The Six Kṛttikās (Kṛttikā-tīrtha)

Kṛttikā Tīrtha · kṛttikā tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the Kṛttikās”

The six Kṛttikās is the account of the Kṛttikā-tīrtha on the Gautamī, beside the tīrtha of Kārttikeya, told by Brahmā to Nārada in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. To destroy the asura Tāraka, Agni took the seed of Śiva into himself, and six of the wives of the seven ṛshis, all but Arundhatī, conceived through Agni. At the Gaṅgā they released the garbhas, which floated as foam and, joined by water and wind, became the six-faced Kārttikeya in a single body. Cast off by their husbands, the six women went on Nārada’s counsel to Kārttikeya, who told them to bathe in the Gautamī and worship Maheśvara; by Śiva’s grace they were taken back by the ṛshis, and the place has been called the Kṛttikā-tīrtha ever since.

The tīrtha

Brahmā says that next to the Kārttikeya tīrtha is the tīrtha known as Kṛttikā-tīrtha. Merely by hearing of it one gains the fruit of soma-pāna, the drinking of Soma at the yajña.

Agni and the wives of the ṛshis

Long ago, to destroy Tāraka, Agni took the seed of Śiva into himself. Seeing Agni bearing it, the wives of the ṛshis desired the same. Of the wives of the seven ṛshis, Arundhatī, the wife of Vasishṭha, was at her bath after her season; apart from her, the other six became pregnant through Agni.

The birth of Shaṇmukha

The six felt a burning within them, and they shone with splendour. “What shall we do? Where shall we go? How shall we gain puṇya?” they said to one another. They went to the Gaṅgā and pressed themselves hard, and the garbhas came out of them and floated on the water as foam. By the water and the wind the foam was joined together, and so the six-faced one, Shaṇmukha, was born in a single body.

Cast off

When the garbhas had left them the wives of the ṛshis went home. Seeing their changed bodies, the ṛshis said: “Go away. Go quickly. It is not proper for women to go astray.” And their husbands cast them off.

Nārada’s counsel and Kārttikeya’s word

Seeing the six women in great misery, Nārada said: “Śiva‘s son is well known by the names Kārttikeya, Gāṅgeya (son of the Gaṅgā), Agnibhava (born of Agni) and Tārakāntaka (slayer of Tāraka). Go to him. Before long he will be gracious and grant you your desire.” At the devarshi’s word the Kṛttikās went to the six-faced one and told him all that had happened. Kārttikeya received them and said: “All of you go to the Gautamī. Bathe there and worship Maheśvara. I shall come there myself and lead you to the abode of the devas.”

Their return

Saying “So be it,” the Kṛttikās bathed in the Gaṅgā and the Gautamī and, at Kārttikeya’s word, worshipped Maheśvara, the ruler of the devas. By the grace of Bhagavān Śiva they went to their own homes and were taken back by the ṛshis. From then on that tīrtha has been called the Kārttikā-tīrtha.

Phalaśruti

  • One who bathes there on the full-moon day of Kārttika, when it is joined with the Kṛttikā nakshatra, gains the fruit of all yajñas and becomes a dhārmika king.
  • One who remembers that tīrtha or hears of it is freed from all pāpas and gains long life.
  • Merely hearing of it gives the fruit of drinking Soma.

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 12