Āruka Tīrtha

Āruka Tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the aruka plant”

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

Āruka Tīrtha is a tīrtha on the southern bank of the Gautamī, the Godāvarī, and it belongs to Bhagavān Sūrya. It arose at the aśvamedha of the kshatriya Priyavrata, when the dānava Hiraṇyāksha came to the yajña hall and the devas scattered, and Bhānu, the Sun, went into the aruka plant. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. It is one of six tīrthas that arose there, which give the fruit of an aśvamedha and every cherished thing.

Priyavrata’s aśvamedha

Brahmā tells Nārada that there was a kshatriya named Priyavrata, the best of conquerors. His guru gave him dīkshā (initiation) for an aśvamedha on the southern bank of the Gautamī, and Vasishṭha was the purohita of that mighty-armed king. The yajña began, with ṛshis as the ṛtvijas.

Then a dānava named Hiraṇyāksha came to the yajña hall. Seeing that asura, the devas led by Indra were frightened. Each went to a place of his own:

  • some of the devas went to svarga;
  • Havyavāṭ (Agni) entered the śamī tree;
  • Bhagavān Vishṇu abode in the aśvattha, the sacred fig;
  • Bhānu (Bhagavān Sūrya) went into the aruka plant;
  • Bhagavān Śiva abode in the vaṭa, the banyan;
  • Soma went into the palāśa tree;
  • Havyavāhana (Agni) went into the waters of the Gaṅgā;
  • the Aśvins took the horse of the yajña and fled;
  • Yama turned himself into a crow.

Then the holy ṛshi Vasishṭha took up a staff and commanded the asuras to stop. The yajña went on again, and the daitya, strong in his own strength, went away.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 33

The six tīrthas

Those places became auspicious tīrthas, which give the fruit of ten aśvamedhas. Brahmā names them in order:

  1. Śamītīrtha, the first.
  2. The Vaishṇava tīrtha, the second.
  3. Āruka, which belongs to Sūrya.
  4. Śaiva, which belongs to Śiva.
  5. Saumya, which belongs to Soma.
  6. Vāsishṭha, which belongs to Vasishṭha.

These give every cherished thing.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 33

The rite and its phala

When the great aśvamedha was complete, the devas and ṛshis were pleased, and with great joy they spoke to Vasishṭha, to Priyavrata the yajamāna, to those trees and to the Gaṅgā: “These went here and there for the completion of the aśvamedha. These tīrthas give the fruit of an aśvamedha.” Therefore, by a holy bath and the giving of dāna in these tīrthas, one surely gains the fruit of an aśvamedha.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 33

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 33