Pavana-pura, “the city of Vāyu”, is a mahāsthāna-tīrtha (a great holy place of pilgrimage) named in Chapter 60 of the Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa. Brahmā sent the disciples of Śākalya here to be freed from the pāpa (sin) of brahmahatyā, the killing of a brāhmaṇa. The Purāṇa says Vāyu himself made the city. It has four sacred kuṇḍas (ritual bathing pools) and shrines of Dvādaśāru, Vālukeśvara, the eleven Rudras and Hanumān, the son of Vāyu.

How the tīrtha became famous

The Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa tells this at the great aśvamedha-yajña (horse sacrifice) of the rājarshi Janaka. At that gathering Yājñavalkya challenged the scholars to debate for the prize of a thousand cows with gold ornaments. Yājñavalkya defeated every opponent.

Then Śākalya, whose name was also Devamitra, stood up to challenge him. He was the foremost disciple in the line of Paila who handed down the Ṛgveda, and he was proud of his learning. He could not answer Yājñavalkya’s last question, and Śākalya died on the spot.

At the moment of his death, his five chief disciples took on the heavy brahmahatyā-dosha (the fault of a brāhmaṇa’s death). They were Mudgala, Golaka, Khātīya, Matya and Śaiśireya. In deep distress they went to Brahmā for guidance. Brahmā saw their state with his divine mind and told them:

“Go at once to Pavana-pura. Your pāpa will be destroyed immediately.”

The sacred places at Pavana-pura

At Pavana-pura the disciples carried out the rites of purification in this order:

Dvādaśāru. They bowed in namaskāra (respectful greeting) to the deva called Dvādaśāru (“the twelve-spoked”; a form linked with the sun’s cycle).
Vālukeśvara. They bowed to Vālukeśvara (the lord of the grains of sand), a Śaiva deva at this place.
The eleven Rudras. They saluted all eleven Rudras present at the tīrtha.
Hanumān, the son of Vāyu. They gave a special salute to Hanumān, born of Añjanādevī, whose birth is linked with this city.

After these salutes they bathed in the four sacred kuṇḍas at Pavana-pura, following the proper rules (vidhi-vidhāna). Last of all they had the darśana (sacred sight) of Uttareśvara, the northern form of Bhagavān Śiva at this place. By the grace of the brāhmaṇas who were present, all five were freed from the pāpa of brahmahatyā. They reached the sūryamaṇḍala, the sphere of the sun, the realm of liberated ṛshis.

Hanumān and Pavana-pura

The Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa also says that Añjanādevī gave birth to Hanumān near Pavana-pura. Brahmā, who came from the brahma-yoni (his own source of creation), was present at Hanumān’s birth.

This makes the city holy in two ways. It is the city of Vāyu, who is also called Pavana, and it is the birthplace of Pavana’s son, Pavanaputra Hanumān. The Purāṇa says the city is ancient and was made by Vāyu: pūrvam vāyunā nirmitam, “made of old by Vāyu”.

Merit of the tīrtha

From the time the five disciples of Śākalya were freed of their pāpa here and reached the sūryamaṇḍala, this tīrtha has been known as a pātaka-nāśana tīrtha. That means it destroys all pāpa, even the gravest deeds such as brahmahatyā. The Purāṇa says:

“From that time onward, that tīrtha became pātaka-nāśana (destroyer of pāpa). It is the ancient, pure city of Vāyu.”

Sources

Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 60