Jāpyeśvara is a tīrtha (a holy place of pilgrimage) near Naimishāraṇya. It is the place of the Japyeśvara Śivaliṅga, where Nandī, the beloved gaṇa (attendant) and doorkeeper of Bhagavān Śiva, did japa (repeating a name or mantra) of Bhagavān Śiva’s name. Five rivers, together called Pañcanadī, rise near this liṅga and meet there.

Nandī’s japa at Jāpyeśvara

The Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa tells of Nandī, the divine bull who is Parameśvara’s chief gaṇa, his vehicle and his doorkeeper. He did his great japa at the place that became Jāpyeśvara. He repeated the name of Parameśvara three crore (thirty million) times, with a single-pointed mind. The power of this tapas (austerity) filled the place.

Parameśvara was pleased with Nandī’s devotion. He appeared and bathed Nandī with his own hand, in a sacred abhisheka. This direct abhisheka by Bhagavān Śiva at this spot is what gives Jāpyeśvara its name and its place among tīrthas.

Naimishāraṇya nearby

Jāpyeśvara lies close to Naimishāraṇya. The Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa’s account places it near that forest, where Brahmā’s cakra was sent forth and where Mahādeva lives always with Pārvatī.

The five rivers of Pañcanadī

The Liṅga Purāṇa tells how Pañcanadī came into being in a single sacred moment. Maheśvara and Pārvatī showered grace on Nandikeśvara when he was given immortality and the rank of Gaṇādhipati (chief of the gaṇas). Each of the five rivers rose from one act of that grace.

Jaṭodakā

Parameśvara first gave Nandikeśvara immortality and a divine form with ten arms and three eyes. Then he took the sacred water held in his matted locks (jaṭā) and let it go. He said:

“Let this become a river. The name ‘Jaṭodakā’ shall be yours. One who bathes in your waters will be freed from all pāpa (sin).”

That water flowed out as a great river, full of lotuses and water-lilies.

Trisoḥ

Pārvatī then embraced Nandikeśvara as her own son. She smelled his head and stroked him with her hands. From her hands, three streams of milk flowed of their own accord, shining white like conch-shells, in a mother’s overflow of love. The meeting of these three streams became the river called Trisoḥ.

Vṛshadhvani

Nandikeśvara was overcome with joy at Pārvatī’s embrace and at the flood of grace. He cried out with great delight. The sound from his throat, the deep bull-like cry of joy, became the river called Vṛshadhvani.

Svarṇodaka

Maheśvara then placed his own golden crown on Nandikeśvara’s head. It was set with vajra and vaidūrya gems. At that moment the clouds above rained cool, sweet water on Nandikeśvara in celebration. That rain of sweet divine water became the river Svarṇodaka.

Jāmbūnadī

The crown on Nandikeśvara’s head was made wholly of pure gold (suvarṇa). From the touch of that divine golden crown, water arose and flowed as the fifth river, the Jāmbūnadī. It is named for the gold of the Jambū tree, the divine gold called Jāmbūnada.

The Japyeśvara Liṅga

The five rivers are Jaṭodakā, Trisoḥ, Vṛshadhvani, Svarṇodaka and Jāmbūnadī. They all rise near the Japyeśvara Śivaliṅga and meet at that sacred spot. The name Japyeśvara means “the lord of japa” (the master of mantra repetition), a Śivaliṅga whose worship goes with the repeating of mantras. Nandikeśvara himself later taught the Mṛtyuñjaya and other Śaiva mantras to people.

Merit of the tīrtha

The Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa says that those who die at Jāpyeśvara reach Rudraloka, the world of Parameśvara. This is among the highest phala (fruit of a rite) that any tīrtha gives.

The Liṅga Purāṇa gives the fruit of bathing here in these words:

“Those who bathe in these five rivers and worship Japyeśvara will remain steady in Śivopāsanā (devotion to Bhagavān Śiva) for as long as their prārabdha (the karma already ripening) lasts, and at its end they will attain mukti (liberation).”

So the tīrtha gives a steady stream of devotion to Bhagavān Śiva that carries the devotee through the rest of their karma, until final liberation.

Sources

Liṅga Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapters 42–44 (the five rivers and the Japyeśvara Liṅga)
Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttarardha, Chapters 11, 37 (Nandī’s japa and abhisheka, and the merit of dying at Jāpyeśvara)

Jāpyeśvara and Pañcanadī