Avighnatīrtha
Avighnatīrtha · avighna-tīrtha, “the tīrtha without obstacles”
Avighnatīrtha (also simply Avighna, “without obstacle”) is a tīrtha on the northern bank of the Gautamī (the Godāvarī) that destroys all obstacles (vighnas). Brahmā tells Nārada its origin in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. A yajña of the devas held there could not be completed, for Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa) was raising obstacles. At Brahmā’s word the devas bathed in the Gautamī and praised Gaṇeśa as Vighnarāja, the king of obstacles, with a stotra of thirteen verses. Gaṇeśa declared that the yajñas of the devas would from then on be free of obstacles, that those who praise him with this stotra would never know poverty, and that every undertaking of those who bathe there and give dāna with devotion would succeed.
The devas’ yajña
On the northern bank of the Gautamī a divine yajña of the devas was begun, but it could not be completed because of obstacles. The devas spoke to Hari and to Brahmā. Brahmā entered dhyāna, saw the cause and said: “This yajña is not completed because of obstacles created by Vināyaka. Let the devas praise Vināyaka, the primordial Īśa.”
The devas said, “So be it.” They took their holy dip in the Gautamī and on the river bank praised Gaṇeśvara, the primordial Īśa.
The devas’ stotra to Vighnarāja
- “We take refuge in Vighnarāja, worthy of pūjā and of meditation, to whom the devas bow in every undertaking, even Śiva, Vishṇu and Brahmā.”
- “No other deva equals Vighnarāja in fulfilling the wishes of the heart. Knowing this, even Tripurāntaka, Bhagavān Śiva, worshipped him when he went to slay the Tripuras.”
- “May Vighneśvara, the son of Ambikā, at once grant us freedom from obstacles in this great yajña. When he is meditated on, the heart’s wishes of all embodied beings are fulfilled.”
- “It was a day of joy for Devī Ambikā when her son was born the very moment he was conceived. So the devas bowed to Vighnarāja and called him Sadyojāta, ‘born in an instant’.”
- “Gaṇādhinātha, ruler of the gaṇas, loved play. Once, lying on his mother’s lap, though she forbade him, he hid the moon among the matted locks of his father.”
- “He drank milk at his mother’s breast and was still not satisfied, and Śambhu named Vighnarāja Lambodara, ‘the one with the great belly’.”
- “Surrounded by the devas, Maheśa said, ‘Begin your dance.’ Delighted by Gaṇeśa’s dance and the sound of his anklets, he crowned his son ruler of the gaṇas.”
- “In one hand this deva holds the pāśa (noose) of obstacles; with the other he holds the paraśu (axe) resting on his shoulder. If he is not worshipped he raises obstacles even for his mother. Who is equal to Vighnapati?”
- “In every undertaking for dharma, artha, kāma and the rest he is worshipped first; devas and asuras worship him every day. I bow first to him who is worshipped at the beginning of every rite and whose pūjā prevents ruin.”
- “Success is rightly gained by pūjā and entreaty to him; such is the sovereign, independent power of Mūshakavāhana, he whose vāhana is the mouse. He is fond of his brother. I worship that deva.”
- “I take refuge in Śrī Gaṇeśa, supremely delightful, who delighted his mother with exquisite dances and songs and every kind of play.”
- “I take refuge in Śrī Gaṇeśa, made ever more powerful by his father’s grace, given so that he might help the devas in their war with the asuras, and by the stotras, mantras and salutations of his devotees.”
- “In the victorious campaign against the Tripuras his father did a wondrous thing: instead of being worshipped by his son, he worshipped his son. I bow to Gaṇeśa, worshipped with joy by his father, who brought his father success.”
Gaṇeśa’s varas
Praised thus by the devas, Vighneśa spoke: “From now on, by my grace, all yajñas performed by the devas shall be free from obstacles.” When the divine yajña was completed, Gaṇeśa said to the devas: “Those who keep vratas and praise me devoutly with this stotra will never suffer the misery of poverty. And let all be assured: every undertaking of those who take their holy dip here and give dāna with devotion will succeed.” The devas said, “So be it,” and when the yajña was concluded they went to their abodes.
The rite and its phala
From then on the tīrtha is called Avighna. Its rite, as Gaṇeśa gave it:
- Take the holy dip in the Gautamī at the tīrtha.
- Give gifts of wealth (dāna, dakshiṇā) with devotion.
- Keeping vratas, praise Gaṇeśa with the devas’ stotra.
The tīrtha destroys all obstacles and grants cherished desires. Every undertaking of one who bathes and gives here succeeds, and one who praises Gaṇeśa with this stotra never knows poverty.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 44
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 44