Atigambhīrā
Atigambhīrā · ati-gambhīrā, “the very deep one”
Atigambhīrā was an apsarā, proud of her skill in dance and song, who went with her companion Gambhīrā at Indra‘s request to break the tapas of Viśvāmitra. For a thousand and one years she could not even look at the ṛshi; when the two danced and sang before him from afar, Viśvāmitra pronounced a śāpa that they would become water, and they became rivers. Their streams are the Apsaroyuga, the “pair of apsarās”, on the southern bank of the Gautamī. Brahmā tells her account to Nārada in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa.
Sent by Indra
When Viśvāmitra, after Menakā had drawn him from his tapas at Gaṅgādvāra, went to the southern Gaṅgā, where Bhagavān Śiva is called Kālañjara, and began his tapas again, Indra asked Urvaśī, Menakā, Rambhā and Tilottamā to break it. Too frightened, they refused. Then Indra asked Gambhīrā and Atigambhīrā, who were very proud of their skill. They promised to make the son of Gādhi fall by their dances, songs, beauty and youth, though he had not been overcome even by those women in whose glances, laughter and grace Manmatha lives for ever. Indra said, “So be it.”
The śāpa
The two came to the great river and saw Viśvāmitra at his tapas. For a thousand and one years they could not even look at him, for he was beyond the reach even of Mṛtyu and seemed like Dhūrjaṭi (Bhagavān Śiva) standing on the earth. From afar they danced, sang and spoke coaxing words, and the ṛshi became very angry. He pronounced a śāpa: “You will take the form of water, because you tried to melt me.” When they propitiated him, he granted śāpa-moksha: “When you are joined to the Gaṅgā, you will regain your divine forms.” At that very moment they became rivers.
The Apsaroyuga
The two rivers are called Apsaroyuga, the “pair of apsarās”. Their meeting with each other and their confluence with the Gaṅgā are famous in all the worlds. Bhagavān Śiva dwells there, giving bhukti and mukti.
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 77