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

[Guest guest]

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 Want to chat instantly with your online

friends? Get the FREE

Messenger