SRIVARIPUSHKARINI

" Then listen, the Pushkarani water in which you bathed is reputed to be as sacred as Mandakini river water used by the celestials for all purposes. And deemed holiest, so used for several purposes. It is said that its miraculous powers can cure incurable diseases of the bathers, in addition to giving liberation. It has earned a supreme place among the thirthas. It is brought down according to Puranas by Garuda from Vaikunta for Lord's Jalakrida in the beginning, and even now its water is used for the abhishekam of the Lord everyday. Its past and glory too are worthy o f mention and a bath in it is a MUST, since it is now fed with the sacred Akasaganga water and making it holier, adding, as it were, fragrance to the dazzle of gold. Two interesting episodes bringing out the efficacy of its water are recorded in Skanda Purana and Mahabharata. The legend says that a certain king of fame Dharma Gupta by name was once hunting in the adjacent forest till late in the night. As ill-luck would have it, he was chased by a ferocious hungry lion in the dark. He climbed up a tall tree in a hurry to saving his precious life; and found to his shock, there was a bear among the branches, who came there under similar circumstances.

As their plight being common, and goal the same, they entered into an agreement that both should guard themselves by keeping awake throughout the night, and if done in turns - one till midnight, and the other from midnight to dawn their safety would be assured. First turn went to the bear and it scrupulously attended to its duty - waking the whole time without a wink; for, the lion was stationed at the base on the ground; and moreover was entreating it to drop the sleeping man to appease its hunger, and if done, it would spare its life. 

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