Aindra Tīrtha (Hayamūrdhaka)

Aindra Tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Indra”

Aindra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Aindra.

Aindra Tīrtha, the tīrtha of Indra, also called Hayamūrdhaka, is a tīrtha at the place where the Gautamī, the Godāvarī, meets the eastern sea. Bhagavān Vishṇu is installed there in the form of Hayamūrdhan, the horse-headed, and the devas too dwell there, above it. Brahmā names it to Nārada in the last chapter of the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa, among the tīrthas of the Gaṅgā’s meeting with the sea, where Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu are ever present.

The Gaṅgā meets the sea

Brahmā tells Nārada that the Gautamī, worthy of honour even by the devas, joined the eastern sea, and all the devas followed her. The Maruts and the great ṛshis praised her: Vasishṭha, Jābāli, Yājñavalkya, Kratu, Aṅgiras, Daksha, Marīci and the Vaishṇavas; Śātātapa, Śaunaka, Devarāta, Bhṛgu, Agniveśya, Atri, Manu, Gautama, Kauśika, Tumburu, Parvata and others, whose pāpas were wholly destroyed; and Agastya, Mārkaṇḍa, Gālava, Pippala, Vāmadeva and the descendants of Aṅgiras and Bhṛgu, learned in the Vedas and the smṛtis. They recited mantras and Vedic passages, content and full of joy.

When the river met the sea, Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Hari (Vishṇu) revealed themselves to the ṛshis. The devas praised the two, who take away the distress of all, while the pitṛs looked on with reverence, and the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts and the guardians of the quarters joined their palms in prayer to Hari and Śaṅkara. Brahmā tells Nārada that these two are ever present at the seven well-known confluences and at the meeting of the Gaṅgā with the ocean.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 104

Bhagavān Vishṇu as Hayamūrdhan

There, Brahmā says, is a tīrtha well known as Aindratīrtha, the tīrtha of Indra, which is also called Hayamūrdhaka. Bhagavān Vishṇu is installed there as Hayamūrdhan, the horse-headed, and the devas too dwell there, above it.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 104

The tīrthas around it

Brahmā names Aindra Tīrtha among the tīrthas of the Gaṅgā’s mouth, in this order:

  • Gautameśvara, where Bhagavān Maheśvara is called Gautameśvara and Mādhava (Bhagavān Vishṇu) is ever present with Ramā (Lakshmī).
  • Brahmeśvara, the liṅga of Bhagavān Śiva that Brahmā himself installed for the good of all people.
  • Cakrapāṇi, Bhagavān Vishṇu who holds the cakra, praised by Brahmā and the devas, present with the devas and the gaṇas of the Maruts.
  • Aindra Tīrtha, also called Hayamūrdhaka, with Bhagavān Vishṇu as Hayamūrdhan.
  • Somatīrtha, where Bhagavān Śiva is called Someśvara, and where the devas and ṛshis praised Soma for the sake of Indra.
  • Āgneya, Āditya, Bārhaspatya and Adri tīrthas, which follow.

Brahmā closes by saying that he has named only a few of the tīrthas of the Gautamī, which rises from Brahmādri and flows to the ocean; that other tīrthas become holy only in their time, but the Gautamī is holy everywhere and always; and so he bows to her.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 104

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 104