Putratīrtha

Putratīrtha · putra-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the son”

Putratīrtha, “the tīrtha of the son”, is a tīrtha full of puṇya (merit) on the Gautamī, the Gaṅgā of the south, where by the vara of Bhagavān Śiva bathing gives a virtuous son. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. Diti, mother of the daityas, grieving that her sons were weaker than the sons of Aditi, kept a twelve-year vrata taught by her husband Kaśyapa and conceived a son who would conquer the worlds. Indra, warned by his friend the daitya Maya, entered her womb with his vajra and cut the child into forty-nine pieces, who lived and became the Maruts. At Brahmā’s word Kaśyapa came to the Gautamī and praised Bhagavān Śiva, who granted the Maruts a share in every yajña and Indra’s friendship, and granted Diti’s prayer that whoever bathes here should gain a son. Beside it lie Mitratīrtha, Śakratīrtha and Kamalatīrtha, and a hundred thousand tīrthas in all. Even hearing its greatness fulfils one’s cherished desires.

Diti’s sorrow

Brahmā tells Nārada that the sons of Diti and the sons of Danu had grown weak and worn out, while the sons of Aditi had become greater than them in every way. Grieving for her sons, Diti went to Danu and said: “Our sons have lost their power. What shall we do? Karma is very strong in this world. See the children of Aditi: untroubled, excellent, with a good kingdom, fame and the splendour of victory, their enemies conquered, their renown and dharma ever growing. And yet our husband is the same, our family the same, our features and duties the same. I shall not survive this. Even entering a forest fire would bring more happiness. The prosperity of a co-wife should not be seen even in a dream.”

As she spoke, sighing, the son of Parameshṭhin consoled her: “Do not grieve. What is desired is gained only through puṇya. Kaśyapa knows the means, and he will tell you if you are humble in every way.” Danu too said: “Please your husband Kaśyapa with your good qualities. If he is pleased, you will gain your desire.” Diti said, “So be it,” and served Kaśyapa in every way.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

Kaśyapa’s vara and Diti’s vrata

Kaśyapa Prajāpati said: “Diti, keeper of good vows, what shall I give you? Choose.” Diti asked humbly for a son endowed with good qualities, conqueror of the universe, bowed to by all: “Father of the devas, this is the gift I choose: that through the child that is born I may be a mother of a valiant son.” Kaśyapa said: “I shall teach you a holy vrata of twelve years that will bear good fruit. When it is complete I shall make you pregnant, as you wish. Desires are fulfilled only when one is free of pāpa (sin).”

Diti bowed to him and kept the vrata by his rules. How, Brahmā asks, can beings who shun the tīrthas, the giving of dāna to the worthy and the keeping of holy vratas gain their desires? When the vrata was complete, Kaśyapa made Diti pregnant, and in secret he told her the rules she must keep, for even ṛshis firm in tapas do not gain their wish if they neglect the subsidiary rites the śāstras lay down:

1. Neither sleep nor move about at the two sandhyās, dawn and dusk.
2. Do not leave your hair loose.
3. Do not eat, sneeze or yawn at dawn and dusk, when the hosts of bhūtas (spirits) gather.
4. Always cover the mouth when yawning, sneezing and above all laughing.
5. Never stand at the edge of the house at dusk and dawn.
6. Neither by day nor by night step over the pestle, the mortar, the winnowing basket, a seat, a scabbard or other such things.
7. Do not lie down with your head to the north, above all at dusk and dawn.
8. Never speak a falsehood.
9. Do not frequent the houses of others.
10. Look at no man but your husband with desire.

“If you keep these observances strictly, a son will be born to you who will enjoy the riches of the three worlds.” Diti said, “So be it,” and Kaśyapa went away among the devas. The child in her womb, conceived through puṇya, grew in size and strength.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

How Maya became Indra’s friend

The daitya Maya knew all this through his wondrous māyā, and out of love for his friend Indra he told him in secret everything: the purposes of Diti and Danu, the vrata, the growth of the child and its future valour. Merit of many kinds, Brahmā says, wins a friend who is wholly to be trusted.

Nārada asked: “Maya was the beloved brother of Namuci. How did he become the friend of his brother’s slayer?” Brahmā answered. Long ago Namuci, a mighty leader of the daityas, bore Indra a terrible enmity. Once he saw Indra leaving the battle and pursued him. Seeing him come, Indra was overcome with fear; leaving his elephant Airāvata, he entered the foam of the waters, and through the foam the vajra-bearer slew his enemy at once. Namuci’s younger brother Maya then performed great tapas, seeking power against his brother’s slayer. By tapas he gained many kinds of māyā that struck fear into the devas, and varas from Bhagavān Vishṇu, the final refuge of all the worlds. He became a generous giver and a kind and pleasing speaker; he honoured the sacred fires and the brāhmaṇas, and waited for a chance to conquer Indra.

