Ilā-saṅgama
Ilā-saṅgama · ilā-saṅgama, “the confluence of the Ilā”
Ilā has other meanings too: see all meanings of Ilā.
Ilā-saṅgama is the confluence (saṅgama) where the river Ilā joins the Gaṅgā, the Gautamī. It is one of the confluences of the twenty-five rivers that came to the Gautamī for the sake of Soma, when the devas held a great yajña on the southern bank of the river and bought back Soma from the gandharvas. Brahmā tells Nārada the account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. Bathing at these confluences, or performing japa, homa and pitṛ-tarpaṇa (water offerings to the ancestors) there, fulfils every cherished desire and gives both bhoga (enjoyment) and moksha.
How Soma was bought
Brahmā begins with Somatīrtha, which increases the delight of the pitṛs. Long ago Soma, full of amṛta, was king of the gandharvas and not of the devas. The devas came to Brahmā and said: “Soma, who gives the devas their breath of life, has been taken away by the gandharvas. The ṛshis and devas are greatly distressed. Find a way for Soma to be ours.”
Vāk, Sarasvatī, said to the devas: “The gandharvas are passionate for women. Give me to them and bring back Soma.” The devas answered: “We cannot give you away. We cannot live without Soma, nor without you.” Vāk said: “I shall come back. Let an excellent yajña be performed on the southern bank of the Gautamī, and there exchange me for Soma.” The devas agreed.
Through messengers they invited the devas, yakshas, gandharvas and nāgas to the sacred mountain, and from then on that mountain was named Devagiri, also called Devaparvata. Devas, gandharvas, yakshas, rākshasas, siddhas, ṛshis and the eight kinds of devayonis came. While the ṛshis performed the great yajña on the banks of the Gautamī, Indra, the thousand-eyed, 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. But every day she came secretly to the devas, saying, “Let it remain a secret.” So the devas had both Soma and Sarasvatī, and the gandharvas neither. Brahmā says: “That is how, O Nārada, Soma was bought.” From this comes the rule that one should speak in a low voice while buying Soma.
The rivers that came to the Gautamī
For the sake of Soma all these came to the Gautamī: the cows, the devas, the mountains, the yakshas, rākshasas, siddhas, guhyakas, gandharvas, Maruts and nāgas, the medicinal herbs (oshadhis), the Mātṛs, the guardians of the quarters, the Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus, the Aśvins and the other devas who share in the yajña. Twenty-five rivers joined the Gaṅgā. The place where the full ghee offering (pūrṇāhuti) was given is called Pūrṇatīrtha.
The tīrthas, in the order Brahmā names them, are: Somatīrtha, Gāndharva, 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. All these joined the Gautamī. These and many other holy rivers of the world went to Devaparvata for the sake of Soma and joined the Gaṅgā in due order. Some flow east, some west; some are lakes and some streams; each is well known by its own name.
Brahmā sums up: twenty rivers have been named between Pūrṇā and Pravarā, and then five divine rivers, his own 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 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 every pāpa (sin) and go to the loka of Bhagavān Vishṇu.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35