Abhishṭuta

Abhishṭuta · abhi-shṭuta, “the one well praised”

Abhishṭuta was a king of very pleasing appearance who performed an aśvamedha with Vasishṭha and Atri at the head of his sixteen ṛtvijas. Bhagavān Sūrya himself gave him the ground for the yajña; Tvashṭṛ and Yama drove off the daityas who came to spoil it; Agni was satisfied with his offerings; Indra promised that he would be emperor of both worlds and Indra’s lasting friend; and when he worshipped Maheśvara, the masters of the devas granted him both bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and moksha. From his yajña came Bhānutīrtha and the tīrthas around it, told in the Gautamī Māhātmya.

The yajña ground given by Sūrya

Brahmā tells Nārada of six tīrthas that destroy all pāpas: Bhānutīrtha, Tvāshṭra, Māheśvara, Aindra, Yāmya and Āgneya. King Abhishṭuta began to honour the devas by performing an aśvamedha. A doubt arose among his ṛtvijas: when a brāhmaṇa takes dīkshā for a yajña, the king arranges the yajña ground; but when the king himself takes dīkshā, who is to make ready the vedi (altar)? For a brāhmaṇa to do it would be a pāpa.

Vasishṭha, best among the knowers of dharma, answered that Sūrya should be asked, and taught the king this prayer: “O Savitṛ, prepare on my behalf the yajña ground fit for the devas. You are the divine kshatriya, O master of living beings. Namaskāra to you.” Saying “So be it”, Abhishṭuta prayed with faith to Sūrya, master of the devas, Ravi who is one with Hari, Śiva and Brahmā: “O Savitṛ, namaskāra to you. Grant us the yajña ground of the devas.” Because Sūrya is the divine kshatriya, Savitṛ, master of the chiefs of the devas, said “I shall give”, and gave the ground to the king. Brahmā adds that one who performs a yajña in this way never meets misfortune. When the brāhmaṇas, masters of the Vedas, began the aśvamedha, the king praised Sūrya, and the place where Sūrya came to grant the yajña ground is called Bhānutīrtha.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 98

The daityas at the yajña

Daityas, dānavas and other destroyers of yajñas came in the guise of brāhmaṇas, chanting like the Sāma singers, and entered unchecked. Some mocked the ladle and the other vessels, the wooden ring on top of the yūpa, the Sāman, the drinking of Soma, the havis, the priests and the king; others threw the yajña articles about, and others laughed. Only Viśvarūpa knew them, and told his father Tvashṭṛ, “These are the daityas.” Tvashṭṛ told the devas to sprinkle water with kuśa grass all round, saying, “All those who censure the holy yajña, the ladle, the vessel and the Soma have been removed by me.” The devas and Tvashṭṛ did so; the daityas were burned and crippled, and fled, and the place is Tvāshṭra Tīrtha. Yama slew the fallen daityas with the Kāladaṇḍa, the Kālapāśa and the cakra, and that place is Yāmya, also called Yamatīrtha.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 98

Agni, Indra and Maheśvara

The yajña was completed with amṛta offered into the fire. Agni was satisfied by the unbroken stream of offerings poured like a flight of arrows and was pleased with Abhishṭuta, and that place is Agnitīrtha. Indra came with the Maruts and spoke auspicious words to the king: “O king, you will become the emperor of both worlds, and without doubt my lasting dear friend.” Then comes Indratīrtha.

The king, with a concentrated mind, worshipped Maheśvara, worthy of pūjā, with Vedic mantras and non-Vedic stotras, with dances, songs and instruments, with pañcāmṛta, prostrations and circumambulations, and with incense, lamps, flowers, scents and naivedya. The brāhmaṇas expert in all rites praised and worshipped Śiva there, and the place is Māheśvaratīrtha. The masters of the devas, delighted, granted Abhishṭuta varas with great power, both bhukti and moksha, and gave the tīrtha excellent power; it is called Śaiva and Vaishṇava.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 98

The tīrthas of his yajña and their phala

One who remembers or reads of all these tīrthas is freed from all pāpas and goes to the cities of Śiva and Vishṇu.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 98

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 98