Indra learned from Vāyu that Maya gave freely to all who asked, that the bards praised him, and that he was Indra’s enemy, armed with māyā. Indra took the form of a brāhmaṇa, came to Maya as he prepared for war and said: “I am an excellent brāhmaṇa, lord of the daityas. Hearing that you are the greatest of givers, I have come to ask. Give me what I ask.” Maya, taking him for a brāhmaṇa, said: “It is given. When one who asks stands before them, do the virtuous stop to weigh whether it is much or little?” Indra said: “I wish for friendship with you.” Maya said: “Why this, excellent brāhmaṇa? I have no enmity with you.” “Speak the truth,” said the daitya, and Indra showed him his own form, with its thousand eyes. Maya, astonished, said: “What is this? You are the vajra-bearer! Friend, this is not fitting for you.” Indra laughed, embraced him and said: “Enough. The wise gain their aim by any means.” From then on Indra loved Maya greatly, and Maya worked for Indra’s good.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

Indra enters Diti’s womb

Maya went to Indra‘s abode and told him everything, and Indra asked: “What am I to do?” Out of love Maya gave his māyā to Indra, and said: “Go to the āśrama of Agastya, where the pregnant Diti is staying. Stay there some days serving her. Then, holding the vajra, enter her womb and cut the growing child until it comes under your control or dies. Then the enemy will be no more.”

Indra honoured Maya and went in great humility to Diti, his stepmother, and served the noble mother of the daityas. Diti did not know his purpose, but the being in her womb, the unfailing tejas (seed and splendour) of Kaśyapa, knew it. Holding his vajra, Indra waited for his chance. One day he saw her sleeping at dusk with her head to the north. “This is the moment,” he said to himself, and he entered Diti’s womb.

The child saw Indra with the weapon, ready to kill him, and spoke boldly: “Vajra-bearer, why do you not protect me, your brother? You wish to kill me, and there is no greater pāpa than killing outside battle. Fight me when I come out. You are Śatakratu, of the hundred yajñas; Sahasrāksha, the thousand-eyed; the husband of Śacī; Purandara, breaker of cities; Devendra, ruler of the devas, bearer of the vajra. This is not fitting for you. Great men do not take the evil path even in distress. I have no learning, no weapon, no store of arms; you are learned. Are you not ashamed to try to kill me? Will you gain fame or merit by killing a brother lying in the womb? If you wish to fight me, brother, you shall have it.” And he stood up there, showing Indra his fist. “This is the fruit, Indra, of slaying a brother and breaking trust. He by whose command the whole world of moving and unmoving beings moves has become the slayer of a child!”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

The forty-nine Maruts

Even as he spoke, Indra cut the child with his vajra. The greedy and those blind with anger, Brahmā says, have no compassion anywhere. The child did not die. The pieces said, “We are your brothers,” and again Indra cut them. “Śatakratu, do not kill us, your brothers, resting trustfully in our mother’s womb,” they said. There is not a trace of mercy, Brahmā says, in a mind clouded by hatred. Indra saw seven times seven, forty-nine pieces, each with hands, feet and life, and he was astonished. The many pieces, alike in form, began to cry, and Indra said to them, “Mā rudaḥ, do not cry.” So they became the Maruts, of mighty splendour.

Still in the womb, the Maruts took counsel together, now without hostility to Indra, and spoke to Agastya, foremost of ṛshis, in whose āśrama their mother stayed: “Our father, your brother, values your friendship greatly, muni, and we know your tenderness for us. The vajra-bearer Indra has done to us what even a caṇḍāla would not do.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

The śāpas of Agastya and Diti

Agastya went there in agitation and woke Diti, who lay in pain. In great anger Agastya pronounced a śāpa (curse) on the husband of Śacī: “Indra, your enemies will always see your back on the field of battle.” For a proud warrior, Brahmā says, to be seen fleeing is death though the body lives. Diti too, in anger, pronounced a śāpa on Indra, who was still within her womb: “What you have done is no act of manhood. You will be humbled by women and driven from your kingdom.”

Then Kaśyapa Prajāpati came, and hearing from Agastya of Indra’s deed he was grieved. Indra, still in the womb, said to his father like one afraid: “I fear to come out, because of Agastya and Diti.” Kaśyapa came near his wife, saw what his son had done and heard of the śāpas, and said: “Dear son Indra, come out. Why did you do this pāpa? Those born of pure families do not turn to pāpa.” The vajra-bearer came out and spoke with his face bowed in shame, for a man’s face shows his good and bad deeds: “I shall surely do whatever you say is for my good.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

Kaśyapa’s stotra to Bhagavān Śiva

Kaśyapa came to Brahmā with the guardians of the quarters, told him all that had happened, and asked how Diti‘s womb might be made whole; how Indra might be freed from the śāpa; how all those in the womb might be made friends with Indra and kept free of illness; how the husband of Śacī might be free of every fault; and how Agastya‘s śāpa might lose its force. Brahmā said: “Kaśyapa, giver of honour, go at once to the Gautamī with Indra, the Vasus and the guardians of the quarters. Bathe there and, all together, praise Maheśāna. By the grace of Bhagavān Śiva everything will turn to your good.” For the removal of every sorrow, Brahmā says, two are well known: the holy Gautamī and the compassionate Bhagavān Śiva.

