Patatri Tīrtha
Patatri Tīrtha · patatri-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the winged ones”
Patatri Tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the winged ones”, is a tīrtha on the banks of the Gautamī where Bhagavān Vishṇu and Sūrya are seated with Garuḍa and Aruṇa, together with Bhagavān Śiva, the bull-bannered one. Brahmā tells Nārada its origin in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa: the birds Sampāti and Jaṭāyu, whose wings were burnt when they flew too near Sūrya, were revived by Sūrya at Aruṇa’s plea and consoled by Garuḍa and Bhagavān Vishṇu, and all of them went to the Gaṅgā to dispel their distress. The tīrtha destroys ailments, pāpas (sins) and poison, and a man gains contentment merely by hearing its name.
Sampāti and Jaṭāyu
Kaśyapa had two sons, Aruṇa and Garuḍa; the Purāṇa also names them the sons of Tārkshya Prajāpati. In their family was born the excellent bird Sampāti, and his younger brother was the well-known Jaṭāyu. The two vied with each other, proud of their strength, and flew far up into the sky to bow down to Sūrya. As they came near Sūrya, the wings of both were burnt, and, wearied, they fell on the top of a mountain.
Seeing his two kinsmen lying unconscious and motionless, Aruṇa was overwhelmed with sorrow and said to Sūrya: “Two birds born of our own family have fallen to the ground with their wings burnt. O hot-rayed one, console them, lest they die.” Saying “So be it”, Sūrya revived the two birds.
Hearing of their plight, Garuḍa came there with Bhagavān Vishṇu and consoled and cheered them. Then, O Nārada, they all went to the Gaṅgā to dispel their distress: Jaṭāyu and Aruṇa, Sampāti and Garuḍa, and Sūrya and Bhagavān Vishṇu went there too.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 96
The devas of the tīrtha
Bhagavān Vishṇu and Sūrya are seated there with Garuḍa and Aruṇa on the banks of the Gautamī, and so also is the bull-bannered one, Bhagavān Śiva. The tīrtha is excellent because these three devas are stationed there.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 96
The rite and its phala
One should bathe there, be pure, and bow down to these three devas. Such a one is rid of mental anguish and bodily ailments and attains great happiness. The tīrtha yields much puṇya (merit), is famed as the destroyer of poison (visha), and yields all cherished desires. It destroys ailments and pāpas, and a man gains contentment merely by hearing its name.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 96
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 96