Agnitīrtha (Vahnitīrtha)
Agnitīrtha · agni-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Agni”
Agni Tīrtha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Agni Tīrtha.
Agnitīrtha, also called Vahnitīrtha, is a tīrtha on the Gautamī (the Godāvarī), near the āśrama of the ṛshis where Agni‘s brother Jātavedas was slain. Overcome by anger, Agni entered the waters of the Gaṅgā here, and the devas, the ṛshis and the pitṛs came to this place, praised him, gave him long life and his share of every yajña, drew him out of the water and consecrated him. Seven hundred tīrthas of great puṇya arose there, among them Devatīrtha, Āgneyatīrtha and Jātavedasa, and Agni established a multicoloured liṅga there. Agnitīrtha gives the fruit of all yajñas and removes all obstacles. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa.
Jātavedas is slain
Agni had a brother, well known as Jātavedas, the bearer of havya (the offerings to the devas), skilful and very dear to him. Once, as Jātavedas was carrying havya to the devas and was at the āśrama of the ṛshis on the banks of the Gautamī, Madhu, the mighty son of Diti, slew him while the chief ṛshis and the devas looked on. With Jātavedas gone, the devas received no havya.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 28
Agni enters the waters
Overwhelmed by anger at the death of his dear brother, Agni entered the waters of the Gaṅgā. At once the devas and human beings began to lose their lives, for they live by Agni (agnijīvas). The devas, the ṛshis and the pitṛs went to the place where Agni had entered the water. “Without fire we will not live,” they said, and they praised him. “O Agni, revive the devas with havya and the pitṛs with kavya (the offerings to the pitṛs); revive all human beings by the cooking of food and the sprouting of seeds.”
Agni answered: “My brother, who was very strong, is gone. While doing your work my fate will be the same as his. Jātavedas always did his duty for you, and this is his end. I may not even have the power to move from world to world. So I am not eager to work for you.”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 28
The gifts of the devas
The devas and ṛshis then promised him four gifts:
- long life (āyus);
- love for his work;
- the power to move about everywhere;
- the prayājas and anuyājas, the offerings at the beginning and end of a yajña.
“You are the excellent mouth of the devas,” they said. “All āhutis will be offered to you first, and we shall partake of what you give.”
Agni was pleased. He gained the power to go everywhere and to carry havya to the devas and kavya to the pitṛs, and at the bidding of the devas he became mighty and fearless everywhere. His names, in the text’s order, are Jātavedas, Bṛhadbhānu, Saptārcis (the seven-flamed), Nīlalohita (the blue-red), Jalagarbha (who hid in the water), Śamīgarbha (who lies hidden in the śamī tree) and Yajñagarbha (who lies hidden in the yajña).
The devas drew Agni out of the water and performed his abhisheka. From then on he was Sarvaga, the one who goes everywhere, and he received two abodes, one on this earth and one in svarga. Then the devas returned to their own abodes.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 28
The tīrthas and their phala
This tīrtha is called Vahnitīrtha. About seven hundred tīrthas of great puṇya arose there, and Devatīrtha, Āgneyatīrtha and Jātavedasa are all there.
- Agnitīrtha gives the fruit of all yajñas and removes all obstacles.
- A self-controlled man who bathes or gives dāna there gains the fruit of an aśvamedha and more, splendid and without any lack.
- There is a multicoloured liṅga established by Agni; by the darśana of that liṅga one gains the fruit of all yajñas.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 28
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 28