Varaha Purana 151.51 — Adhyaya 151, Shloka 51
The Sacred Greatness of Lohārgala
The ‘Iron-Bolt’ Tīrtha
धारा चैका पतत्यत्र हिमकूटसमाश्रिता ॥ तत्र स्नानं प्रकुर्वीत षष्ठकालोषितो नरः
dhārā caikā patatyatra himakūṭasamāśritā || tatra snānaṃ prakurvīta ṣaṣṭhakāloṣito naraḥ
ഇവിടെ ഹിമകൂടവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ഒരേയൊരു ധാര പതിക്കുന്നു. ഷഷ്ഠകാലം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച മനുഷ്യൻ അവിടെ സ്നാനം ചെയ്യണം.
Varāha (default dialogue frame)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious; seeking sacred-geographic guidance","key_question":"Which specific tīrtha/stream is this, and what observance makes its bath efficacious?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Himakūṭa-associated single falling stream (dhārā)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"One who has observed the ṣaṣṭha-kāla discipline should bathe at the Himakūṭa-linked falling stream as a purificatory rite.","karmic_consequence":"Observance plus tīrtha-snāna yields purification and eligibility for higher post-mortem attainments described in the following verses; neglect implies loss of that specific tīrtha-phala."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Ṣaṣṭha-kāla-niyama (ṣaṣṭha-kāla-uṣita discipline)","tithi_month":"Not specified (contextual niyama rather than a calendrical vrata)","promised_fruit":"Fitness for tīrtha-snāna leading toward auspicious loka/siddhi outcomes."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-yoga / niyama","core_concept":"Sacred places fructify most when approached with self-restraint and timed discipline.","practical_application":"Undertake the stated niyama, then perform tīrtha-bath with intention of purification rather than mere tourism."}
Subject Matter: ["Geography","Heritage Sites","Ethics"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tīrtha (waterfall/stream bathing spot)
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 151.58–62 (post-mortem loka-phala tied to this kṣetra)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solitary waterfall-like stream descending from a snowy Himakūṭa ridge while a disciplined pilgrim prepares for ritual bathing.","item_prompts":["single falling stream (eka-dhārā)","snowy mountain (Himakūṭa)","pilgrim with water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)","simple ascetic cloth","tīrtha markers/stone steps"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Lush yet cool palette; stylized mountain and a single white stream; ascetic figure in calm profile, minimal background architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Central pilgrim figure with ornate halo-like framing; gold accents on water ripples and tīrtha steps; mountain rendered as layered relief.","mysore_prompt":"Naturalistic waterfall with delicate linework; subdued devotional mood; fine detailing of vessels and wet garments.","pahari_prompt":"Himalayan landscape emphasis—crisp ridge lines, pine-like flora, narrow white cascade; small pilgrim figure for scale."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"calm, instructive tīrtha-māhātmya tone","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"clear, steady, didactic"}
FAQs
It captures a recurring Purāṇic pattern: a named or referenced mountain (Himakūṭa) anchors a water-feature description, serving as a mnemonic for pilgrimage geography.
A falling stream explicitly linked with Himakūṭa; the passage does not specify a modern identification in this excerpt.
Undertake bathing only after a defined period of observance (ṣaṣṭha-kāla), emphasizing restraint and intentional practice.
Ask anything about this verse
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