Karṇikā-saṅgama
Karṇikā-saṅgama · karṇikā-saṅgama, “the confluence of the Karṇikā”
Karṇikā-saṅgama is the confluence (saṅgama) where the river Karṇikā joins the Gaṅgā, the Gautamī. Brahmā names it to Nārada in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa as “the auspicious Karṇikā-saṅgama”, one of the rivers that came to the Gautamī for the sake of Soma when the devas bought Soma back from the gandharvas at a great yajña on the southern bank. Bathing there, or performing japa, homa and tarpaṇa to the pitṛs, fulfils every cherished desire and gives both enjoyment and moksha.
How Soma was bought
Long ago Soma, full of amṛta, was the king of the gandharvas and not of the devas; the gandharvas had taken him away. The devas came to Brahmā: “Soma gives the devas their life-breath. Without him the ṛshis and devas are in great distress. Let some means be found so that Soma may be ours.”
Vāk, Sarasvatī, said to the devas: “The gandharvas are passionate for women. Bring Soma by giving me to them.” The devas answered that they could live neither without Soma nor without her. 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, which from then on was named Devagiri. 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, the thousand-eyed Indra 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 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 Soma was bought, and for this reason one speaks in a low voice while buying Soma.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
The rivers that came for Soma
For the sake of Soma there came to the Gautamī cows, devas, mountains, yakshas, rākshasas, siddhas, guhyakas, gandharvas, the Maruts, nāgas, the medicinal herbs, the Mātṛs, the guardians of the quarters, the Rudras, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Aśvins and the other devas who share in the yajña, and twenty-five rivers joined the Gaṅgā. The place where the full offering of ghee (pūrṇāhuti) was given is the tīrtha of Pūrṇā.
Brahmā names the tīrthas in order: 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. Some flow east, some west; some are lakes and some streams; each tīrtha is well known by its own name. Twenty rivers lie between Pūrṇā and Pravarā, and five more are divine rivers, whom Brahmā calls his daughters: twenty-five in all.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 35
The phala
- Bathing in these confluences, or performing japa, homa and pitṛ-tarpaṇa (water offering to the pitṛs) there, fulfils all the cherished desires of men and gives bhoga (enjoyment) 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