GOdaavari PuShkara - Sinhasth KumBh MEla (Part - 3: GangA - Gaayathri - Gauthama ThrivENee Sangam)

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THE LEGEND OF GODAAVARI

 

 

 

kaShyapO-atrih-BharadhwAjO-viShwAmitraShca Gauthamah |

 

jamadagnih- vasiShTaShca sapthaitE RShayah smRthAh ||

 

 

 

( kShyapa, atri, BharadhwAja, viShwAmitra, gauthama, jamadagni, and vasiShTa are

the "saptharShis" - the 7 immortal RShis )

 

 

 

 

 

Once during the Krtha Yuga, the whole of Bharatha VarSha (Indian subcontinent)

was affected by a severe KShaama (drought). Food and water became scarce. Many

hundreds of RShis, ascetics and common people arrived at MaharShi Gautamas

aaShram (hermitage) which was located at the present day TryambakEshwar near

Nasik. Gauthama wholeheartedly welcomed one and all and rendered great

hospitality to them. Everyone wondered how he could manage to serve so many

people, daily.

 

 

 

The secret of this was that, Gauthama, after finishing his morning sanDhyaa,

would sow a hand full of rice grains, aBhimantrit (energized) with the

MahaaShakthi Gaayathri mantra, and sit there for Gaayathri puraScharaNa. Due to

the power of the Gaayathri, the sowed grains would germinate, grow and would be

ready of harvest by noon. Also, the cows in his aaShram used to yield much more

than other cows.

 

 

 

Day-by-day, Gauthama's name and fame spread far and wide. Even the Indra, and

other gods used to frequent his aaShram and seek his blessings. This made other

RShis jealous towards Gauthama and hatched a plan to mar his image. One day,

they created a calf and left it into the fields where Gauthama was doing japa.

When Gauthama saw the calf, he tried to drive it away with a bundle of darBha

grass. As soon as the bundle touched the calf, it caught fire and got reduced to

a heap of ash, then and there. The RShis, who were waiting for this, screamed

"gO hathyA" (cow slaughter) and started flaying Gauthama. They also refused to

luncheon at his aaShram in future. When Gauthama pleaded innocence and asked the

RShis what is the atonement for the sin, the RShis told him that he should bring

dEva Gangaa from the heavens, on to the earth and take a holy dip in its waters.

 

 

 

Sage Gauthama went atop the Brahmagiri hill and engrossed himself in a severe

penance to appease Lord Shiva. The lord was pleased by his austerity and penance

and appeared before him. The lord knew the sinister plan of other RShis; and

hence released a part of the Gangaa from his head by plucking his jataa (matted

hair). No sooner the Gangaa touched the ashes of the calf, it came back to life,

pardoned Gauthama and went its way. The sage took a holy dip in the Gangaa and

got himself freed from the great sin.

 

 

 

Because only a part of Gangaa was released, the river came to be known as anSha

Gangaa; and because it gave a new life to the calf and freed Gauthama from the

sin of killing a cow, it is popularly called as GOdaavari. Since Gauthama

maharShi was instrumental in bring Her on to the earth, She is also called

Gauthami. The place where the calf came back to life is now called

"KuShaavarta". At the place where Lord Shiva appeared and plucked out his jataa,

there is now a JyOthirlinga famous as TrymbakEshwara. The GOdaavari is also

called Vrddha Gangaa (why?)

 

 

 

 

 

Those who have "gO hathya dOsha" and "prEtha dOsha" (affliction of spirits) in

their horoscope will suffer from strange, undiagnosible diseases, especially

connected with the skin and the abdomen. All such people should essentially take

a holy dip in the GOdaavari, after performing certain rituals. Also, childless

couples, will be blessed with a child, if they bathe in the GOdaavari.

Sanyaasins, Shri-Vidya sadhaks, and other mantra sadhaks attain "divya Shareera"

(divine subtle body) and "mantra siddhi" if they take bath in the GOdaavari as

prescribed in the texts. (please see the message titled: Gangaa-Gaayathri snAna

paddhati). One's ancestors will be immensely satisfied if he performs the

"Shraaddh" (ritual for the diseased) on the banks of the GOdaavari, during the

KumBha mEla. A holy dip in the GOdaavari also brings "navagrah Shaanthi".

 

 

 

 

 

PUSHKARA MAHIMA

 

 

 

 

 

PuShkara is the sacred water in the "Kamandalu" of Lord Brahma. Once, it took

the form of a Brahman and appeased lord Shiva through penance, due to which, the

PuShkara PuruSha became one among the "aShta moorthis" and also obtained the

boon of granting salvation from sins, being present in the "teerThas". Later,

Brhaspathi (Jupiter) appeased Lord Brahma and requested to let stay PuShkara

with him. PuShkara refused Brhaspathi’s wish, but later consented on Brahma’s

instruction. In every Sanvatsar, Guru would be present in one of the 12 raaShis

(constellations). During the first 12 days and the last 12 days of Guru entering

a new raaShi, PuShkara would join him and both make their presence in the

teerThas along will all other gods. During other times, PuShkara will be in the

BrahmalOka. At present Guru (Brhaspathi) enters Sinha raaShi (Leo), and thus the

KumBhmEla lasts for an year. During this period, all teerTha devatas, and other

gods would be present in the GOdaavari along with

the PuShkara PuruSha. Hence, all the PuNya that could be obtained by bathing in

thousands of teerThas during other times can be easily obtained just by taking a

holy dip in the GOdaavari now. So chant:

 

 

 

jaya jaya gangE | hara hara gangE ||

 

 

 

and take a holy dip in the Godavari. My million salutations to u all.

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT: Mantras and rituals for the KumBha mEla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R.Srinath

 

srinath_atreya

 

 

 

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