Akashaganga Teertham - Punyashila getting relieved of his sin

(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya - 22)

Sr Venkateswara

• About Punyashila: There was an excellent brahmana named Punyashila who lived on the bank of river Godavari. He was pure, truthful and merciful. He was devoted to the worship of Gods and performance of holy rites.

• Punyashila inviting a brahmana (whose wife was barren) in a shraddha ceremony: Once a brahmana who was endowed with good qualities and was the master of Vedas came to the house of Punyashila. Punyashila invited him to take part in the shraddha ceremony. The wife of that brahmana was however barren.

• Punyashila becoming deformed in face: After this incident Punyashila became deformed in face. His face appeared like a donkey. Punyashila became deeply depressed.

• Punyashila taking refuge of sage Agastya: Punyashila went to the hermitage of sage Agastya on the banks of river Suvarnamukhari. He bowed down to the sage and asked for the reason for the deformity of his face. Sage Agastya said that the deformity was due to the sin of engaging a brahmana in shraddha ceremony whose wife was barren.

• Sage Agastya suggesting Punyashila to take bath in Akashaganga: As a remedy, sage Agastya suggested Punyashila to go to Venkatadri and first take bath in Swami Pushkarini, and then Akashaganga by performing the rite of Samkalpa.

• Punyashila taking bath in Akashaganga and regaining his beautiful form: As suggested by sage Agastya Punyashila took bath in the holy waters of Swami Pushkarini and then Akashaganga by performing the rite of Samkalpa. His deformity of face got cured. His face became beautiful like that of Kamadeva.

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