Añjana (Mountain)
Añjana
Añjana has other meanings too: see all meanings of Añjana.
Añjana is a mountain on the south bank of the Gautamī, at the side of Brahmagiri. The Brahma Purāṇa tells, in its Gautamī Māhātmya, that two apsarās fallen through a śāpa lived on it, Añjanā and Adrikā, the wives of Kesarī. On this mountain Agastya Maharshi blessed them with a vara of sons; here Hanūmān was born to Añjanā by Vāyu, and Adri, king of the piśācas, to Adrikā by Nirṛti; and from here the two mothers were taken to bathe in the Gautamī, the bath that Vāyu and Nirṛti promised would release them from the śāpa. The tīrtha that arose from it is known as Paiśāca and Añjana. Brahmā tells the account to Nārada.
Añjanā and Adrikā
Brahmā tells Nārada of the Paiśāca Tīrtha, honoured by those who expound Brahman. On the southern bank of the Gautamī, at the side of Brahmagiri, there is a mountain named Añjana. On it lived an excellent apsarā named Añjanā, fallen from her state through a śāpa; her face was like that of a vānara. Her husband was Kesarī. Kesarī had another wife, Adrikā, also an apsarā fallen through a śāpa, whose face and head were like those of a cat. She too lived on the Añjana mountain. The śāpa, the women later say, was the śāpa of Indra.
Agastya’s vara
Once Kesarī, well known in the world, went to the southern sea. Meanwhile Agastya Maharshi came to the Añjana mountain. Añjanā and Adrikā honoured him duly with pūjā and hospitality. Pleased, Agastya said, “Let a vara be chosen.” They asked: “Best of munis, give us two sons, stronger and more excellent than all others, who will help the whole world.” Agastya said “So be it” (tathāstu) and went on to the southern quarter.
The births of Hanūmān and Adri
Once Añjanā and Adrikā were singing, dancing and laughing on the summit of the mountain. The two devas Vāyu and Nirṛti saw them, were overcome by desire, and came to them saying, “We are devas, the givers of varas. Be our wives.” The women agreed, and they were together on the mountain top. Hanūmān was born of Añjanā and Vāyu; Adri, king of the piśācas, was born of Adrikā and Nirṛti.
Then the women said: “Through the vara of the muni, sons have been born to us. But our form is distorted, defiled at the head and face by the śāpa of Indra.” Vāyu and Nirṛti answered: “By bathing in the Gautamī you will be released from the śāpa,” and, pleased, they vanished on the spot.
The bath in the Gautamī
To please his brother Hanūmān, Adri, who had the form of a piśāca, took Añjanā and made her bathe in the Gautamī. In the same way Hanūmān took Adrikā, whose form was that of a cat, to the Gaṅgā and hurried to the banks of the Gautamī.
The tīrthas beside the mountain
From then on the tīrtha was known as Paiśāca and Añjana. Being near Brahmagiri, the mountain of Brahmā, it is auspicious and yields all desired things. The Mārjāra tīrtha, the “cat” tīrtha, extends fifty-three yojanas to the east. Beyond the Mārjāra tīrtha is the tīrtha Hanūmanta, also called Vṛshākapi, and the confluence of Phena gives all desired things.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 14
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 14