha"a and other aspe#ts )ere asoring and san#tified% The

Pathana0Shravana0 Dhaarana of Shri Kamakshi Vi"asa )ou"d take steps for)ard to the rea"isation of

the Devi and her suprema#y% -n #omp"etion of the e&perien#e of the a##ounts of the Shri Kamakshi,

there shou"d e $Shodashopa#haara Pu(aof the Devi fo""o)ed $'rahmana Satkaara )ith Vastra0

'ho(ana0 Dakshinas and Anna Daana% Maharshi Markandeya )ho s#ripted and rendered Shri

Kamakshi Vi"asa to King Suratha "essed the "atter )ho prostrated to the Maharshi and paid his

reveren#es% Markandeya a"so "essed the readers or "isteners of the Maha Kamakshi Vi"asa )ith

$Deerghaayu0 Putra Poutraahivriddhi0Saka"a Kaamita Siddhi and Shri Devi Pada Prapti

ANNEBRE I

A"astya*Haya"ri)aSam)ada

Anaadyanantamavyaktam Vyaktaanaam adikaaramam, Ananda"odhaika *asam Tanmahasya

3paasmahey/ ; meditate that Supreme in my heart and Sou" that has no 'eginning nor 5nd neither

Per#eiva"e nor ;mper#epti"e ut the =ause of =auses and the root of Kno)"edge and


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Muneeshvaraih, Param Brahmeti yaa proktaa tasyai Devyai amo amah/ &ridayasthaapi

-okaanaam yenakenaapi drushyatey, Sukshma Vi!naana rupaayai Tasyai Devai amo amah/

Brahma Vishnuscha *udraschav1shwarascha Sadaa Shivah, 'addhyaanaika Paraa ityam tasyai

Devyai amo amah/ Pancha kaarana krutyendraa yadaa!naameva "i"hrati, Saamraa)ya sampra

deeshaayai tasyai Devyai amo amah/ Vedaani Shwasitam yasyaa Veekshitam Bhuta Panchakam,

Smitam $haraacharam Vishwam tasyai Devyai amo amah/ Sahasra sirsha Bho!eendro

Dharitreem yhadanu)nayaa, Dhattey Sarva )anaadhaaraam tasyai Devyai amo amah/

(alaya!nasta patyarko Vaato Vaati yadaa!nayaa, (naana Shakti Swarupaayai tasyai Devyai amo

amah/ Pancha Vimshati Tatwaani Maayaa Vidyaadi Panchakam, 'anmayam Munayah

Praahustasyai Devyai amo amah/ Shiva Shaktishwaraaschaiva Shuddha Vidyaa Sadaa

Shivah,'adynmesha Vi"hedaassyustasyai Devyai amo amah/ #ururmantro Devataacha Manah

Praanaascha Panchadhaa, 'aa Viraa)ati $hidrupaa tasyai Devyai amo amah/ Sarvaatma

naamaantaraatma Paramaananda *upini, Shri Vidyaiti smritaa yaatu tasmai Devyai amo amah/

Darshanaanicha Sarvaani yadan!aani Vidur"udhaah, Tatthanniyamarupaayai rupaayai tasyai

Devyai amo amah/ 'aa"haati Sarva -okeshu Mani Mantroushadhaatmanaa, Tatwopadesh

rupaayai tasmai Devyai amo amah/ Desha Kaala Padaardhaascha yadyadvastu yatha yathaa,

Tadrupena yaa "haati tasyai Devyai namo amah/ Sacchidaananda rupaa yaa Kalyaana !una

shaalini, Vishvottheernoti Vikhyaataa tasyai Devyai amo amah/

1aya 1aya 1aga((anani, Tripura Sundari, Shri Nadha Sahodari, Sarva Manga"a, Nitya S)arupini,

Karunaamrita Sindhu, Shringaara Nayaki, Atma Vidyaa, :ogendra vanditaanghrey or she )hose

physi!ue is )orshipped y :ogendraas provider of prosperity to 'haktas #reator of Shivas desires

from her o)n eyes she )ho #ou"d #reate, preserve, destroy and re0#reate y her mere thought :ou

are Ka"ika )ho severe"y punishes those responsi"e for tampering the Varnaashrama Dharmaas :ou

are #"ear"y dis#erni"e y the means of Vedas, Shastras, Agamaas and :ogaas you are rea"isa"e on"y

y ones o)n $Antaraatmaof those Munis )ho are e&perts in 4ahasyaamnaas, ?panishads and

