Papavinasana Teertham - Bhadramati blessed due to Bhudanam

(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya - 20)

Sr Venkateswara

• About Bhadramati: There was an excellent brahmana called Bhadramati who was the master of the Vedas, Puranas and scriptures on Dharma. He had six wives and two hundred sons. However he was very poor. His family was afflicted with hunger and this tormented him.

• Bhadramati lamenting due to his poverty: One day Bhadramati started lamenting due to his miserable life filled with poverty and hunger. He lamented that poverty drowns even a person with good qualities and fortune elevates even an evil person in the eyes of society. He lamented that poverty drowns even a person who is the master of scriptures. Thinking along these lines the brahmana was plunged in despair.

• Kamini, the wife of Bhadramati suggesting her husband to give Bhudanam at the Papavinasana Teertha at Venkatadri: At that time Kamini, the wife of Bhadramati consoled her husband. She told about the sacred Venkatachala mountain on the bank of river Suvarnamukhari which is frequented by sages. She told about the Papavinasana Teertha which removes the miseries of a person and endows him with prosperity. She told about Bhudanam, the gift of land after taking Samkalpa in that Teertha. The gift of land fulfills the wishes of a person. She told about the incident where her father made a gift of land after hearing about its greatness from Sri Narada. Thereafter her father became very wealthy. Then Kamini told her husband about the greatness of making the gift of land.

• Bhadramati starting for Venkatachala. Getting a piece of land as gift: Hearing the words of his wife Kamini, Bhadramati started for Venkatachala along with his wives and sons. First he came to a city named Sushila. He went to an eminent and prosperous brahmana named Sughosa and asked for a land measuring five hands. Sughosa extended his hospitality and made a gift of that land. Due to this gift of land, Sughosa along with the crores of his family members attained the abode of Vishnu.

• Bhadramati going to Venkatadri: Accompanied by his wives and sons, Bhadramati reached the Venkatachala mountain. He took his bath in the Swami Pushkarini along with his family. He visited the abode of Lord Varaha and Lord Srinivasa on the bank of Swami Pushkarini.

• Bhadramati bathing in the Papavinasana Teertha and gifting land. Getting darshan of Lord Srinivasa and boon of prosperity: After bowing down to Srinivasa, Bhadramati went to the Papavinasana Teertha and bathed there following the injunctions. He made a gift of the land there which he had received earlier from Sughosa. At that time Lord Srinivasa manifested Himself before the brahmana. The Lord was holding conch, discus and club and was wearing a garland of forest flowers. The Lord was seated on the Garuda. Bhadramati eulogized the Lord. On being eulogized the Lord became pleased. He gave the boon that Bhadramati along with his family members will be endowed with worldly prosperity, and after death he will attain salvation.

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