Akshasūtrā (wife of Āpastamba)

Akshasūtrā · aksha-sūtrā

Akshasūtrā was the wife of Āpastamba, a ṛshi of great wisdom and fame, and she was devoted to the dharmic work of her husband. Their son was Karuki, very intelligent and a knower of the truth (tattva).

Brahmā tells Nārada of her family in the glory of Āpastambatīrtha on the Gautamī, a tīrtha famous in the three worlds, whose mere remembrance destroys every pāpa. Agastya Maharshi came to Āpastamba’s āśrama, and Āpastamba, with his disciples, honoured him and asked which of the three Devas is most worthy of pūjā. Agastya taught that Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śiva are one supreme reality in three forms, and that every attainment comes through Bhagavān Śiva, who dwells in the Daṇḍaka forest on the Gautamī. Āpastamba bathed in the Gaṅgā and praised Bhagavān Śiva as Somanātha with a stotra of nine verses. Bhagavān Śiva, pleased, offered him a vara, and Āpastamba asked for others: that all who bathe there and have darśana of Īśvara should gain their cherished desires. From then on the place is called Āpastambatīrtha.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 60

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 60