Indratīrtha (Siktā Saṅgama)

Indratīrtha · indra-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Indra”

Indra Tīrtha has other meanings too: see all meanings of Indra Tīrtha.

Indratīrtha, also called the Aindra tīrtha, is the tīrtha at the confluence (saṅgama) where the river Siktā joins the Gaṅgā, the Gautamī. Brahmā tells Nārada its glory in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa: it destroys the pāpa of brahmahatyā, the killing of a brāhmaṇa, and even when it is only remembered it destroys heaps of pāpas and masses of sufferings. It arose when Indra (Devendra), pursued by brahmahatyā after the slaying of Vṛtra, was given abhisheka (sacred bathing) with the water of the Gautamī by Brahmā, Bhagavān Vishṇu, the ṛshis and the devas. From the water of Brahmā’s kamaṇḍalu (water pot) two rivers, Puṇyā and Siktā, arose and joined the Gaṅgā; at the Siktā’s confluence stands the Aindra tīrtha, and seven thousand splendid tīrthas arose there.

Indra and brahmahatyā

Long ago, when Vṛtra was slain, brahmahatyā pursued Indra. Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, was frightened by the very thought of it and ran here and there, but wherever he went, brahmahatyā followed him. At last he entered a great lake, went into a lotus stalk, and took the form of a fibre of the stalk, making his abode there. Brahmahatyā stood watching on the bank of the lake for a thousand divine years, and all that time the devas were without Indra.

The devas consulted calmly among themselves: how could Indra be regained? Brahmā told them: “Let Indra be sprinkled with the waters of the Gautamī. After taking a holy bath (snāna) he will be purified in his ātmā and will become Indra once again.”

Gautama and Māṇḍavya

The devas and ṛshis went to the Gautamī, meaning to pour the sacred water over Indra after he had bathed. But as Indra was about to be bathed, Gautama Maharshi spoke in fury: “I will reduce to ashes all who pour water over Indra, who defiled the bed of his guru. Let the devas go away quickly.”

Hearing the ṛshi, the devas left the Gautamī and hurried to the Narmadā with Indra. They made ready to bathe him on its northern bank, but the holy ṛshi Māṇḍavya said: “If the abhisheka is performed, I will reduce you to ashes.” The devas honoured Māṇḍavya with stotras and reasoned with him: “Wherever the thousand-eyed Indra is about to be bathed, a terrible obstacle arises. Perform a śānti rite to quell the evil and grant us varas. We shall give you a place for your yajña and many other excellent things. The place where Indra’s abhisheka is done shall be full of grains, trees and fruits; it will give men all they cherish, and there will never be drought or famine there.”

Māṇḍavya, honoured by the world, agreed, and the abhisheka and the rites of purification were performed there with every ceremony. Because Indra was bathed and purified there, the devas and ṛshis named that land Mālava.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 26

The rivers Puṇyā and Siktā

Then, for the increase of puṇya, they brought Gautamī Gaṅgā and bathed Indra again. The devas, the ṛshis, Brahmā himself, Bhagavān Vishṇu, Vasishṭha, Gautama, Agastya, Atri, Kaśyapa, the yakshas, the nāgas and others performed the holy abhisheka with that sacred water. Then Brahmā bathed Indra with the water flowing from his kamaṇḍalu, and from it two rivers arose, Puṇyā and Siktā, and joined the Gaṅgā.

Their confluences are well known and are frequented by ṛshis. The confluence of the Puṇyā became the Puṇyasaṅgama tīrtha, and the confluence of the Siktā with the Gaṅgā is called the Aindra tīrtha. Seven thousand splendid tīrthas arose there.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 26

Rites and their phala

  • Indratīrtha destroys the pāpa of brahmahatyā; even remembering it destroys heaps of pāpas and masses of sufferings.
  • A holy bath and the giving of dāna at the confluence give an everlasting (akshaya) fruit. The Purāṇa says this must be known for certain, and no one need doubt it.
  • Whoever reads or listens to this holy narrative is freed from all pāpas of thought, word and deed.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 26

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 26