Pushpotkaṭa

Pushpotkaṭa · pushpa-utkaṭa, “rich in flowers”

Śubhra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Śubhra.

Pushpotkaṭa is a place on the southern bank of the Gautamī (the Godāvarī). The Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa names it as the landmark of Mount Śubhra, which lies to its east, the mountain on which the Sārasvata tīrtha arose.

Mount Śubhra, east of Pushpotkaṭa

Brahmā tells Nārada of the Sārasvata tīrtha, which gives bhukti and mukti, destroys all pāpas, subdues all ailments and bestows all siddhis. To the east of Pushpotkaṭa, on the southern bank of the Gautamī, is the mountain known in all the worlds, the most excellent mountain named Śubhra. There the ṛshi Śākalya performed tapas, tending the sacred fire and studying the Vedas, on a mountain frequented by ṛshis, gandharvas and devas.

On the same mountain lived the rākshasa Paraśu, who took any form he wished and killed brāhmaṇas. He came to Śākalya as an old brāhmaṇa guest and, once fed, said he would eat him; Śākalya, who had kept his promise to his guest, recited a kavaca of the names of Bhagavān Vishṇu and told the rākshasa to eat him. But when Paraśu came near with his fanged mouth, he saw in Śākalya the form of Bhagavān Vishṇu, holding the śaṅkha, cakra and gadā, with a thousand heads, eyes and hands, and he took refuge in the ṛshi and asked for a tīrtha to expiate his pāpas. At Śākalya’s word Paraśu bathed in the Gaṅgā and had darśana of Devī Sarasvatī; by her grace he praised Bhagavān Vishṇu, who granted his wishes, and he went to svarga.

From then on the tīrtha is known as Sārasvata. By bathing there and giving dāna one is honoured in Vishṇuloka. On that Śveta mountain there are many tīrthas born of the grace of Sarasvatī, Vishṇu, Śākalya and Paraśu.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 93

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 93