Kṛttikā Tīrtha
Kṛttikā Tīrtha · kṛttikā-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the Kṛttikās”
The Kṛttikā Tīrtha lies on the Gautamī (the Godāvarī), beside the Kārttikeya Tīrtha. Here the six Kṛttikās, the wives of six of the seven ṛshis, cast off by their husbands after the six-faced Kārttikeya was born from them, bathed and worshipped Maheśvara at Kārttikeya’s word, and by the grace of Bhagavān Śiva were received home again. From then on it has been called Kārttikā-tīrtha. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. Merely hearing of it gives the fruit of drinking Soma, and one who bathes here on the full moon of Kārttika, when it falls in the Kṛttikā nakshatra, gains the fruit of all yajñas.
The birth of the six-faced one
Long ago, to destroy the asura Tāraka, Agni drank the retas (seed) of Bhagavān Śiva. Seeing Agni bearing it within him, the wives of the ṛshis longed for the same. Of the wives of the seven ṛshis, Arundhatī, the wife of Vasishṭha, was then at her ṛtu-snāna (the bath after her monthly course); apart from her, the other six women conceived through Agni.
At their bath they felt a burning within, and they shone with splendour. They said to one another: “What shall we do? Where shall we go? How shall we gain puṇya?” Then they went to the Gaṅgā and pressed themselves hard, and the garbhas (embryos) came out of them and floated on the water as foam. Water and wind joined the foam together, and so the six-faced one, Shaṇmukha, was born with a single body.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 12
Cast off, and received again
When the garbhas had left them, the wives of the ṛshis went home. Seeing their altered bodies, the ṛshis said: “Go away. Go quickly. Such conduct is not fitting for women.” So their husbands cast them off. Abandoned, the six women were in great misery.
Seeing them so, Nārada said: “The son of Śiva is well known by the names Kārttikeya, Gāṅgeya (son of the Gaṅgā), Agnibhava (born of Agni) and Tārakāntaka (slayer of Tāraka). Go to him. Before long he will be pleased and grant you what you desire.” At the devarshi’s word the Kṛttikās went to the six-faced one and told him everything as it had happened.
Kārttikeya received them and said: “Go, all of you, to the Gautamī. Bathe there and worship Maheśvara. I shall come there myself and lead you to the abode of the devas.” Saying “So be it,” the Kṛttikās bathed in the Gaṅgā and the Gautamī and, at Kārttikeya’s word, worshipped Maheśvara, the ruler of the devas. By the grace of Bhagavān Śiva they went to their own homes and were received again by the ṛshis. From then on the tīrtha has been called Kārttikā-tīrtha.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 12
The phala
- Merely hearing of the Kṛttikā Tīrtha gives the fruit of drinking Soma (soma-pāna).
- One who bathes here on the full-moon day (pūrṇimā) of the month of Kārttika, when it is joined with the Kṛttikā nakshatra, gains the fruit of all yajñas and becomes a dhārmika king.
- One who remembers the tīrtha or hears of it is freed from all pāpas and gains long life.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 12
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 12