Apsaroyuga-saṅgama
Apsaroyuga-saṅgama · apsaras-yuga-saṅgama, “the confluence of the pair of apsarās”
Apsaroyuga-saṅgama, also called Apsaroyuga and Apsarā-saṅgama, is a tīrtha on the southern bank of the Gautamī, the Godāvarī, where two rivers meet each other and the Gaṅgā. The two rivers were once the apsarās Gambhīrā and Atigambhīrā, sent by Indra to break the tapas of Viśvāmitra; by his śāpa they became water, and so the pair is called Apsaroyuga, “the pair of apsarās”. Bhagavān Śiva, the giver of bhukti and mukti, dwells there and grants every siddhi to those who see him. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa, with its phala: glory and good fortune, moksha, release from all bondage, and a son for the woman who bathes there.
Viśvāmitra and Menakā
Brahmā tells Nārada that there was great rivalry between Viśvāmitra and Vasishṭha. The son of Gādhi, Viśvāmitra, sat at Gaṅgādvāra and performed tapas and holy rites with great self-control. Indra said to Menakā: “At my word, gentle one, go and make him fall from his tapas.” Menakā broke his tapas, bore him a daughter and went back to Indra’s city.
When she had gone, Viśvāmitra recalled with regret all he had done. He left that place and went to the southern Gaṅgā, the tīrtha dear to the devas, where Bhagavān Śiva is called Kālañjara.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 77
Gambhīrā and Atigambhīrā
Then Indra, the thousand-eyed, asked Urvaśī, Menakā, Rambhā and Tilottamā to spoil his tapas, but they were too afraid and refused. So the husband of Śacī asked Gambhīrā and Atigambhīrā, who were very proud of their skill. They said: “With our dances, songs, beauty and youth we shall bring down the shining son of Gādhi, whom those other women could not overcome, in whose glances, laughter, speech and grace Manmatha ever lives.”
Indra said “So be it,” and they came to the great river and saw Viśvāmitra in tapas. For a thousand and one years they could not even look at him, for he could not be overcome even by Mṛtyu (Death) and seemed like Dhūrjaṭi (Bhagavān Śiva) standing on the earth. Staying far off, they danced, sang and spoke sweet words. Seeing them, the great ṛshi was greatly vexed; who is not angered, the text asks, on seeing a hostile act? Free from desire though he was, he said as if laughing, “Sahasrāksha, the thousand-eyed one, has been abandoned by these two apsarās.”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 77
The śāpa and the two rivers
Viśvāmitra pronounced a śāpa (a curse): “Because you tried to melt me at once, you shall take the form of water.” They begged his grace, and he granted the release from the śāpa: “When you are joined to the Gaṅgā you will regain your divine forms.” At that very moment they became rivers.
The two rivers were called “the pair of apsarās”, Apsaroyuga. Their confluence with each other, and their confluence with the Gaṅgā, are famous in all the worlds.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 77
Bhagavān Śiva at the confluence
Bhagavān Śiva, the giver of bhukti and mukti, dwells there. As soon as he is seen, he grants all siddhis.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 77
The rite and its phala
Brahmā gives the phala of the tīrtha, saying, “My words cannot be otherwise”:
- By remembering Apsaroyuga one becomes highly glorious and fortunate.
- By a holy dip and the other rites there a man becomes mukta (freed), without doubt.
- A chaste woman who takes her ṛtu-snāna (the bath after her monthly course) at the confluence gives birth to a son.
- Even a barren woman gives birth to a son if she stays there three months with her husband and takes the holy dip.
- By a holy plunge there and darśana of Bhagavān Śiva, one is released from all bondage.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 77
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 77