Sthāṇu Tīrtha is a tīrtha (sacred place) on the river Sarasvatī. It was founded by Bhagavān Śiva, whose name Sthāṇu means “the pillar” or “the immovable one”, through his mahātapas (great austerity). Bhagavān Śiva performed a yajña (fire ritual) here and made the site holy.

The tīrtha is also called Taijasamanda (or Taijasamā). Here all the devas consecrated Kārttikeya as the commander of the deva armies (devasenapati). The consecration of Varuṇa as lord of the waters (jala-adhipati) is linked with the same site. Vasishṭha had a great āśrama (hermitage) here, and next to it stood the āśrama of Viśvāmitra. Bhagavān Balarāma visited the tīrtha and stayed here during his pilgrimage along the Sarasvatī.

The tīrtha established by Sthāṇu

The Sthāṇu Tīrtha takes its name from Sthāṇu, one of the great names of Bhagavān Śiva. It points to his immovable and transcendent nature. The Mahābhārata records that Bhagavān Sthāṇu performed mahātapas of great severity at this site, so severe that it is famed to this day. He performed a yajña here, worshipped the Sarasvatī, and so established the tīrtha.

The āśrama of Vasishṭha stood at this tīrtha. Close by, slightly behind it, was the āśrama of Viśvāmitra. The fierce rivalry in tapas between Viśvāmitra and Vasishṭha, which shook the three worlds, took place near here.

Kārttikeya’s abhisheka

The most famous event at Sthāṇu Tīrtha is the consecration (abhisheka) of Kārttikeya as commander of the deva armies. At this tīrtha, also called Taijasamanda, the devas consecrated Kārttikeya, the slayer of dānavas, as their senāpati (army commander).

The Mahābhārata tells this abhisheka at great length. Indra, Brahmā, the Aśvins, the Maruts, the Ādityas, Varuṇa, all the ṛshis, and the siddhas, cāraṇas, gandharvas, apsarases, nāgas, yakshas and many other beings came together. The rivers, the mountains, the seas and the devī of the earth came in bodily form. Kāśyapa and the Prajāpatis took part with joy.

Gifts of attendants were made to Kārttikeya:

Pārvatī gave her two attendants.
Vāsuki gave the nāgas Jaya and Mahājaya.
Hima gave Suvarchas.
Meru gave Kāñchana and Meghamālī.
The ocean gave the club-bearers Saṃgraha and Vigraha.

The devas performed the abhisheka with the holy waters of the Sarasvatī in golden kalaśas (water pots).

The account also says that Kārttikeya shared out the wealth of the tīrtha among the remaining dānava chiefs after the daityas had been slain. In this way Kārttikeya took his seat as lord of the deva forces at this holy place.

Varuṇa’s consecration

The Taijasamanda tīrtha is also linked with the first consecration of Varuṇa as lord of the waters. In the first Kṛtayuga the devas came together and spoke to Varuṇa. They said: “As Śakra protects us from fear at all times, so may you be the lord of all rivers. The ocean shall be your home. All rivers shall be under your rule. You and the moon shall share in the growing and the shrinking.”

Varuṇa accepted. The devas consecrated him by the proper rite as jala-adhipati and lord of the creatures of the water. This account of Varuṇa’s consecration, the Varuṇābhisheka-gāthā, is linked with the Taijasamanda tīrtha.

Balarāma at the tīrtha

Balarāma learned these two accounts at this king of tīrthas (tīrtha-rāja). He bathed in its waters and made offerings to Kārttikeya. He gave generous gifts of gold, clothes and ornaments to the brāhmaṇas and spent the night here. The next morning he touched the waters of the tīrtha and then left.

Sources

Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapters 43–47