THE LEGEND OF SWARNAMUKHI & ITS CONTRIBUTION

Another awe-inspiring episode is related to its contribution to the construction of the temple. It goes - during the period of construction of this holy temple, incredible it appears that the labourers used to heap up sand near the temple before entering the field of work. In the evenings, after the work, they used to find gold pieces worth equal to the labour put in. Ah what a miracle! How compassion is the Lord!! Had not Yadavaraja, the builder received Sivanugrah in abundance? Were not his efforts and dedication approved by that Bhaktajanaparijata, even at the sankalpa to build a grand temple ? It is said in Skanda Purana that this holy river flowed at first with a sound resembling that of Swarna, when struck with hard piece. Hence the appropriate name, Durjati, the celebrated poet and the son of the soul described it as Mogileru, on account of abundant growth of Mogili trees in the river. Its glory in no point deserves underrated, or labeled inferior to famous rivers flowing across the Bharata Khanda.

So normally, all pilgrims bathe in this sacred river before entering the temple. It is in this, at a certain spot Mother Parvathi was taking bath before becoming Prasunambika. That place goes by the name of the Gnanaprakasan a Thirtham now. There are several sacred thirthas named after those, who did penance on the banks and bathed in them. Among them, Brahma thirtha, Saraswathi thirtha, Harihar thirtha, Mayura thirtha, Mooka thirtha, Chandra Pushkarini, Markandeya Thirtha, Brahmavidya thirtha, Kanaka Durga thirtha etc. are very famous and are visited by pilgrims. Each has a hoary legend.

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