Martand Shrine
Martand Tirath is of great religious significance and people from all over India visit here in order to perform oblations for their ancestors and for charity. Though these performances are observed here throughout the year but during the period of Malmasa / Bhanumasa (Adhikmas) a lot of devotees from around the globe visit here and get benefited. It is because Malmasa and Bhanumasa originated and flourished in Kashmir and Martand Shrine has been and still continues to be the focal point of this. Inhabitants of Kashmir have been living here and have held both these months as the emancipators of sinners. Martand Tirath is the birth place of the thirteenth representative of Sun God ” Martand “Son of Aditi also known as Parshotama governing the additional (leap) month which falls after every thirty two months, sixteen days and twenty four minutes. We can get enough description of this Tirath from Vedas; Upanishads and Purans. In addition to these ancient records Martanda Brahmanah and Martand Mahatamem describes exclusively the Martand Shrine. These books belong to Brahminical age following the Vedic Age. Bringesh Samhita is the main book which throws light on all the sacred places of Sharda Desh ( Kashmir). Martand Mahatmem is a small manuscript of about 16 leaves in Sanskrit language written in Sharda script; a script exclusively used in olden times in Kashmir.
The manuscript describes the origin, importance and the religious sanctity of Martand Shrine. It is actually a part of Bringesh Samhita book written by a Kashmiri Brahiman named Bringesh Rishi in about fourth century. The manuscript is in verses and is in the form of dialogue between Bhairva and his spouse Bhairvi or Shiva and Parvati.
Bhairvi : I have heard from you about the sacred shrines of Vishnu and Indra of thousand eyes and also about the sacred shrines of Anantnag, especially of the Gautama Naga, Krengesha and Matehha Bhawan which is very near to Martanda. Be pleased now to tell me about Martanda Shrine, Kamla and Vimla springs and the Chaka Dev Nadi.
Bhairva : Now hear from me about the sanctity of the Martanda Shrine, Kamla and Vimla Springs and Chaka Dev Nadi. I will tell you about the creator who creates the mobile and immobile, animate and inanimate. Brahma Ji by the power of his imagination created Maricha, Maricha got a son named Kashyapa who in due course married thirteen daughters of Daksha. Aditi was the eldest of them. Kashyapa advised her to perform austerities to Vishnu who when pleased will grant her wish. Aditi performed great penance in order to please Vishnu so that she would get illustrious sons. While she was in penance Narayana appeared before her.
She saw him and worshipped him. Thus Narayana was pleased with her and asked what she wanted. What more should one need when Narayana himself was before her. She however expressed her desire to be the mother of sons who are equal to her revered husband Kashyapa. ” I am happy with you”Said Narayana and bade her to go to her husband and serve him. Thereafter you will get illustrious sons. Saying this Narayana disappeared. Aditi thereafter went to her husband who was busy in his austerities. Aditi was wonder struck when she saw Lord Shiva instead of her husband there and became unconscious. On gaining consciousness she did not see Lord Shiva but Kashyapa, her husband who became enraged on seeing his wife looking at a different person for her love and cursed her thus: ” May your foetus get soiled.” Aditi, however continued to keep her husband in her mind and became absorbed in her penance for a number of years. Kashyapa on seeing the purity and preservance of his wife tried to persuade her to give her penance and told her that she has already made austere penance for twelve years. She may now serve her husband for the rest of the thirteen years in order to get good fruit of her penance. She therefore, concluded her penance and resumed the service of her husband. That way the spouse were happy. In due course of time she gave birth to twelve sons who became the proprietors of Kalachakra (Cycle of time) comprising of twelve months, six seasons, two paths Uttarayana and Dakshinayana.
Sage Kashyapa had thirteen wives. Aditi the eldest gave birth to the gods. Other wives of Sage Kashyapa Diti gave birth to Asuras; Surbhi eleven Rudhras and two daughters; Vreshbha is also son of Surbhi; Dhanu begot Danvas; Khasha gave birth to two Yakshas and Rakshas; Danayusha’s sons were called Vatras; Prabha had ten sons called “Gyan”; Iravan was son of Ira; Muni had sixteen Gandharvas and thirty four Apsaras; Kala begot two sons Kalapa and Kaal; Krodhvasha had ten daughters; Kadro gave birth to Nagas and Vineeta gave birth to Arun, Garuda, Gayatri and Havivahgan.
