Śābhramatī River

The Śābhramatī is a sacred river of western Bhārata. The Padma Mahā Purāṇa praises it at length in the Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapters 135 to 150. The Purāṇa says the river is a strand of the Gaṅgā itself, which the ṛshi Kaśyapa received from the matted hair of Bhagavān Śiva.

The river has four names in the four yugas. Many great tīrthas stand along its banks. Its power destroys even the gravest pāpa (sin), frees ghostly spirits, purifies kings, and gives what is sought by tapas (austerity).

Origin, a strand of the Gaṅgā from Śiva’s jaṭā

The river comes from an act of Bhagavān Śiva. The ṛshi Kaśyapa, the great Prajāpati and father of beings, received from Bhagavān Śiva one strand of the Gaṅgā held in his matted hair (jaṭā). This strand of the Gaṅgā of svarga came out of Bhagavān Śiva’s own head, was given to Kaśyapa, came down to earth and became the Śābhramatī. The Purāṇa tells this in Chapter 135.

Names in the four yugas

Source: Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 135.

The seven streams at Vikīrṇatīrtha

At Vikīrṇatīrtha the Śābhramatī divides into seven streams (Chapter 137).

1. Śābhramatī, the main channel
2. Śetikā
3. Valkinī
4. Hiraṇmayī
5. Hastimatī
6. Vetravatī
7. Bhadramukhī

The tīrthas in order

The Śābhramatī mahātmya in Chapters 135 to 150 praises these tīrthas in order.

Brahmacārīśa (Chapter 135)

A Śivaliṅga of Bhagavān Śiva as the supreme brahmacārin. King Brahmadatta of the Solar dynasty did tapas here.

Nanditīrtha, also called Kapālamocana (Chapter 136)

Here Bhagavān Śiva was freed from the brahmahatyā (the skull) that had stuck to his hand after he cut off the fifth head of Brahmā. Here also the śāpa (curse) of the ṛshi Vasishṭha on King Saudāsa, also called Mitrasaha, came to an end. The king bathed at Kapālamocana and was freed.

Vikīrṇatīrtha (Chapter 137)

The place where the Śābhramatī divides into seven streams.

Gaṇatīrtha (Chapter 138)

The tīrtha of Gaṇeśa. King Viśvadatta of the Lunar dynasty won the grace of Gaṇeśa here.

Agnipāleśvara (Chapter 139)

The ṛshi Kahoda lived here. King Kukardama, who had done much pāpa, of Piṇḍāraka was wandering as an evil spirit. He was freed here by a śrāddha (rite for the ancestors) that Kahoda taught.

Hiraṇyāsaṅgama (Chapter 140)

A confluence. It is the birthplace of Urvaśī. Here too the body of Hiraṇyāksha became golden, and Janamejaya was cleansed of pāpa.

Madhurāditya (Chapter 141)

A tīrtha of Bhagavān Sūrya. It is linked with the śāpa of Māṇḍavya and the birth of Vidura as a śūdra. It is also linked with the flight of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa from Jarāsandha.

Dharmāvatī confluence. Here Dharma, born as Vidura, bathed and shed the state of a śūdra laid on him by the śāpa of Māṇḍavya. (Chapter 141)

Kambutīrtha (Chapter 142)

Here Viśvāmitra did tapas for children.

Kapitīrtha (Chapter 142)

Here Hanumān and the army of vānaras rested during the campaign of Bhagavān Rāma against Rāvaṇa.

Saptadhāra (Chapter 143)

Here the ṛshi Maṅki, son of Kaupitaka, did tapas for fourteen years to get sons. Maṅkitīrtha bears his name.

Khaṇḍatīrtha (Chapter 144)

Cows had been cursed by Bhagavān Śiva, because the dung of the bull Vṛsha had fallen by chance on his head in Goloka. They bathed here and were freed from the śāpa.

Saṅgameśvara (Chapter 145)

The confluence of the Hastimatī and the Śābhramatī. The āśrama (hermitage) of Kauṇḍinya was here. The river Hastimatī flooded his āśrama again and again, so the ṛshi cursed her to run dry in the Kali age.

Rudramahālaya (Chapter 146)

The great hall of Rudra. Bhagavān Śiva came down from Kailāsa and bathed in the Śābhramatī here.

Khadgatīrtha (Chapter 147)

The tīrtha of Khadgeśvara Śiva.

Mālārkatīrtha (Chapter 148)

A shrine of Bhagavān Sūrya. It heals lepers and gives sons to those who have none.

Candaneśvara (Chapter 149)

Bhīma came here on pilgrimage after he killed Duḥśāsana. A candana (sandalwood) tree became a Śivaliṅga here. King Kaivartaka is linked with this place.

Jambūtīrtha (Chapter 150)

Here Jāmbavat installed the Śivaliṅga Jāmbavateśa, also called Ṛksharājeśa, after the victory of Bhagavān Rāma over Rāvaṇa.

The power to free

In these chapters the river is shown again and again freeing beings in the lowest states.

• The ghost of King Kukardama was freed by a śrāddha on its banks.
• Dharma himself, as Vidura, shed the state of a śūdra laid on him by a śāpa at the Dharmāvatī confluence.
• The cows cursed by Bhagavān Śiva were freed at Khaṇḍatīrtha.

The river is open to all: kings, ṛshis, ghostly spirits and even cursed animals. (Chapters 135 to 150)

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapters 135 to 150
• Chapter 135: origin of the river, names in the four yugas, Brahmacārīśa
• Chapter 136: Nanditīrtha, Kapālamocana
• Chapter 137: Vikīrṇatīrtha, the seven streams
• Chapter 141: Madhurāditya, Dharmāvatī confluence