Varaha Purana 176.73 — Adhyaya 176, Shloka 73
The Māhātmya of Kṛṣṇagaṅgodbhava, Kāliñjara, and the Five Sacred Baths: The Tale of Pāñcāla and Tilottamā
नवम्यां ज्येष्ठ शुक्लस्य स्नात्वा गङ्गोदके नरः ॥ सूकरे तु त्रिरात्रं च मानवो दीपदः सकृत्
navamyāṃ jyeṣṭha śuklasya snātvā gaṅgodake naraḥ || sūkare tu trirātraṃ ca mānavo dīpadaḥ sakṛt
ജ്യേഷ്ഠ ശുക്ല നവമിയിൽ ഗംഗാജലത്തിൽ സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത്, മനുഷ്യൻ സൂകര തീർത്ഥത്തിൽ മൂന്ന് രാത്രികളുടെ വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം; ഒരിക്കൽ ദീപദാനം ചെയ്യണം।
Varāha (contextual default; speaker not explicitly marked in this verse)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"compassion","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Indirect: Varāha teaches a tīrtha/vrata procedure tied to ‘Sūkara’ (Boar-site), benefiting beings on Earth."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Sūkara (tīrtha associated with Varāha/boar)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"On Jyeṣṭha śukla-navami, bathe in Gaṅgā-water and at Sūkara observe a tri-rātra rite and offer a lamp once.","karmic_consequence":"Merit accrues through proper timing, purity (snāna), restraint (tri-rātra), and dīpa-dāna; omission forfeits the stated tīrtha-rite benefit (fruit implied by the māhātmya context)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Sūkara-trirātra (tri-night observance at Sūkara with dīpa-dāna)","tithi_month":"Jyeṣṭha, bright fortnight, Navamī; tri-rātra thereafter/therein","promised_fruit":"Purificatory merit and tīrtha-phala (implied); auspiciousness through dīpa-dāna and disciplined observance."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":true,"symbolic_interpretation":"Lamp-offering at the Boar-site symbolizes jñāna dispelling tamas; tri-rātra discipline mirrors tapas that supports cosmic order upheld by Varāha.","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"Dīpa as jñāna-prakāśa; vrata as antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (inner purification) enabling steadiness in dharma."}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"sādhana (discipline through vrata)","core_concept":"Purification arises from a blend of tīrtha-snāna, regulated conduct (tri-rātra), and symbolic offering (dīpa).","practical_application":"Observe time-bound vows with restraint; combine outer cleanliness (snāna) with inner clarity (dīpa/jñāna) and consistent practice."}
Subject Matter: ["Heritage Sites","Ethics"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: river (Gaṅgā) + tīrtha/kshetra (Sūkara)
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa: Sūkara-tīrtha and vrata prescriptions in tīrtha-māhātmya sections (general)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pilgrims bathing at the Gaṅgā on Jyeṣṭha śukla-navamī, then proceeding to Sūkara shrine where a single lamp is offered; a three-night vigil atmosphere.","item_prompts":["Gaṅgā river bath","calendar cue: Navamī","Sūkara/Varāha shrine","single oil lamp (dīpa) offering","night-vigil ambience"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized Gaṅgā with lotus motifs; devotees in simple garments; Sūkara shrine with Varāha emblem; lamp flame rendered bright against dark ground.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate shrine panel with gold-leaf lamp and halo; devotees offering dīpa; river suggested with turquoise and gold accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: detailed ghāṭa steps, reflective water; warm lamp glow; restrained, elegant figures indicating vrata discipline.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: riverside ghāṭa with soft blues; small temple labeled Sūkara; night scene with a prominent lamp flame and starry sky."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritualistic and steady","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"measured, procedural, devotional"}
FAQs
It documents a ritual calendar tied to specific lunar dates and a named site (Sūkara), useful for reconstructing historical pilgrimage patterns and liturgical practice.
Gaṅgā is explicitly named; “Sūkara” appears as a tīrtha/place-name (its modern identification requires external corroboration beyond this excerpt).
The verse promotes disciplined observance (vrata) and modest offerings (lamp-giving), framing ethical self-regulation and generosity as linked to sacred-space visitation.
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