There are many sacred places upon this earth, each sanctified by the presence of divinity and the touch of holy waters. Among these, the revered Daśāśvamedhika, the gateway of the Ganga known as Gaṅgādvāra, and the auspicious tirthas of Nandā and Lalitā, as well as the sacred site of Māyāpurī, shine forth in their auspiciousness. Similarly, the holy ground called Mitrapada, the illustrious Kedāra, and the confluence known as Gaṅgāsāgara are all graced with the power and presence of all other tirthas within themselves. The sacred Brahmasaras, the waters of the Śatadru, and the lake known as Naimiṣa are renowned for bestowing the fruits of all pilgrimages upon those who visit them. At the source of the Ganga, in the land of the Gomati, the eternal one made his appearance; here too dwell Yajñavarāha and the Lord of the gods, the trident-bearing Shiva. There stands the golden gate where the mighty Hara, with eighteen arms, abides, and where once the rim of Hari’s discus was broken. This is the Naimiṣa forest, beloved of all holy sites, where the vision of Varāha, the Lord of gods, can also be beheld. Those who journey there, purified in heart and soul, attain the abode of Nārāyaṇa, gaining immense merit and the destruction of all their sins. In this very place, Nārasiṃha himself, known also as Janārdana, resides. The tirtha called Ikṣumatī is especially dear to the ancestors, who are honored there. At the confluence where the ancestors are ever present by the Ganga’s flow, stands Kurukshetra, the holiest of places, endowed with all sacred fords. The holy Sarayu, venerated by all the gods, and the river Iravati as well, are cherished as abodes of ancestral fords. Alongside these, the Yamuna, Devika, Kali, Chandrabhaga, Drishadvati, Venumati, and the supremely holy Vetravati are all rivers beloved to the ancestors. When śrāddha rites are performed at these places, the merit gained is said to be multiplied ten millionfold. The path of Jambu, marked and sacred, is also supremely holy. To this day, the ancestral ford known as Nilakunda continues to grant all desired fruits to those who seek it, for it is renowned as a sacred place for honoring the ancestors. There are other holy places too: the splitting of the Vamsha, the splitting of Hara, the division of the Ganga—each yielding immense fruit—along with Bhadreshvara, Vishnupada, and the gateway of the Narmada. The great sages proclaim that the offering of piṇḍa at Gaya, as well as at these other ancestral fords, removes all sins. Even the mere remembrance of these places brings blessings; how much more so for those who perform śrāddha there, or at Oṃkāra, the ancestral ford, or at the Kaveri, whose waters are blessed by Kapila. The confluence at Chandavega, the heights of Amarakantaka—bathing and performing sacred acts at these places brings a hundred times the merit of Kurukshetra itself. The renowned tirtha of Shukra, the sacred place of Someshvara—these are supremely meritorious, removing all diseases and yielding a hundred crore times the fruit. In acts of śrāddha, giving, oblation, self-study, and even in the presence of water, at the descent of the body, the river Charmaṇvati is also sanctified. The Gomati, the Varana, the supremely sacred Maushanasa ford, Bhairava, Bhrigutunga, and the peerless Gauri ford—all these are holy. There is the sacred Vainayaka, Bhadreshvara again, and the holy river Tapati, well known for removing sins. Mulatapi, Payoshni, their confluence, Mahabodhi, Patalā, the Naga ford, and Avantika—all are esteemed. The holy river Vena, the great Shala, the mighty Rudra, the great Linga, and the auspicious Dasharna river are likewise celebrated. Shatarudra, Shatahva, the supreme Vishvapada, Angaravahika, and the two rivers Shonagharghara are all revered. The river Kalika and the river Vitasta are praised as ancestral fords for bathing and giving. Whatever is offered in śrāddha at these places brings infinite fruit: the Droni, the Vata river, Dhara, and the river of milk are among these. Gokarna, Gajakarna, Purushottama, Dvaraka, Krishnatirtha, Arbuda, and Sarasvati are all sanctified. The river Manimati, Girikarnika, the holy place Dhutapapa, and the southern ocean are also sacred. At all these ancestral holy places, offerings to the ancestors yield endless rewards. The holy place called Meghakara is where Janardana himself dwells. There, in Mekhala, where Vishnu, the bearer of the Sharnga bow, abides, and at the Mandodari holy place, as well as the auspicious river Campa, the sacredness is profound. Samalanatha, the great Shala river, Chakravaka, Charmakota, and the great Janmeshvara are also holy. Arjuna, Tripura, Siddheshvara, and beyond, Shrisaila—the Shaiva holy place—and Narasimha are venerated. Mahendra and the sacred place called Shriranga are among the most hallowed; at all these, offerings to the ancestors are said to yield infinite fruit. Even the sight of these places destroys sins at once: the holy river Tungabhadra, the river Bhimarathi, Bheemesvara, Krishnavena, Kaveri, the river Kudmala, the river Godavari, and the supreme holy place Trisandhya. Trayambaka, revered by all holy sites, is where the blessed Lord, the three-eyed one, himself dwells. At all these places, ancestral offerings bring a hundred million times the merit, and even remembering them destroys sins a hundredfold. Shriparni, Tamraparni, Jaya—the unsurpassed holy place—Matsya river, and Shivadhara are all sacred. The famous Bhadratirtha, the eternal Pampatirtha, the sacred Rameshvara, and the pure city of Elapura are renowned. Angabhuta, Amardaka, Alambusha, Amratakeshvara, and beyond, Ekambhaka, are all celebrated as holy. In this way, the multitude of sacred places, rivers, and confluences are glorified, each one a vessel of blessings, sanctity, and the fulfillment of all desires for those who approach with faith, devotion, and reverence.