SEVERED HEADS TROUBLING INDRA AND SAGE MAHODARA

Namuchi head follows Indra and a demon head gets stuck inside the thigh of Sage Mahodara 

Lord Balarama reached Aruna tirtha and Ausanas or Kapala mochana tirtha close to Sarasvati river. We will understand the glory of those two tirthas in this submit. I will share the incident of a severed head of Demon Naruchi who followed Deity king Indra and a severed head of another Demon who was once beheaded via Lord Rama got stuck in the thigh of Sage Mahodara. We will also know how were they later relieved.

A long time ago, Namuchi (Namuci) while being frightened of Indra hid at the back of solar rays. Indra then presented his friendship to him and informed him that, "outstanding Demon! Neither I will kill you by day nor via the night, and additionally not with any moist or dry weapons. friend! I truly promise this to you."

After that Indra broke his promise and finding the right time, he cut off Namuchi's head at twilight and with foam of water (which was neither moist nor dry). That severed head of Namuchi followed Indra everywhere at the same time and constantly told him that, "Oh Mitra Ghati Sinful Indra! Where are you going?" After listening to these over and over, Indra became worried. He went to Lord Brahma and explained the whole thing to him.

Lord Brahma then advised Indra that, "Aruna tirtha can free anyone from his fear of sin. You carry out yajna sacrifice rituals and take a bath inside the holy water. Maharishis have already purified the water of Aruna. The tirtha location wherein Sarasvati meets with Aruna is regarded auspicious. You do as in line with what I say and earn virtue by way of giving donations and doing Yajnas. "

Indra acted accordingly, therefore was relieved from BrahmaHatya sin and returned back to Heaven. The severed head of Namuchi dived into the tirtha, therefore, got salvation and went to Punyaloka. This was how Namuchi's head stopped following Indra.

Once Lord Rama at some point of their exile annihilated many demons in Dandaka wooded area. He cut off one demon's head which by way of the extreme force of Lord's arrow tossed above the forest, flew to a far location, and fell on the thigh of Sage Mahodara (Mahodra). With the extreme force of Lord Rama's arrow, that severed head of the demon straightaway pierced via the bones of the sage's thigh and stuck inside it. Therefore, Sage couldn't move anywhere easily. Sage was in severe ache. By hook or by crook he managed to go on his pilgrimage to all the tirthas. He mentioned approximately the stuck head to all the sages whomever he met in the tirtha places. Even after taking bath inside the holy water of tirthas, he could not be free from that pain.

Later he heard about the remarkable Ausanas(Ausanash) tirtha from many sages which used to take away all of the pain. Then sage Mahodara reached the location, did Achamanam Vidhi by means of the holy water (it is a purification ritual that remedies all physical and mental impurities), and took bath there. That very second the severed head got out of his thigh and fell down into the water. Sage was extremely happy then. That head also got vanished inside the water. Sage thankfully returned back to his ashrama and elaborated about it to other sages there. After being attentive to it, all of the sages named the region Kapala Mochana. Sage Mahodara another time went to that tirtha and after consuming its holy water achieved ideal sainthood.

Ref: Mahabharata book

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