132 Ram Narayan— Translation of the Ayodhyd-Muhatmya. [Xo. 2, 



and from the Sarayu to the Tons, it is called Antaragara [middle house} 

 Commencing from the Guptar, it extends towards the east." 



End of Chapter I, the reading or hearing of which causes all sins to 

 disappear, and good actions to make their appearance. 



Chapter II. 

 Pa rvati asked — "What are the benefits of a pilgrimage and visit 

 to Ayodhya ; how many sacred places and gods are there ; and in what month 

 and on what bathing days should the pilgrimage be performed ?" S'iva an- 

 swered, " Listen carefully to what I say. I have to mention things which are 

 secret and without a beginning. When a man thinks of going to Ayodhya, 

 his deceased ancestors are released from hell and sin, and repair to heaven, 

 and for every step on his way, he reaps the reward of an As'vamedha 

 (a horse sacrifice). He who advises another to perform the pilgrimage, 

 or in some way becomes the cause of it, is absolved from all sin, and ob- 

 tains his wishes. He who pays the pilgrim his travelling expenses, goes to 

 heaven with his sons and grandsons. He who provides a tired pilgrim with 

 a conveyance, goes in the conveyances of the gods to their regions. He 

 who gives food and water to a hungry and thirsty pilgrim, gains the fruit of 

 S'raddhas performed at Gajk and of bathing in the Makar season [Capricorn- 

 is] at Ilahabad, and his forefathers are blessed with everlasting happiness. 

 He who supplies a bare-footed pilgrim with shoes, obtains the conveyance 

 of an elephant. But he who in any way stops such a pilgrimage, goes to 

 hell, and suffers innumerable agonies for an unlimited period. He who fur- 

 nishes a pilgrim with a vessel for water, derives the advantage of keeping a 

 thousand paonsalahs. He who anoints a pilgrim's feet with oil, or washes 

 them well, will obtain his desires in both worlds. The pilgrim, who listens 

 to anecdotes of Vishnu, or sings hymns on his way, is looked upon as vir- 

 tuous. The pilgrim, who, dismounting from his conveyance, stretches himself 

 on the ground and weeps tears of love, is free from capital crimes, from the 

 guilt attending the use of corn and water not belonging to himself, and 

 from the Panch-suna. At the mere sight of Ayodhya, the sins committed by 

 treading upon corn, wearing shoes, &c, to which every one is liable, and which 

 are called ' Panch-suna,' and those of seven births, are removed. Do not doubt 

 this. Listening to religious stories on the pilgrimage, reading treatises on the 

 attributes of God and repeating his name, gives access to Him. He who, 

 on seeing Ayodhya, prostrates himself on the ground, and bows down before 

 it, becomes free from all sins and reaches the Deity. The benefits which a 

 pilgrim becomes entitled to by visiting Aj^odhya and by meditation on Rama, 

 are indescribable, and on seeing Rama's image all his sins are destroyed. 

 Hear me, Parvati, the mere sight of the Sarayu nullifies all sins ; bowing 

 down before it removes all worldly troubles, and bestows upon man every 

 kind of joy. The Sarayu water washes away all crimes," 



