Vāsavī-saṅgama
Vāsavī-saṅgama · vāsavī-saṅgama, “the confluence of the Vāsavī”
Vāsavī-saṅgama is the tīrtha at the confluence (saṅgama) where the river Vāsavī joins the Gaṅgā, the Gautamī (the Godāvarī). The Vāsavī is one of the rivers that came to the Gautamī for the sake of Soma, when the devas won Soma back from the gandharvas at a great yajña on the southern bank of the river, and a tīrtha bears its name. Brahmā names it to Nārada in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. Bathing at these confluences, or performing japa, homa and offerings to the pitṛs there, fulfils every cherished desire and gives bhoga and moksha; those who read of them or remember them go to the loka of Bhagavān Vishṇu.
How Soma was won
Brahmā tells Nārada that Soma, full of amṛta, who gives the prāṇas (vital breaths) to the devas, was once with the gandharvas, who had taken him away, and not with the devas. The devas came to Brahmā in distress: “Let some means be found so that Soma can be ours.” Vāk (Sarasvatī) told them that the gandharvas were passionate for women, and offered to be given to them in exchange for Soma. The devas said they could live neither without Soma nor without her. Vāk said: “I shall come back. Let an excellent yajña be performed on the southern bank of the Gautamī, and exchange me there for Soma.”
The devas agreed. Through messengers they invited the devas, yakshas, gandharvas and nāgas to the sacred mountain, which from then on was called Devagiri. Devas, gandharvas, yakshas, rākshasas, siddhas, ṛshis and the eight kinds of devayonis came. While the ṛshis performed the great yajña on the banks of the Gautamī, the thousand-eyed Indra honoured the gandharvas and said: “Exchange your Soma, whose self is amṛta, for Sarasvatī.” The gandharvas gave Soma to the devas and took Sarasvatī, and she came back to the devas in secret every day. So the devas had both Soma and Sarasvatī. For this reason one who buys Soma should speak in a low voice.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
The rivers that came to the Gautamī
For the sake of Soma, cows, devas, mountains, yakshas, rākshasas, siddhas, ṛshis, guhyakas, gandharvas, Maruts, nāgas, healing herbs, the Mātṛs (the Mothers), the guardians of the quarters, the Rudras, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Aśvins and the other devas who share in the yajña came to the Gautamī, and twenty-five rivers joined the Gaṅgā. The place where the full offering of ghee was given is Pūrṇatīrtha. Each river that joined the Gautamī has a tīrtha in its own name.
Brahmā names the tīrthas in order: Somatīrtha, Gāndharva, Devatīrtha, Pūrṇatīrtha, Sala, Śrīparṇā-saṅgama, Ilā-saṅgama, the holy confluence of Kusumā, Pushṭi-saṅgama, Karṇikā-saṅgama, Vaiṇavī-saṅgama, Kruśarā-saṅgama, Vāsavī-saṅgama, Śivaśarya, Śikhī, Kusumbhikā, Uparathya, Śāntijā, Devajā, Ajā, Vṛddhā, Surā and Bhadrā; “all these joined the Gautamī”. Vāsavī-saṅgama is the thirteenth name in this list. These and many other holy rivers went to the Devaparvata for the sake of Soma and joined the Gaṅgā in due order. Some flow east, some west, some are lakes and some streams, and each tīrtha is well known by its own name. Twenty rivers are named between Pūrṇā and Pravarā, and with them are five divine rivers whom Brahmā calls his daughters: twenty-five in all.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
The phala
- Bathing in these tīrthas, or performing japa, homa and pitṛ-tarpaṇa (water offerings to the ancestors) there, fulfils all the cherished desires of men and gives bhoga (enjoyment) and moksha.
- Those who read about these tīrthas or remember them are freed from all pāpas and go to the loka of Bhagavān Vishṇu.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35