Kshudhā Tīrtha

Kshudhā Tīrtha · kshudhā-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Hunger”

Kshudhā Tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Hunger“, is a tīrtha on the Gautamī (the Godāvarī) where the ṛshi Kaṇva, afflicted by hunger, praised the Gautamī Gaṅgā and Kshudhā (Hunger) together. Both appeared before him, the gentle form of the Gaṅgā and the terrible form of Kshudhā, and granted his varas: wealth, long life, bhukti and moksha from the Gaṅgā, and from Kshudhā that she would never touch him or his family. From then on the tīrtha has been called Kaṇva, Gāṅga and Kshudhā. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. It is of great puṇya, grants men all they desire, dispels all pāpas and increases the delight of the pitṛs (ancestors).

Kaṇva’s hunger

There was once a ṛshi named Kaṇva, rich in tapas and the most excellent of those versed in the Vedas. Wandering among the tapovanas (groves of tapas), he was afflicted by hunger. The āśrama of Gautama was rich in food and water. Seeing himself hungry and Gautama prosperous, Kaṇva grew detached and reflected: “Gautama is an excellent brāhmaṇa, and I too am well established in tapas. It is not proper to beg from one who is my equal. Though hunger overcomes me and my body is afflicted, I will not take food in Gautama’s dwelling. I shall go to the Gautamī Gaṅgā and gain wealth there.”

So the wise ṛshi went to the sacred Gaṅgā. He bathed, sat on kuśa grass with a controlled mind, and praised the Gautamī Gaṅgā and Kshudhā, the greatest of afflictions.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 15

Kaṇva’s first stotra

The verses of the first stotra turn between the two:

  • “O Gaṅgā, namaskāra to you, destroyer of pain and distress; and to you, O Kshudhā, cause of pain and distress to all people.”
  • “Namaskāra, O radiant one, born of the matted hair (jaṭā) of Maheśāna.” (to the Gaṅgā)
  • “Namaskāra, O Kshudhā, who came forth from the mouth of the great Mṛtyu (Death).” (to Kshudhā)
  • “O Gautamī, gentle (saumya) towards the meritorious and fierce towards the wicked, destroyer of the distress and pāpas of all, in the form of a river!” (to the Gaṅgā)
  • “Namaskāra to you, who bring pain, distress and pāpa to all in the form of hunger.” (to Kshudhā)
  • “Namaskāra, O Devī, cause of welfare (kalyāṇa) and suppressor of pāpas. Namaskāra, O Devī, cause of peace (śānti). Namaskāra, O destroyer of poverty.” (to the Gaṅgā)

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 15

The darśana and the second stotra

As Kaṇva praised them, two forms appeared before him: the gentle form of the Gaṅgā and the terrible form of Kshudhā. He bowed with joined palms and praised them again:

  • “Namaskāra to you, O Godāvarī, cause of all that is auspicious; O Brāhmī, O Māheśvarī, O radiant Vaishṇavī, O three-eyed Devī!”
  • “Namaskāra to you, O Godāvarī, born of the matted hair of the three-eyed one, destroyer of the pāpas of Gautama, river who flows into the sea in seven streams!”
  • “O Kshudhā, namaskāra, namaskāra to you, who bring pāpa upon all who do wrong, destroyer of dharma, kāma and artha, full of misery and greed!”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 15

The varas

Hearing Kaṇva‘s words, both were pleased and said: “O you of good vratas, cause of welfare, tell us your desire. Choose varas.” Kaṇva bowed to the Gaṅgā and to Kshudhā in due order. To the Gaṅgā he said: “O Gaṅgā, O Devī, give me wealth and all charming and cherished desires, long life, bhukti (enjoyment) and moksha.” To Kshudhā he said: “O Hunger, O Thirst, never be in me or in anyone born of my family. O harsh one, go away.” And he asked more:

  • “If those afflicted by hunger praise you with this stotra, let them not suffer the miseries of poverty.”
  • “Let those who devoutly perform snāna (holy bathing), dāna and japa in this tīrtha of great puṇya become rich.”
  • “If a person reads this stotra, whether at the tīrtha or at home, let him have no fear of poverty and misery.”

The Gaṅgā and Kshudhā said “So be it” to Kaṇva and went to their own abodes. From then on the tīrtha has been called Kaṇva, Gāṅga and Kshudhā.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 15

The rite and the phala

  • The tīrtha is of great puṇya and grants men all that they desire.
  • Those who devoutly perform snāna, dāna and japa here become rich.
  • Those afflicted by hunger who praise Kshudhā with Kaṇva‘s stotra do not suffer the miseries of poverty; whoever reads the stotra, at the tīrtha or at home, has no fear of poverty and misery.
  • The tīrtha dispels all pāpas and increases the delight of the pitṛs.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 15

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 15