There were three reasons for birth of Martand. First: To locate a sacred shrine on the earth where Kaliyuga may not be able to trouble the righteous, worship with lot of devotion will result in oblation to ancestors and charity for the sake of emanicipation of sinners and to do good deeds and avoid evil. Second: To kill Jalodbava, a demon who had become a terror for all the inhabitants of surrounding places of Satisar. Jalodbava was granted a wish by Brahma Ji that nobody could kill him under water. Third: Dityas, Danhanvas and Rakshasas attacked Gods(sons of Aditi) and dethroned them several times. So Aditi was much perturbed about the future of her sons. She performed great penance for twelve years in order to please Vishnu.
Sage Kashyapa became worried about her health so he advised Aditi to leave that austere penance. He told her “Toyah Marate Mandam” (You have killed the egg i.e. ova). Nodoubt she was disturbed but she continued her austerity. Vishnu was pleased and blessed her to have a powerful son who will subdue all. But as an arrow shot never turnes back so did the curse. Aditi got a still egg which was of gold. She then prayed to Brahma who appeared before her and forbade her to wail and not to be purterbed. He advised her to throw the egg into the Satisar which would free the dead and be the giver of Dharma, Puniya (righteousness) and heaven. He said,” Your twelve sons will be the masters of Kalachakra but this thirteenth will beget a son who will overpower the other twelve sons. In the age of Kaliyuga those who are not righteous and who perform unworthy deeds and evil actions will be considered dead. Only those who are righteous, do good deeds and avoid evil will be considered as living. The thirteenth son begotten from the still egg will be for reformantion of the wicked and evil doers who for the reason are taken as dead. Because of these pious actions this thirteenth son will widely known and become illustttrious”.
Brahma Ji finally advised Aditi to throw the egg into the Satisar and gained prosperity because a very pious and sacred shrine in the three worlds will become known at that place by the name of “MARTAND” (Mritand) i.e. one begotten from the still egg. Thereafter Brahma Ji disappeared. They did at what they were told by Brahma Ji. Twelve sons were given twelve different names and places to preside over. Kashyapa then requested Brahma Ji to show them the place on the earth where Kaliyuga may not be able to trouble them. Brahma directed him to pray Lord Shiva for this. Kashyapa then worshipped Lord Shiva for three years; standing on the toe of his foot for one year. Lord Shiva got pleased and asked him what he wanted. Kashyapa begged that he may be pleased to show them a place where they could be savedfrom the rigous of the horrible and unconquerable Kaliyuga. Lord Shiva said that in Himalayas there is a Satisar which can be dried by the kindness of Lord Vishno. There upon Kashyapa prayed to Lord Vishno for one year who being pleased asked what he wanted. Kashyapa requested for Satisar to be dried. A wayout was made near Baramula for the water of Satisar to flow out. On one side of dewatered Satisar was found the still golden egg which had been thrown there. Lord Vishnu struck this egg with his chakra into two parts and great light came out of it which pervaded all round. Their eyes could not tolerate this effulgence and the places were therefore named as Braath, Anduraka and Krange. Prayers were offered to this great effulgence of light. Thus it was prayed as Sun God Martanda personified, of happy appearance, with yellow garments, with four arms bearing a lotus, a book, a rosary in three hands and raised open palm of the fourth to grant fearlessness with three eyes and surrounded with Yoginees who grant booms. This area was called Martandesh and the place where the egg was found was called Bhawan the foremost sacred shrine, giver of solace to the deceased. Five flames of light fell on the earth on four sides of Martand i.e. East, west, north and south. A great flame from eyes struck to the mountain top of the Martand area. This was named as Bargashikha ( the plume of the sun ) Bharga is one of the names of Sun God. A temple of Goddess Bargashikha still exist there even today. People often visit there, worship, offer gifts and find solace. Flame from heart as Yogeshwarem, those from nose and ears as Bhima; those from right side of its body as Bhawani and from its face was called Bhaswati.
