1S7-3.] Ram Narayan — Translation of the Ayodliya-Mdlidtmija. 1G5 



pond, by bathing' in which a man is absolved of all his sins. The pilgrimage 

 to these plages is performed on the eleventh of the light half of Kartika. 



" East of Suraj-kunda is Trepurari Mahadeva in the vicinity 

 of the Sarayu. By bathing in the Sarayu on the last day of Kartika and 

 worshipping him, people obtain their wishes. 



" East of it is B i 1 v a h a r i, the destroyer of sins. Its origin is this : 

 There was a very beautiful and young Gandharva who used to laugh at 

 every one, and ill-use Munis, devotees, and Brahmans. Seeing this, Narada 

 cursed him, and told him to be a buffalo for a thousand yugas. But he 

 solicited forgiveness, upon which Narada ordered him to go and live 

 in Ayodhya, where he would obtain salvation on the birth of Bamachan- 

 dra. Accordingly, he went to Ayodhya, resided on the bank of the Sarayu 

 for a long time ; and when he heard of Bamachandra' s birth, he went to his 

 house, and ascending a fine celestial car, repaired to heaven. He stationed 

 Vishnu at Ayodhya, and called him by the name of Bilvahari. He who sees 

 him is freed from the three kinds of debts, poverty or misfortune, separa- 

 tion from friends, and fear of enemies ; and 'he who bathes and worships 

 Bamachandra and Janaki here, will certainly gain salvation. Its pilgri- 

 mage is performed on the fifteenth day of Vaisakha. 



" East of it is V a 1 m i k a T i r t h a. It is related that a hunter named 

 Dindhir, from the Himalayas, once came to the Sarayu in pursuit of a deer, 

 and, seeing a devotee, halted for three nights. The devotee released him from 

 his sins, and the hunter spent a thousand years in devotion of the gods. He 

 was reduced to a mere skeleton and covered with a Valmika*. Some time 

 after, Bamachandra came playing to the Sarayu, and seeing the Valmika 

 touched it with his hand, whereby it assumed a beautiful shape and went 

 to heaven. Having observed this, Baghunatha asked him who he was. 

 He told his story and with folded hands fell upon the ground. Baghunatha 

 told him to rise, and by his order he mounted a chariot and went to Sakai- 

 tun. From that time the place was called Valmika. Men who visit it 

 are freed from the three kinds of debts. Visiting Valmika, leads a man to 

 Jana-loka ; bathing there leads to the regions of Vishnu. He who offers 

 here oblations, pleases his deceased ancestors and obtains the fruits of per- 

 forming a s'raddha at Gaya. 



East of it is the sacred residence of Bishyasringa Bishi, who was mar- 

 ried to Santaji, the sister of Bamachandra. He lived here with his wife for 

 a long time, and performed acts of devotion for the benefit of the people. 

 He who bathes in the Sarayu and worships the said Muni, obtains his 

 wishes. The pilgrimage to this place takes place on the last day of Kartika 

 and the ninth day of the light half of Chaitra. 



" South-west of it is P o n h a r i, where there is a pond, by bathing in 

 * A mound of earth, raised by white ants. 



