Devāgama Tīrtha
Devāgama · deva-āgama, “the coming of the devas”
Devāgama, “the coming of the devas”, is a tīrtha on the bank of the Gautamī where the devas came down and gathered before their war with the asuras, and where, by the grace of Hari and Hara, they won the victory. The mountain there is also called Devāgama or Priya, and so the tīrtha is also known as Devapriya. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. Devāgama is auspicious, fulfils every cherished desire, gives bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and moksha, and satisfies the pitṛs. Eighty thousand Śiva-liṅgas are there, and ṛshis who know the truth praise it.
The devas lose their yajña shares
Once there was great rivalry between the devas and the asuras for the sake of wealth. Svarga belonged to the devas and the earth to the asuras. With the support of the karmabhūmi, the earth where holy rites are performed, the asuras spread everywhere, and they began to kill those who offered the devas their shares in yajñas. So the devas lost their shares. Distressed, they came to Brahmā and asked what to do. Brahmā said: “Defeat the asuras by your might. You will reach the earth and receive the holy rites and great renown.” Saying “So be it”, the devas, resolved on war, went down to the earth.
The two armies
The daityas, dānavas and rākshasas, proud of their strength, joined together and marched out, they too seeking victory. Their great warriors were Ahi, Vṛtra, Bali, the son of Tvashṭṛ, Namuci, Śambara, Maya and many others. The leaders of the devas were Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Tvashṭṛ, Pūshan, the Aśvins, the Maruts and the guardians of the quarters, all skilled in many ways of war.
The asuras gathered in the southern quarter and stationed themselves at the southern ocean. The excellent mountain Trikūṭa had belonged to the rākshasas of old, and through its forests they went to the southern ocean with the dānavas and the rest. They all assembled on the mountain Malaya, which too belonged to the enemies of the devas.
The devas gather on the Gautamī
The devas gathered on the bank of the Gautamī, because Bhagavān Śiva is present there. Pure in mind, seated in their vimānas, they came to the Gautamī, the mother of rivers, and she was pleased with them all, she who grants the pitṛs their desires. After praising Maheśvara, they took counsel: “What shall we do if the enemy defeats us? Only one of two is good for us, victory or death. Shame on the life of those who are overcome by their enemies.”
Then a voice without a body spoke: “Enough of your strain, O devas. Hasten to the Gautamī and worship Hari and Hara there with devotion. What is impossible if the Godāvarī and those two Īśvaras favour you?” From Hari and Īśa, who were pleased, the dwellers of svarga gained the victory they desired, and they went everywhere protecting the lands.
The names and the phala
The place where the devas came and gathered became famous as Devāgama, and ṛshis who know the truth praise it. Eighty thousand Śiva-liṅgas are there. The mountain Devāgama is also called Priya, and from then on the tīrtha has been known as Devapriya.
- Devāgama is auspicious and fulfils every cherished desire.
- It gives all men bhukti and moksha.
- It brings satisfaction to the pitṛs.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 90
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 90