1S75.J Earn Narayan — Translation of the Ayod'hyci-JSLalwlmya. 171 



of Gulur Muni, who was very learned and obedient to his spiritual guide, 

 whose daughter he had married. She became pregnant, and when once at 

 midnight he read the Vedas, the child in the womb spoke and said, ' It 

 is improper to read the Vedas at this time,' which so offended him that 

 he cursed the child, and said, ' May thy eight limbs be deformed !' In due 

 time the wife gave birth to a boy who, though its eight limbs were deformed, 

 was yet a very fine child. One day, he asked his father's permission, went 

 out to perform his devotions, and set out for the Yamuna, where he worshipped. 

 He was engaged in devotion when by chance fourteen hundred daughters 

 of the great Eaja Mandhata came to the place. They laughed at the 

 devotee ; and angry at their impertinence, he said, ' Be ye, too, ugly and 

 deformed ! When they returned home, their father was surprised at their 

 deformity, and asked them the cause of it. They replied that they were 

 under the curse of the devotee. The father told them to go to Ayodhya 

 and visit Katala Devi. They did so, and were restored to their former 

 beauty. The pilgrimage to this place is performed on the ninth of the light 

 half of Chaitra. 



North-east of Katala is Manorama, thebestower of all our wishes, 

 where the renowned Eaja Das'aratha performed a sacrifice to obtain forgive- 

 ness of sins. He was successful, made an As'vamedha Yaga, fed a great 

 many Brahmans, and gave alms. Here the Gods, Gandharvas, and Munis 

 perform devotion to gain their wishes. Its pilgrimage is performed on the 

 last day of Chaitra. Oblations in honour of the deceased release them from 

 hell, and carry them to heaven. 



South-east of Manorama is E a m a E e k h a, formed by Eamachandra 

 with his bow for the sake of giving his cows water. He who visits it, 

 does not go to hell, and bathing in it destroys all sins. Men, animals, 

 birds, insects, and worms that die here, go to the regions of Vishnu. 

 Those who see this river, will gain riches, age, health, a son, a wife, a 

 grandson, fame, wisdom, and other blessings. A Brahman will gain spiri- 

 tual knowledge ; a Kshatriya victory ; a Vaisya, wealth ; and a S 'udra, 

 worldly comforts. Its pilgrimage is performed on the third day of the light 

 half of Chaitra. West of Kama Bekha is the Sarayu, bathing in which 

 frees all from sins." 



Chapter XXIX. 

 Parvati said, (t Mahadeva, relate to me more of the advantages of 

 Kama E e k h a." Mahadeva replied, " Listen attentively, for merely hearing 

 my story destroys the sins of all former births. The Gods, Gandharvas, 

 Yakshas, Kinnaras, Navas, Nagas, Gohink, Siddhas, Gerah, Nakshatras, Lok- 

 palas, Dikpalas and Brahma once came to Ayodhya to bathe at the Kama 

 Ghat on the birthday (anniversary) of Eamachandra. They all became pure, 

 x 