Tat)as address you as Para 'rahma though you are present in ea#h and every human heart, not every

one #ou"d rea"ise you you are Sukshma 1naana 4upini 'rahma0Vishnu04udra0;sh)ara0Sada Shivas

)orship you regu"ar"y Saamra(ya Sampadesh)ari Pan#hendriyas and Pan#ha Krityaas are under

your instru#tions Devi :our sighs are Vedas and your "ooks are Pan#ha 'hutas your smi"e is the=haraa#hara Srishti it is )ith your #ommand that Ananta Deva ho"ds on his thouands of hoods the

)eight of 'hu Devi it is )ith your approva" that Agni urns, Surya provides heat, Vayu #arries "ife

1naana Shakti S)arupini Pan#ha Vimshati or T)enty


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made Pradakshinas and Prostrations )hen there )ere sky0high revererations of Vi#tory =a""s of

$1aya 1aya Kamakshi and $1aya 1aya Kamesh)ara a"" over the ?niverse

S&ri Kamaa+s&yaapaada Masta+a Varnana:> S&ri Kama+s&i:s #&ysi(al Des(ription?

Pashyatam sarvadevanam tatraivaantaradhiyata, Atha Dhataa Maha #ouryah prati"im"a

manoharam/ $hakaara Divyalohena Maha #ourisamaakruti,Tarunaaruna *a)iva soundarya charanadvayam/Kanatkanaka man)ira pin)ari kruta pithakam,Vidyudullasa Vasanamano!nya manimekhalam/

*atnakeyura vilasiddhira)ita "hu)advayam,Mukta vaidurya manikya ni"adhodhara "andhanam/

Vi"hra)amanam madhyena valitritayasho"hina, (ahnavi saridavartasho"hina"hi vi"hushitam/

Paatira panka karpur kumkuma alankritastanam, Aamuktamuktaalankara "hasurastanachuchukam/

Vilasena katideshanyasta vamkaaram"u)am, Manikyashakalaa"adha mudrika"hiralankrutam/

Dakshahastaam"u)aasaktasni!dhotpalamanoharamAadhymaprapadeenaischa

divyakalpakadam"akaih/ Deepta "hushana ratnamshu ra)ira)itadinmukham, Tapta haataka

samklyupta ratna!raiveya sho"hitam/Man!alyasutra ratnanshushrenee man)ula kandharam,

Valeevatmsa maanikya taatanka pari "hushitam/(apavidruma lavanya lalitadhara pallavam,

Dadimiphala"i)aa"ha dantapankti viraa)itam/Shuchimandasmitollaasi kapola phalko))valam,

Aoupamyara hitodaara nasamani manoharam/Vilasattkila pushpa shrivi)ayodyata nasikam,

1sha dunmesha madhura nilotpala vilochanam/Prasunachaapa chaapa Shri -alita "hruvilasakam,

Ardhendutulitam phaaley purnenduruchirananam/Saandra saura"ha sampanna kasturi tilako)valam,

Maktalimala vilasadalakaadhya mukhaam"u)am/Paari)aata prasuna stra!valu!u dhammilla

"andhanam, Anar!ha ratna khachita makutaanchita mastakam/Sarvalavanya vasatim "havanam

vi"hramaashriyah/ Shivo Vishnuscha tatratyaassamastaascha maha)anah, Bim"asaya tasya

Devyasch na "hedam )a!ruhustada/ Atha "im"am Maheshani swatantraa pravivesha tat/

A!ratassarva Devaanaamaascharyena prapashyataamBim"aakrutyaatmano Bim"ey samaa!atya

sthitaam cha taam/

Shri Maha 7auris sa#red feet are right and de"i#ate "ike red "otuses )ith her ank"es stringed around

)ith go"den #hains fitted )ith tiny trink"ets made of a f"ash of pre#ious stones making soft sounds

part"y hiding the g"ory of the "ustrous si"k sari that she )as dressed in% She )as ornamenetd )ith a#harming"y designed $-dhyana andhana gird"e+ of go"d )ith Nine 7ems enhan#ing the g"itter of

the Sari% /er ever0forgiving hands have Nava 4atna Kha#hita Keyuraas or arm"ets% /er vakshastha"a