From the two parts of the broken still egg sprang out two sacred springs; Vimla and Kamla; from the chakra flows the Chaka stream which destroys great sins and satisfies the dead by a pious dip in it and offerings of sacrifice. Vimal Kund, the stainless and pure gives salavation to the dead; and Kamal Kund gives solace to the living; water in the Vimal Kund bear Vishnu and Shiva and that of the Kamal Kund bear Brahma and Mahesh. The place is also called Matsya Bhawan.
One who comes near to me to have a pious dip. It also means a spring of fish who represent the Yoginees. It is sacred place that Shri Parshu Ram did his penance to purify himself from the sin of natricide. Prayers are offered to the illuminous Crest Light Martanda as the Sun God personified with four arms bearing a lotus, a book, a rosary in three hands and raised open palm of the fourth to grant any thing desired by a devotee.
BASAT PUNJKARM PRASANVADNAM PEETAMBARAM ALANKRITAM PADAMAKHAMAYA PUSTAK JAP VIDEEN HASTAY DEDANAM PRABUM SANTUSHTAM CH SAMAST KANTI VIMAL NETRE TRIYOD BASITAM DEYVAST PARIKARTAM CH VARDAM MARTAND NATHAM NAMAH.
Martanda destroyed the Detyas and Danavs Once Rishis of Uttarakhand approached to Martand. Prayers were offered; Martanda being pleased asked them what they want. They then said that they are tired of the worring world and have come for help. In Surya Keshtra Rakshas tease them and they may be subdued. Red with rage the Yoginees came out as bright rays from eyes, ears and nostrils etc. got united and were bade by Martanda to stay at the place and to destroy the evil doers and those who created obstructions in the path of righteousness. Martanda himself went to the mountain. Padasthal is the place where the Yoginis were struck into action. Lokari is the place where Yoginis stay. One who bathes there and performs Sharda and austerities gets the same fruit of imperishable as he gets in Prayag, Gaya, Ganga (Haridwar) or Kurukshetra.
In the month of Malmas. One who offers Pindas and water to his deceased, offer honey, milk, ghee and dharba. One who performs these for three days at this shrine in the month of Malmasa gets the things of his desire and his deceased get satisfied . Even the worship of Martanda with devotion is enough to get salavation and gain the fruit of giving a hundred cows in charity.
Bhairvi : My Lord you have said that the twelve sons are the twelve forms of Sun God with twelve different names who govern twelve months of a year. How then is there the thirteenth month and why it is called Malmas ?
Bhairav : After the birth of Martanda or Luminious God from impotent egg Kashyapa asked Brahma Ji,” The cycle of time is governed by my twelve sons. May this thirteenth be allotted something similar.” Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva discussed on this matter and an alteration was made in the Kaalchakra. The Gods on the basis of Brahmasiddhanta calculated and observed that in Solar year there are 11 days extra as compared to Lunar year and after every 32 months sixteen days and 24 minutes an extra month is formed. Thus Brahma told Kashyapa to designate Martanda sa the proprieter of this adhimasa and twelve sons continue to be proprieters of their own months.
Malmasa is the additional leap month which occurs about after thirty two months.
Since it is an additional month no good work is to be done in this month. For this reason it called Impure – Malam. It includes the full moon (Purnima) and the dark moon (Amavasya). After completing ten months of the leap year when sun enters the eleventh month, this month is called Banumas. This month is also condemned because it overpowers the other months. No yagya, marriage, yagneopavit, closing of facts etc. can be performed in this month.
Malmasi :- Those who are born in the valleys of Himalaya upto Vindya Mountains (Northern India) are believers of Malmas.
Bhanumasi :- All others belonging to South or other than Northern India are Bhanumasi.
Auspicious functions are not celebrated and fasts are not observed in this month. During this month no shrine except Martanda should be visited. Shrada of deceased should be performed by which they get satisfied. Hair and beard should be shaved before performing Shrada at Ganga, Madhumati, Priyag and Bhashara shrine i.e. Martand.
A combination of Sunday, seventh of bright fortnight, Shravan Nakshetra and Kar Yoga is called ” Vijaya Saptami”. On this occasion sharda should be performed of the deceased at this shrine. They get satisfied as if they come out of clouds into bright sun light. This is equal to Vishnu Shrada.
MARTAND NAAM TAT KESHTRAM PITRANAM MUKHTI KARNAM
Author : Sh. Hari Krishan Sidha