Shalya Parv - Ch 35-42 (Kathaa - 5 War - p 50)

In Mahaabhaarat many pilgrimages have been done by many people at time to time. Teerth places have their own importance that is why they are called Teerth. At some places in Mahaabhaarat their importance is also given. The Teerth's names and their importance or a story connected to it are given here.

When it was decided that there was no other option than war between Kaurav and Paandav, Balraam asked Krishn to be in favor of Kaurav, but Krishn didn't listen to it, so He got angry and proceeded for pilgrimage saying that He didn't want to be anyone's side. This is the description of his pilgrimage. (branched from Kathaa - 5 War - p 50)

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Balraam's Teerth Yaatraa (Shalya Parv/Ch 35) - Prabhaas Kshetra - Why Moon Got Shaap

First He went to Prabhaas Kshetra. Prabhaas Kshetra is near Dwaarakaa. Once the king of constellations, Moon, was afflicted with phthisis because of a Shaap. He was released from his Shaap here and regained his energy here. And because this place used to supply splendor to Moon, it is called Prabhaas Kshetra.

For what reason the Moon was afflicted with phthisis? And how did he regain his splendor? Prajaapati Daksh had 27 daughters. Daksh married all of them to Som. All were the constellations and helped people to calculate the time. When Daksh married them to Som, he asked him to love all of them alike. Som promised for that. But among all of them Rohinee was the most beautiful woman so Som loved her most and lived with her more than with others.

His other wives became displeased with him and told about this to their father Daksh. Daksh warned Som about this but he did not listen to him and continued to behave as before. Daksh's daughters came back to Daksh again and complained again. Daksh again warned Som to behave with all of them equally but still Som didn't listen to him. At this Daksh's daughters came back to their father's house not to go back to Som's house.

Now Daksh was very angry, he gave Shaap of phthisis to Som. Now Som was afflicted with this disease and began to waste away day by day. He performed many sacrifices to get rid away this disease but failed. Now the herbs also stopped growing in the absence of the rays of the Moon. Then all the celestials came to Som and asked him - "Why are you not as beautiful as before? Tell us the reason, maybe we can help you." Som told them the reason, the curse and the disease with which he was afflicted.

Then the Devtaa went to Daksh and prayed him to be kind to Som, because in this way they were also suffering along with Som. Daksh said - "My words cannot be a lie, but if he promises to behave with all his wives equally, I can improve the Shaap's condition. Also let him take bath in the Teerth at Saraswatee River, he can get his splendor back. For half the month he shall wane everyday, and for another half month he will wax everyday. At the place where Saraswatee meets the western sea, let Som worship Shiv. So he came to Saraswatee River, the Prabhaas Kshetra, took bath there on New Moon day and got his cool rays back.

Balraam's Teerth Yaatraa (Shalya Parv/Ch 36) - Udaapaan

Then He proceeded towards Udaapaan. Maharshi Gautam had three sons - Ektaa, Dweetaa and Treetaa. All were very religious and like their father. When the time came Gautam Rishi went to his Lok. Then the Yajmaan of Gautam Rishi started worshipping  them in the absence of Gautam Rishi. But once Treetaa surpassed his two brothers and became like his father. Then the Yajmaan started worshipping Treetaa as they worshipped Rishi Gautam.

Once Ektaa and Dweetaa performed a sacrifice and became anxious for wealth. So they took Treetaa with them, collect the needful number of animals, drink Som juice and acquire the great Punya (good results) of sacrifices. Treetaa stayed in front and Ektaa and Dweetaa remained behind him. Once they were coming back from some Yajmaan. Treetaa was in front, his two brothers were behind him. darkness had fallen. There was a deep well in front of Treetaa. Treetaa saw a wolf coming from before him. He got frightened, he ran and fell in the well. he started crying. His brothers heard his cry but didn't come to his help, rather they left him there. Now Treetaa was inside the well which was covered with herbs, creepers and dust. He thought he would die there.

He started thinking as how to drink Som juice there itself. he was standing there. He saw a creeper hanging down the well. He then imagined water and sacrificial fire. Then he imagining creeper as the Som plant read some Riks etc that were necessary for sacrifice and performed all rites for sacrifice in imagination. And he began to drink Som juice in imagination. He made some sounds which shook the Heavens. Brihaspati said to other Devtaa - "Treetaa is performing a sacrifice, we must go there otherwise he is cmpetent to create other Devtaa." So all Devtaa went there where he was performing the sacrifice and accpted their shares. After that thy gave him Var as he desired. One of them was to relieve from this situation of falling in well. Besides, the person who takes bath in this well should be given the status which is reserved for who drinks the Som juice. At these words Saraswatee River appeared in that well and Treetaa came up with its waves. He again worshipped those Devtaa.

When he met his brothers he gave them Shaap to be fierce wolves with sharp teeth for their sins. Thus that well has Saraswatee River in it and the qualities Treetaa asked for it from Devtaa.

