Devasthāna (Gautamī)

Devasthāna · deva-sthāna, “the place of the devas”

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

Devasthāna, “the place of the devas”, is a tīrtha on the bank of the Gaṅgā, the Gautamī, famous in all three worlds. It is the place where the devas and ṛshis came before the daitya Meghahāsa, son of Rāhu, as he performed tapas, and granted him all he asked. At his wish the tīrtha bears his name; because the devas were present there it is also called Devasthāna. It is hard to reach even for the devas. Within it is Devatīrtha, where the ruler of the devas stayed, and eighteen tīrthas honoured by the daityas; bathing and giving dāna (gifts) there destroy great pāpas. Brahmā tells Nārada its account.

Meghahāsa’s tapas

Brahmā tells Nārada that long ago, at the beginning of the Kṛta yuga, there was a battle between the devas and the dānavas. There was a daitya woman well known as Siṃhikā, and her son was the mighty daitya Rāhu. At the churning of the ocean of milk, when the amṛta came forth, Saiṃhikeya, the son of Siṃhikā, was cut in two.

Rāhu’s son was the great daitya Meghahāsa. Hearing of the attack on his father, he grew very dejected and performed tapas on the bank of the Gautamī. The devas and ṛshis came to him, as though afraid, and said: “O mighty-armed one, cut short your tapas. Let everything in your mind be fulfilled by the grace of Śiva and Gaṅgā. What cannot be gained by the grace of Śiva and Gaṅgā?”

Meghahāsa answered: “My father, who is worthy of pūjā and who is my deity, has been insulted and harassed by you. If he and I are properly honoured by you, I will give up this tapas and my enmity towards you. To take due revenge on behalf of the father is the duty of a son. If you all grant my request, my desires are fulfilled.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 72

The varas of the devas

Then all the devas made Rāhu one of the grahas (the planets), and they made Meghahāsa honoured and worshipped by the rākshasas. The son of Rāhu became the chief and lord of the rākshasas.

Again the daitya said to the devas: “It is my wish that the power of this holy place be granted in my name, so that I may win some renown.” “So be it,” said the devas, and they gave him all he desired.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 72

The names of the tīrtha

  • The tīrtha is called by the name of that leading daitya, Meghahāsa.
  • Because the devas were present at that spot, it is also called Devasthāna.
  • The place where the ruler of the devas stayed is remembered as Devatīrtha.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 72

Its tīrthas and their phala

Devasthāna is famous in all three worlds and hard to reach even for the devas. There are eighteen tīrthas there, worthy of being honoured by the daityas. Snāna (holy bathing) and dāna there destroy great pāpas.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 72

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 72