Devatīrtha (Soma Yajña)
Devatīrtha · deva-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the devas”
Deva-tīrtha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Deva-tīrtha.
Devatīrtha is one of the tīrthas on the Gautamī that arose at the great yajña on Devagiri, on the southern bank of the river, where the devas won back Soma from the gandharvas. The Brahma Purāṇa names it third in the list of tīrthas and confluences that came into being there, after Somatīrtha and Gāndharva-tīrtha and before Pūrṇatīrtha. Bathing in these tīrthas, or performing japa, homa and pitṛ-tarpaṇa there, fulfils every desire and gives both bhoga (enjoyment) and moksha. Brahmā tells Nārada the account.
How Soma was bought
Brahmā tells Nārada that Soma, full of amṛta, was once the king of the gandharvas and not of the devas. The devas came to Brahmā and said: “Soma, who gives the prāṇas to the devas, has been taken away by the gandharvas. The ṛshis and the devas are in great distress. Let some means be found so that Soma can be ours.”
Vāk, Devī Sarasvatī, said to the devas: “The gandharvas are passionate for women. Bring Soma back by giving me to them.” The devas answered: “We cannot give you away. We cannot live without Soma, and we cannot live without you.” Vāk said: “I shall come back here. Let an excellent yajña be performed on the southern bank of the Gautamī, and let the devas come there. Exchange me for Soma.” The devas agreed.
Through messengers they invited the devas, yakshas, gandharvas and nāgas, each separately, to the sacred mountain, and from then on that mountain was named Devagiri. Devas, gandharvas, yakshas, rākshasas, siddhas, ṛshis and the eight kinds of devayonis came. While the ṛshis were performing the great yajña on the banks of the Gautamī, Indra, the thousand-eyed, surrounded by the devas, honoured the gandharvas and said in Sarasvatī’s presence: “Exchange your Soma, whose self is amṛta, for Sarasvatī.” The gandharvas gave Soma to the devas and took Sarasvatī. Yet while she stayed with them she came secretly to the devas every day, saying, “Let it remain a secret.” So the devas had both Soma and Sarasvatī, and the gandharvas had neither. “That is how, O Nārada, Soma was bought,” says Brahmā; and from Sarasvatī’s secret coming, one who buys Soma should speak in a low voice.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
The tīrthas of the Soma yajña
For the sake of Soma there came to the Gautamī the cows, the devas, the mountains, the yakshas, rākshasas, siddhas, ṛshis, guhyakas, gandharvas, Maruts, nāgas, the oshadhis (healing herbs), the Mātṛs, the Lokapālas, the Rudras, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Aśvins and the other devas who share in the yajña. Twenty-five rivers joined the Gaṅgā there, and the place where the pūrṇāhuti, the full offering of ghee, was given is called Pūrṇatīrtha.
The rivers that joined the Gautamī carry tīrthas in their names. Brahmā names them in this order: Somatīrtha, Gāndharva-tīrtha, Devatīrtha, Pūrṇatīrtha, Sala, Śrīparṇā-saṅgama, Ilā-saṅgama, the holy confluence of Kusumā, Pushṭi-saṅgama, the auspicious Karṇikā-saṅgama, Vaiṇavī-saṅgama, Kruśarā-saṅgama, Vāsavī-saṅgama, Śivaśarya, Śikhī, Kusumbhikā, Uparathya, Śāntijā, Devajā, Ajā, Vṛddhā, Surā and Bhadrā. These and many other holy rivers of the world went to the Devaparvata for the sake of Soma and joined the Gaṅgā in due order: some flowing east, some flowing west, some as lakes and some as streams, each well known by its own name. Twenty rivers lie between Pūrṇā and Pravarā, and then there are five divine rivers whom Brahmā calls his daughters: twenty-five in all.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
The phala
Bathing in these tīrthas, or performing japa, homa and pitṛ-tarpaṇa (water offerings to the pitṛs) there, fulfils all the cherished desires of men and gives bhoga and moksha. Those who read about these tīrthas or remember them are freed from all pāpas and go to the loka of Bhagavān Vishṇu.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35