On Picture - Bhagavan Shree Rama and Jatayu |
The Chapter about Shree RamaKrishna Tirtha from "Shree Skanda-Purana", loved it very much and OCRed.
"Shree Skanda-Purana", Shree VenkataChala Mahatmya, Chapter 15 (from O4th Volume of English edition by Motilal Banasirdass)
THE GREATNESS OF SHREE RAMAKRISHNA TIRTHA
Shree Suta said:
1-3. Listen with great concentration (of mind) to the greatness of Shree Krishna Tirtha located on the mountain named Venkata that is highly meritorious and destructive of all sins.
By merely taking the bath here even an ungrateful person will be liberated (from sins). All those persons who insult and dishonour fathers, mothers, preceptors and elders, those who are deluded, those who are wicked in their minds, and others who are ungrateful and shameless, become purified merely by bathing in this Krishna Tirtha.
4-5. Formerly there lived a sage named Krishna on the mountain named Venkata. He was engaged in penance. He meditated on Bhagavan Shree Vishnu with great concentration. It was he who made a Tirtha for the purpose of bathing. It is an excellent Tirtha. By taking bath there even once even an ungrateful man becomes liberated.
THE STORY OF SHREE RAMAKRISHNA TIRTHA.
6. In this connection I shall recount the ancient legend that is destructive of sins. Merely by listening to it a man attains salvation.
7-8. Formerly there was a prominent Brahmana named RamaKrishna. He was a great sage. He was of good conduct and habits. He was truthful and eloquent. He was endowed with kindness for all living beings.
He behaved impartially towards enemies as well as friends. He had perfect control over his sense-organs.
He was an ascetic who had conquered his senses. He was an expert in the knowledge of The Supreme Brahman. He resorted solely to Brahman.
9-12a. That sage of such a magnanimity performed a very severe penance. He was motionless in every limb wherever he stood on the surface of the earth.
He did not move even to the extent of an atom from his position. He stood there and performed penance for many hundreds of years. An anthill was formed over him and it covered all his body.
Though the whole of his body was thus covered by the anthill, RamaKrishna, the great sage, went on with his penance and was not aware of the anthill.
12b-15. While he was performing the penance, Vasava (the Rain-god) let loose groups of clouds and showered heavily on the great sage. Thus he continuously showered for seven days.
Though he was showered with great torrential downpour, the sage received that shower (quietly) with closed eyes. Deafening the ears with loud rattling and rumbling of the clouds, a great thunderbolt fell upon the anthill.
THE LORD DELIGHTED BY THE PENANCE OF THE GREAT SAGE RAMAKRISHNA APPEARS BEFORE HIM
16-18. While the Lord of clouds showered rain unbearable due to cool winds etc., the top of the anthill crumbled on being struck by the thunderbolt.
Then Bhagavan Shree Shrinivasa holding the conch, the discus and the iron club manifested himself. He was seated on Garuda and was adorned with garlands of sylvan flowers. Being pleased with the penance of RamaKrishna, he spoke these words:
Bhagavan Shrinivasa said:
19-21a. "O RamaKrishna, O storehouse of penance, O master of the contents of the Vedas and Shastras (scriptural texts), an excellent man who takes bath (in the Tirtha) on the day of My manifestation (attains great merit).
The benefit and merit that he gets cannot be recounted even by Shesa. It is laid down that the time for the holy bath, O Brahmana, is when the Sun is in the Zodiac Capricorn, on the great lunar day of Full Moon in conjunction with the constellation Pushya.
21b-24. A man of great intellect who bathes in Krishna-Tirtha on that day shall get rid of all sins. He shall obtain all desires.
Devas, human beings and all the Guardians of the Quarters with great prowess arrive there in order to take their holy bath in the auspicious waters of Krishna-Tirtha and for the sake of washing off their sins.
All these noble souls gain lustre similar to that of crores of suns. Indeed they all become purified through the bath in this Tirtha.
25. This great Tirtha shall be named after you. It will become very famous in the world."
After saying this Bhagavan Shree Shrinivasa vanished there itself.
26-27. Of such power is Shree RamaKrishna Tirtha. It dispels great sins. It bestows purity of intellect on men. It grants all prosperity and magnificence.
Thus, O Brahmanas, The Greatness of Shree RamaKrishna Tirtha has been recounted to you. It enables those who listen to and read this (account) to attain Shree Vishnu-Loka.
Cited from "Shree Skanda-Purana"