The Gautamī and the Ocean: the Seven Streams
Samudratīrtha · samudra-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the ocean”
The Gautamī and the Ocean is the account of Samudratīrtha, where the Gautamī Gaṅgā meets the eastern ocean, a tīrtha that gives the fruit of all tīrthas. The Brahma Purāṇa tells it in Chapter 102 of the Gautamī Māhātmya. When the Gaṅgā, released by Gautama, came flowing to the eastern ocean, the Ocean saw that she was born of Vishṇu‘s feet and worthy of the whole world’s reverence, and took a humble bodily form to receive her. He told her that he could not receive her in one stream, only in many. The Gautamī asked him to bring the seven ṛshis with Arundhatī and their wives; then she divided herself into seven streams, named after the seven ṛshis, and entered the sea.
The Ocean receives the Gaṅgā
Brahmā tells Nārada: “Samudratīrtha gives the fruit of all tīrthas. Listen attentively to its features.” Released by Gautama, the Gaṅgā, destroyer of pāpas, flowed toward the eastern ocean for the good of the worlds. As she came down, Brahmā had held her in his kamaṇḍalu, and the devī had been held in the jaṭā of Śambhu, the Paramātmā.
The Ocean saw the Gaṅgā: born of Vishṇu‘s feet, brought down to the mortal world by a great brāhmaṇa, destroying pāpas at the mere remembrance, worthier than the worthiest. He thought: “She is worthy of the reverence of the universe, the devī of the worlds, bowed to by Brahmā, Śiva and the others. If I do not receive her duly, dharma will be stained. One who out of delusion fails to honour a great visitor has no saviour in either world.” Thinking so, the Ocean, Ratnākara, the mine of jewels, took a bodily form full of humility and, with joined palms, spoke to the Gaṅgā.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102
The Ocean’s words
The Ocean said: “All the water of Pātāla, of the earth and of the sky may enter me; I say nothing against it. In me are jewels, amṛta, rākshasas, devas and mountains; I bear all these and other terrible things too. With Devī Lakshmī, Bhagavān Vishṇu sleeps in me always; in the whole world nothing is impossible for me. He who out of pride does not honour a great guest falls from dharma into naraka. I have no pain in bearing all these, except the discomfiture I suffered from Agastya. But in dignity you are far above them all. So I say this, Devī Gaṅgā: join me as an equal. If you come in your whole form, in a single stream, I cannot receive you. If you join me in many streams, I shall receive you, and not otherwise.”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102
The seven streams
The Gautamī Gaṅgā said to the Ocean: “Do as I say. Bring here Arundhatī and the others, the wives of the seven ṛshis, together with their husbands. Then I shall make myself smaller and join you.” Saying “So be it”, the Ocean brought the seven ṛshis and their wives to the devī. She divided herself into seven streams, and the Gautamī Gaṅgā went to the Ocean in seven channels. These seven Gaṅgās came to be known by the names of the seven ṛshis.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102
The phalaśruti
Taking a holy bath there, giving dāna, and devoutly hearing, reading and remembering this narrative are auspicious and fulfil every cherished desire. In the three worlds there is no tīrtha greater than the Ocean for one who seeks the destruction of pāpas, bhukti and mukti, and contentment of mind.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102