Brahmā’s Kamaṇḍalu

Brahma-kamaṇḍalu · brahma-kamaṇḍalu, “the water-pot of Brahmā”

Antariksha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Antariksha. Lokapāla has other meanings too: see all meanings of Lokapāla.

Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu is the water-pot of Brahmā in which the holy Gaṅgā was first held. The Brahma Purāṇa, in its Gautamī Māhātmya, where Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of the Gautamī, says that the Gaṅgā stayed in Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu and increased his puṇya (merit). From it Brahmā poured her as arghya (an offering of water) on the foot of Bhagavān Vishṇu when, as Vāmana, Bhagavān Vishṇu’s second step reached Brahmā’s own abode; from that foot she fell on Meru and flowed in four streams, one of which Bhagavān Śiva held in his jaṭā (matted hair) until Gautama brought it down to the earth as the Gautamī. So the Gautamī is called the river born of the kamaṇḍalu.

The Gaṅgā in Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu

Nārada said to Brahmā: “Devī Gaṅgā, who stayed in your kamaṇḍalu, increased your puṇya. Tell me in detail how she came to the world of mortals.” Brahmā answered with the account of Bhagavān Vishṇu as Vāmana and the daitya king Bali. When Bhagavān Vishṇu measured the worlds, his second step reached Brahmā’s abode. Brahmā, who calls Bhagavān Vishṇu his father, thought: “What auspicious act can be done for this second step of Vishṇu, by which my kamaṇḍalu shall become excellent?”

Brahmā tells what the water in his kamaṇḍalu is. It was bestowed by Tripurāri, the enemy of the three cities, Bhagavān Śiva. It is full of puṇya and excellent; it grants varas; it is calm and leads to śānti (peace); it is splendid and gives splendour; it is eternal; it gives bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and moksha. It is the form of Lokamātā, the Mother of the worlds. It is amṛta, a pure cure for all ills, holy, sacred and worthy of pūjā, the greatest and most excellent. Merely remembered, it sanctifies the worlds; what then when it is seen? “Remaining pure,” said Brahmā, “I shall offer that water to my father.”

So Brahmā took the water and offered it as arghya. Consecrated by mantras, it fell on the foot of Bhagavān Vishṇu, from there on Meru, and flowed to the earth in four directions:

  • South: Bhagavān Śiva caught the southern stream in his jaṭā.
  • West: the western stream went back into Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu.
  • North: Bhagavān Vishṇu caught the northern stream.
  • East: the ṛshis, the devas, the pitṛs and the guardians of the quarters caught the eastern stream.

One who remembers the power of these waters gains all that he desires.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 4

The stations of the Gaṅgā

Brahmā tells Nārada that the Gaṅgā was first held in the kamaṇḍalu; then she flowed from the feet of Bhagavān Vishṇu; then she stayed in the jaṭā of Bhagavān Śiva; and then, by the power of the brāhmaṇa Gautama, who propitiated Bhagavān Śiva, she came to the holy mountain and flowed to the eastern sea. Again, when he tells of the place where the Gautamī meets the sea, Brahmā says: “As she was coming down, the divine river was held in the kamaṇḍalu by me, and she was held in the jaṭā of Śambhu, the Paramātmā.” When Gautama had brought her to the earth, the Gaṅgā took a divine form and asked him: “Where shall I go? To svarga, or to the water-jar, or to the netherworlds?”

The Gautamī is praised as the holy mother who sanctifies the whole world, born of the kamaṇḍalu, who takes away the three kinds of distress and gives enjoyment here and hereafter. To her Sarasvatī went for refuge from Brahmā’s śāpa.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapters 7, 31, 102, 105

Indra bathed from the kamaṇḍalu

When brahmahatyā pursued Indra after Vṛtra was slain, the devas had him bathed and purified at Mālava, on the northern bank of the Narmadā. Then the devas and ṛshis brought the Gautamī Gaṅgā and bathed him again for the increase of puṇya. Brahmā, Bhagavān Vishṇu, Vasishṭha, Gautama, Agastya, Atri, Kaśyapa, the yakshas, the nāgas and others performed the abhisheka with that sacred water. Then Brahmā bathed Indra with the water flowing from his kamaṇḍalu, and from it two rivers arose, the Puṇyā and the Siktā, and joined the Gaṅgā. Their confluences are frequented by ṛshis, and the place is called Puṇyasaṅgama.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 26

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapters 4, 7, 26, 31, 102, 105