Agastya Tīrtha (Gautamī)
Agastya Tīrtha · agastya-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Agastya”
Agastya Tīrtha is one of the tīrthas on the Gautamī (the Godāvarī) that arose from the year-long yajña of Agastya Maharshi, when Śani, the son of Sūrya, destroyed the two rākshasas Aśvattha and Pippala who were devouring the brāhmaṇas. With it arose the tīrthas Aśvattha, Pippala, Śani, Sāttrika, Yājñika and Sāmaga, sixteen thousand and eight tīrthas in all, and bathing and giving gifts there give the fruit of all yajñas. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa.
Agastya’s yajña on the Gautamī
Long ago the devas urged Agastya Maharshi, the husband of Lopāmudrā, to make a request of the Vindhya mountain, which was rising ever higher to surpass Meru and Sūrya. With a thousand ṛshis Agastya went to the Vindhya and was received with great honour. He said: “I am going on a tīrtha-yātrā towards the south with these ṛshis. Give me the way, O lord of mountains, and stay as you are until I return.” The mountain agreed, and Agastya went south.
Slowly he came to the Gautamī, took dīkshā, and with the ṛshis performed a yajña lasting a year (a sattra).
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 48
Aśvattha and Pippala
Kaiṭabha had two sons, rākshasas who troubled the virtuous, known as Aśvattha and Pippala. Eager to destroy the yajña, Aśvattha took the form of an aśvattha tree (holy fig) and Pippala the form of a brāhmaṇa. Whoever touched the tree was devoured by Aśvattha, and Pippala, the younger, posed as a chanter of the Sāman and devoured his disciples. The Purāṇa says that is why even today the Sāman chanters are lacking in compassion.
Seeing the brāhmaṇas dwindle, the ṛshis went to Śanaiścara, the son of Sūrya, who was performing tapas on the southern bank of the Gautamī. He said he could not slay the rākshasas until his tapas was complete. The ṛshis gave him the fruit of their own tapas, and he said, “It is done.”
In the guise of a brāhmaṇa, Śani went round the tree in pradakshiṇa. The rākshasa took him for an ordinary brāhmaṇa and swallowed him. Inside the body, Śani looked at its entrails, and under his gaze the rākshasa was burned to ashes, like a mountain struck by the vajra. Then he approached Pippala humbly, as a disciple approaches his guru; Pippala devoured him as usual, and Śani’s gaze reduced him to ashes too.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 48
Śani’s varas
The ṛshis, with Agastya at their head, were pleased and granted varas to Śani, the slow-moving son of Sūrya. Śani in turn granted these varas to people:
- Those who keep the holy observances on his day (Saturday) and touch the aśvattha tree will see their tasks fulfilled and will have no trouble from him.
- Those who bathe in the tīrtha Aśvattha will see their tasks fulfilled.
On Saturdays one should rise early, meditate on Śiva, and touch the aśvattha tree with the prayer: “O aśvattha tree, at once subdue the throbbing of my eyes and arms, the effects of bad dreams and evil thoughts, and suppress my enemies too.” So the troubles of the grahas are removed.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 48
The tīrthas and their phala
From then on the place is known as Aśvattha and Pippala. Other tīrthas there are Śani, Agastya, Sāttrika, Yājñika and Sāmaga. Sixteen thousand and eight tīrthas arose in this way. Bathing there and giving gifts give the fruit of all yajñas.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 48
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 48