Siddheśvara (south bank of the Gautamī)

Siddheśvara · siddha-īśvara, “the lord of the siddhas”

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

Siddheśvara is a tīrtha on the southern bank of the Gautamī (the Godāvarī). Brahmā names it to Nārada in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa as one of four very holy tīrthas on that bank: Tapovana, Nandinī-saṅgama, Siddheśvara and Śārdūla. Merely by listening to the account of these tīrthas, Brahmā says, one is rid of all pāpa. The chapter then tells how Agni, carrying the tejas of Bhagavān Śiva, became the father of the twins Suvarṇa and Suvarṇā, and how the tīrthas of this stretch of the river arose.

The tīrthas of the southern bank

Brahmā said: “The tīrthas on the southern bank of the Gautamī, well known as Tapovana, Nandinī-saṅgama, Siddheśvara and Śārdūla, are very holy. Listen to their details. Merely by listening to them one is rid of all pāpa.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 58

The account of the chapter

When the devas were in danger from the asura Tāraka, Agni went in the form of a parrot to Bhagavān Śiva and Umā, and Śiva placed his tejas in Agni’s mouth. Agni placed the greater part in the Kṛttikās, and Kārttikeya was born; the rest he placed in his wife Svāhā, and the twins Suvarṇa and Suvarṇā were born. Because of the mingling of the tejas both became unrestrained, and the devas and asuras pronounced a śāpa on them. At Brahmā‘s word Agni went to the Gautamī and praised Maheśvara, and Bhagavān Śiva turned the śāpa into glory: Suvarṇa would be the purifier of the three worlds, and Suvarṇā, Kamalā, would be holy and dwell everywhere. Śiva then took the form of a liṅga there for the welfare of the worlds. When the dānava Śārdūla carried off Suvarṇā, Bhagavān Vishṇu cut off his head with his divine cakra and brought her back. The tīrthas of the place arose from these events: Śaṅkara-tīrtha, also called Vaishṇava-tīrtha and Siddha-tīrtha, where the cakra was washed; the river Ānandā or Nandinī and its confluence, where the tears of joy of Agni and Dharma fell; and Tapovana, where Agni performed tapas.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 58

The phala

• Merely by listening to the account of Tapovana, Nandinī-saṅgama, Siddheśvara and Śārdūla one is rid of all pāpa.
• A holy bath and the giving of dāna in these and the other tīrthas on both banks are auspicious and give all cherished desires.
• Whoever listens to this, reads it or remembers it becomes complete in every desired respect, and one who knows it and bathes there stays always rich and especially dhārmika.

There are fourteen thousand tīrthas on the northern bank and sixteen thousand on the southern bank, each with its own marks and name; Brahmā says he has told of them only briefly.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 58

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 58