Balraam's Teerth Yaatraa (Shalya Parv/Ch 37) - Veenaasan

Then Balraam proceeded towards Veenaasan where Saraswatee River became invisible in contempt of Shoodra and Abhiras. And since as a result Saraswatee is lost at that place, Rishi name it Veenaasan.

Balraam's Teerth Yaatraa (Shalya Parv/Ch 37) - Naimish Aranya

After Naag Dhanvaan Teerth Saraswatee changes its course towards east - to Naimish Aranya. Once many Rishi did a grand sacrifice in Naimish for 12 years. After the sacrifice, they set out to visit large number of Teerth. Once they stayed at Samantpanchak. Baalkhilya, Asmkutta, Samprakshan and other Saadhu who were indulged in various kinds of vow also came there. The land there fell short and all could not get place there. So in despair they resided at other places nearby. River Saraswatee saw this and she turned towards them to oblige them. She gave them water and many other things which they needed.

Balraam's Teerth Yaatraa (Shalya Parv/Ch 38) - Sapt Saraswati and its Importance

Sapt-Saaraswat. Seven Saraswatee cover the universe. Wherever this Saraswatee River was summoned by the people of great energy, she made her appearance there. She appeared at seven places. These seven forms are: Suprabhaa, Kanchanaakshee, Vishaal, Manoramaa, Oghavatee, Surenu, and Vimalodakaa. Once Brahmaa performed a sacrifice on Prithvi, Many Rishi came there. The place filled with the sound of Vedic hymns. As soon as they thought of any article, it appeared before them. The celestials were satisfied with all kinds of articles. In the continuation of the sacrifice at Pushkar, the Rishi said - "The sacrifice cannot be said complete as the River Saraswatee is not here." So Brahmaa thought of her and she appeared there as Suprabhaa. Thus she appeared there also for the sake of Brahmaa and Muni. At another time she appeared at Muni's request at Naimish as Kanchanaakshee. In Gayaa, she is as Vishaal. 

Once Uddaalak Muni performed a sacrifice in northern part of Kaushal, and there she appeared as Manoramaa - as Muni mentally called her. Once Kuru performed a sacrifice at Kurukshetra, so Vashishth summoned Saraswatee there too. She appeared there in Kurukshetra as Oghaavatee. At one time Daksh performed sacrifice near the source of Gangaa, Saraswatee appeared there in the name of Surenu. Once again when Brahmaa was performing sacrifice in the sacred forest of Himvaan Parvat, Saraswatee appeared there as Vimalodakaa. Thus these seven forms are called Sapt Saraswatee. All these seven Saraswatee joined together where Balraam came, that is why that place is called Sapt Saraswatee.

Now you listen to the story of Mankankaa who led the life of a Brahmachaaree. He was the son of Vaayu (Pavan or Wind god) upon Sukanyaa. He was a great Rishi. One day while he was offering oblations in this river, he saw a beautiful woman and his semen fell in the river. He took it up and kept in an earthen pot. It divided in seven parts. From those seven Rishi, sprang 49 Marud Gan. Those seven Rishi were Vaayuveg, Vaayuhan, Vaayumandal, Vaayujat, Vaayuretaa and Vaayuchakra. Thus those 49 Marut were born from these seven Rishi.

Once Mankankaa's hand was pierced with a Kush grass blade. A vegetable juice, not blood, came out of his wound. Seeing the vegetable juice, the Rishi filed with joy and danced at the spot. Rishi and Devtaa informed Mahaadev about this dancing and to stop it. Mahaadev asked him - "Why do you dance like this? Whay have you got that you are dancing like this? It doesn't suit to a Rishi like you." Rishi said - "Don't you see that a vegetable juice is flowing out of my wound? Seeing this I am dancing with joy." Mahaadev said - "I do not see any wonder in this. See." and he struck his thumb with one of his fingers tip, and ashes as white as snow started coming out of that wound. Mankankaa understood that he was no other than Mahaadev. He fell on his feet. He said - "I do not think that you are no other than Rudra. You are the greatest. All the creation comes out of you and enter you at the universal destruction. I pray you, please destroy all fruits of my Tap.: Mahaadev got very pleased with his prayer and said - "Let the fruits of your Tap increase multifold. I will live with you in this asylum. Whoever worship me in this Sapt Saraswatee Teerth he will have everything whatever he will wish for.

Balraam's Teerth Yaatraa (Shalya Parv/Ch 39-41) - Kapaalmochan

Then Balraam went to other Teerth. He went to Usanaa, also called as Kapaalmochan. Formerly Raam killed a Raakshas and hurled his head to a great distance. That head fell on the thigh of a great Rishi named Mahodar and stuck to it. After taking bath in this Teerth that great Rishi got freed from that head. Besides, Kavi (Shukra) also did a great Tap here (to whom goes the credit of whole science of politics and morals - Shukra Neeti) and this knowledge appeared to him by inward light.

