औशनस्

{ auśanas (kapālamocana) }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

AUŚANAS (Kapālamocana)   A holy place on the banks of the river, Sarasvatī. Brahmā, the devas and many maharṣis lived here once. [Chapter 83, Vana Parva] . This place is called Kapālamocana also. There is a story behind the place getting this name. At the forest of Daṇḍaka Śrī Rāma killed many demons. The force of the arrows took the skulls of the demons to far off places in the forest. One of the skulls thus sent far fell on the feet of a sage named Mahodara who was then going that way. The skull went deep into his foot and not only did it wound his foot but it stuck to his foot so hard that it could not be drawn out also. With his foot in pains the sage visited all the holy places but with no relief to his pain. At last Mahodara came to Auśanasa and to his surprise the skull came off from his foot healing his wound. He remained there for some time and obtained many divine attainments. From then onwards the place was called ‘Kapālamocana’. After this incident Brahmā, Viśvāmitra, Balabhadrarāma and many such divine persons visited the place. [Chapter 39, Śalya Parva, M.B.]

प्राचीन चरित्रकोश

औशनस् n.  उशनस् तथा षण्डामर्क देखिये ।