)as smeared )ith Karpura0 Kumkuma0Akshataas and her gra#efu" "eft hand #arried ruy studded

rings of go"d her right hand #arried $snigdhotpa"a or fu""y "ossomed "otus her Manga"a Sutra )as

augmenting the eauty and sp"endour emitted y the Kiranas 8 rays of a gra#efu" mi& of ne#k "a#es

her Adhara Pa""avas tender "ips+ )ere of soft and #rimson redness her #heeks )ere dimp"ed and

#onstant"y smi"ing and enign her nose ee"s )ith distin#tion )earing a nose"et of a sing"e ut

uni!ue diamond her forehead )as "ike ha"f moon ut her fu"" fa#e )as far eyond the #oo" rightness

of a


30/32

Agastya Maharshi re!uested /ayagriva Deva to en"ighten him aout the grandeurs of Shri 9akshmi

Kamakshi and /ayagriva rep"ied>

T&e Top i)e

Mahaa Tripura Sundaryaa Maahaatmyam samupaadishat, Tatpra"haavaanaham vedyi

kinhitadvakshey na chaanyathaa/ *ahasya Mantra tadvakshey shrunu tatvam samaahtah, a

Brahmaa nacha Vishnurvaa na *udrascha Trayopyami/ Mahitaa maayayaa yasyastureeyascha

Maheshwarah, Sadaa shivo vaa )aanaati kimuta Prakrutaamaraah/ Sadaa Shivastu Dharmaatmaa

Sacchidaananda Vi!rahah, Akartyumanyathaa Kartaa 'asyastwanu!rahaat/ Sa kadaachitta

Devaaham Maanya maano Maheshwarah, Tanmayaa mohito "hutwaa twavashas 4shavataata!aat/

Kinchidatra Viseshosti Vaktavyassopi tatkshunu/ Brahmaa deenaam trayaanaam cha

Tureeyasteeshwarah Pra"huh/ $haturnaamapi Sarveshaamaadi Kartaa Sadaa Shivah, Saiva

Kaaranameteshaam Srishtisthitilayeshwapi/ Maadrahasyam kathitam tasmaascharatimad"hutam,

Punareva prayakshaami Saavadhaanaah shrunu/ Atra sthitaapi Sarveshaam hridayasthaa #hatod 4

"hava, Tattatkarmaanurupam saa pradattey dehinaam phalam/ 'atkinchidvartatey -okey Sarvamasya

vicheshtimam, 'atkinchittchantayatey kaschistwacchaanda vididhaatyasou/ Asyaa yevaavataarastu

Tripuraadyascha Shaktyayah/

'rahma0Vishnu04udraas as a"so Mahesh)ara and further Superior Sada Shiva too did not rea"ise my

Magnifi#en#e and after a"" ho) aout Devas -n"y the Superior Sada Shiva )as free to a#t or rea#t to

do or undo as he en(oyed Devis #onfiden#e% Mahesh)ara on#e fe"t that he )as the Para Deva then he

had to to e turned out as a =orpse /o)ever Mahesh)ara )as no dout senior to Tri Murtis ut

#ou"d not arrogate Superiority eyond that stage% 'asi#a""y the five of them )ere ans)era"e to the

Deeds of Srishthi0Sthiti0Samhaaraas% 'ut aove a"" )as myse"f eing present in the hearts and Sou"s

of every person or Devas or their manifestations% The Top The


31/32

'rahma attempted to rea#h its top and fai"ed and Narayana sought to s"ide do)n to as#ertain the foot

of the Pi""ar and fai"ed too% The arrogant 'rahma disregarded Mahesh)ara too and the "atter gre)

angry and out of the rage )as materia"ised 'hairava )ho snipped one of 'rahmas


32/32

As the King prayed to her, Kamakshi Devi "essed him )ith four sons )ith Devaamsha% 'hakta

7anaas do get their desires fu"fi""ed as in the #ase of Dasharatha% ;ndeed Shri Devis Mahatmya is

unpara""e"ed and ine&pressi"e to 'rahma0 Vishnu0 Mahesh)aras

2 The aove Anne&ures )ere e&tra#ts from the /ayagriva0Agastya Samvada of Kamakshi Mahima as

!uoted y Markandeya Maharshi to King Surata3%

$M SHRI LAKSHMI KAMAKSHAI NAMAH

shri kamakshi vilasa

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