Why is it called Kapaalmochan? When Raam was living in Dandak Van, He killed a Raakshas with an arrow at Jansthaan. The head fell in deep forest. Coursing at will it fell upon the thigh of a Rishi Mahodar while he was wandering in the forest. It came with such a great speed that it pierced his thigh and got stuck into it. He was in great pain so he went to all Teerth places and took bath there but to no avail. Then he heard about this Teerth - Usaanaa, so he came here and took bath in River Saraswatee. He got rid of that head and got very happy at this. Balraam after giving a lots of wealth to Braahman here proceeded towards Rushaangu's place. There Arshtishen had done a severe Tap before. Here Vishwaamitra became the Braahman from Kshatriya. This place is capable to grant all kinds of wishes. Balraam went to that place where Rushaangu cast off his body. Rushaangu was a great Rishi. After resolving to cast off his body he called his sons and asked to find saome place where water was plenty. He cast off body here and got Moksh.

Then Balraam went to the place where Brahmaa had created Lokaalok mountain. Here Arshtishen, Sidhudweep, Davaapi, and Vishwaamitra got the Braahmanship. Once in Sat Yug, there was a man named Arshtishen. He tried his best but still he could not attain the knowledge of any branch of knowledge or Ved, so he did a great Tap by which he knew everything. Then he bestowed three Var to this place: 1. Whoever will take bath in this river, he will get the fruit of sacrificing a horse; 2. from this day there will be no fear from snakes and beasts in this place; and 3. by small efforts only one will get great results here And he went to Swarg Lok.

Besides, Raajaa Gaadhi crowned his son Vishwaamitra as Raajaa but he could not protect his kingdom. Once a great fear of Raakashas ran his public's minds, so he went to kill them with his army. He reached very far from his place, so he happened to be in Vashishth's Aashram. Vashishth served him and his army very well though his cow Nandinee. Seeing this Vishwaamitra forced Vashishth to give him that cow that it should be with a Raajaa not with a Sanyaasee. But Vashishth politely refused to give it to him saying that it was the daughter of Kaamdhenu and was given to him as gift to accomplish his religious tasks. Both had an encounter and Vishwaamitra lost. Then Vishwaamitra felt that a Braahman's power is greater than a Kshatriya's power, so he decided to be a Braahman and after long serious efforts he became Brahmarshi. Brahmaa himself had to announce it. 

Once in the times of Dhritraashtra, there was a Rishi named Vak (Daalvyavak) gave Dhritraashtra's kingdom as a sacrifice. In former times Rishi in Naimish Aranya, used to continue their Yagya even up to 12 years. In the course of that sacrifice, when a particular sacrifice "Vishwajeet" was completed, Rishi came to Paanchaal Desh, they asked its king 21 healthy calves as Dakshinaa. Dalvyavak Rishi, however, asked them - "Do you divide those calves got in Dakshinaa among yourself? Giving away those calves to you I shall ask a great king for some." Then he came to Hastinaapur and asked him to give some animals. Seeing his animals died without any cause, Dhritraashtra said - "You wretched Braahman, take these animals that are dead, if you like."

Hearing such cruel words from king, Vak got very angry and thought to destroy the king's kingdom. He cut some flesh from the dead animals, the Rishi ignited the sacrificial fire on the Teerth of Saraswatee and poured Dhritraashtra's kingdom as a sacrifice in that fire with those pieces of meat. And since that day Dhritraashtra's kingdom began to waste away. As a result the king began to lose prosperity and life. Seeing this the king got very worried and consulted Braahman o alleviate this problem but nothing worked. Then he asked his counselors, they reminded him about the evil done with the dead animals and told him that the Rishi is pouring your kingdom as a sacrifice. They advised him to go to that Rishi and make him happy by he side of Saraswatee's water. Dhritraashtra did the same. he went there, fell on to the feet of Rishi and asked for his forgiveness. Vak felt compassion for him, he freed his kingdom and came back to Naimish Aranya.

In that Teerth Brihaspati also gave sacrifices of flesh for the destruction of Asur. At this Asur also started fading away and were destroyed by Devtaa. Raam then proceded to the Teerth Yayaat. At that place after offering sacrifices by Yayaati, the son of Raajaa Nahush, the River Saraswatee produced milk and Ghee. Once again he offered sacrifices there and River Saraswatee pleased with him gave everything to Braahman they needed at their hearts' wish. Then Balraam proceeded towards the Teerth named Vashishthpavah.

Balraam's Teerth Yaatraa (Shalya Parv/Ch 42-) - Vashishthpavah

Long ago a great enmity rose between Vashishth and Vishwaamitra. Vashishth used to live in the Teerth named Sthaanu on the eastern bank of Saraswatee. Sthaanu (Mahaadev) had done a great Tap there. Skand (Kaartikeya) also