Kaśyapa went to the Gautamī, bathed and praised Bhagavān Śiva, ruler of the devas. Every line begins “Protect”:

• Protect, Śaṅkara, ruler of the devas; protect, Īśa, bowed to by the worlds; protect, purifier.
• Protect, master of speech, adorned with serpents; protect, virtuous one, seated on the bull.
• Protect, Īśa whose eyes are the three Vedas; protect, upholder of the earth, master of glory.
• Protect, Śarva, clothed in the elephant’s hide; protect, Īśa, destroyer of the three cities.
• Protect, crescent-crested one; protect, master of yajñas, master of Soma.
• Protect, Īśa, giver of what is cherished; protect, abode of mercy; protect, giver of auspiciousness.
• Protect, origin of all; protect, protector, supreme ruler, master of wealth; protect, radiant one.
• Protect, master of wealth, bowed to by Brahmā; protect, ruler of the universe; protect, ruler of the siddhas; protect, perfect one. Namaskāra to you.
• Śiva, ocean of mercy, you alone are the refuge of embodied beings whose minds are weary from wandering through the terrible forest of saṃsāra.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

Bhagavān Śiva’s varas

Even as Kaśyapa praised him, Vṛshadhvaja, the bull-bannered Bhagavān Śiva, appeared before him and bade him choose a vara. Kaśyapa told him humbly of Indra‘s deed, the śāpas, the cutting of the sons and the enmity between them. Then Bhagavān Śiva spoke to Diti and Agastya:

• “The Maruts, your sons, forty-nine in number, shall be blessed and shall take their share in the yajñas. They will always be with Indra and rejoice. Wherever Indra has a share of the offerings in any yajña, the Maruts shall surely come first.”
• “No one will ever conquer Indra when the Maruts are with him; he will always be victorious. Be happy for ever, Prajāpati.”
• “From now on, those who unjustly slay a brother will meet the ruin of their family and other calamities for ever.”

To Agastya, Śambhu said: “Muni, be not angry with the husband of Śacī. Be calm, most wise one. The Maruts have become immortal.” And, delighted, he said to Diti: “You wished for a son adorned with the riches of the three worlds, and you held firmly to the path of tapas. That tapas has borne fruit: you have splendid sons, strong, heroic and of many virtues. Cast off your anguish, and ask for other varas too.”

Diti bowed to Śambhu with joined palms: “The birth of a son is a great event for parents, and dearest of all to the mother; and if the son is handsome and valiant, dearer still; how much more when there are many such sons! By your power my sons will be strong and victorious, true sons of Prajāpati and brothers of Indra, by the favour of Agastya and of the Gaṅgā. Where your favour is, there is auspiciousness. I am content. Yet I make one request, for the good of the world.” Bidden to speak, she said: “Gaining a child is very hard, and above all a son. If that son is virtuous, glorious and long-lived, what use is svarga, moksha or the state of Parameshṭhin himself? All beings who seek good here and hereafter welcome a virtuous son. Let that blessing be granted to whoever bathes here.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

The rites of Putratīrtha

Śaṅkara said: “To be unable to have children is the fruit of great pāpas. If a woman is barren or a man impotent, that defect is set right merely by bathing here.” And he ordained these rites:

1. For a son, three months: bathe, offer fruits and recite this prayer, Kaśyapa‘s stotra. By the bath and dāna done for three months one gains a son; a barren woman bears a son by bathing here.
2. After the menstrual bath: any woman who bathes here after her bath following menstruation bears a son.
3. In pregnancy: within three months of conception, a pregnant woman who devoutly bathes here, offers fruits, has darśana (sacred sight) of Bhagavān Śiva and praises him with this prayer bears a son equal to Indra.
4. Atonement: those who have no sons because of offences against the pitṛs or because they misappropriated wealth should offer piṇḍas (rice balls), propitiate the pitṛs and give a little gold; then they will surely have a son. The family does not flourish of those who take or misuse a deposit held in trust, who hide jewels or deny that they exist, or who do not perform śrāddha. This holy river is their refuge after death, and praiseworthy children are born to the living who go on pilgrimage to the tīrthas.
5. At the confluence of Diti and the Gaṅgā: bathe at the confluence (saṅgama) of Diti and the Gaṅgā and worship Bhagavān Siddheśvara: without beginning, unageing, all-pervading, whose body is sat-cit-ānanda (being, knowledge and bliss), the great Īśa served by the chiefs of the devas, the ṛshis, siddhas, gandharvas and yogins, present there as a radiant liṅga, free of all illness. Worship him every day with all the upacāras (offerings of worship), with bhakti, with limbs and senses controlled; praise him with this prayer on the ashṭamī (eighth) and caturdaśī (fourteenth) days of the lunar fortnight; give gold as one can; and feed brāhmaṇas. Whoever does this on the Gaṅgā gains a hundred sons, and after gaining all his desires goes at death to Śivapura, the city of Bhagavān Śiva.

“Whoever praises me with this prayer, wherever he may be, shall have a son within six months, even a barren woman. Of this there is no doubt.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

The names of the tīrthas and their phala

From then on that tīrtha has been called Putratīrtha, and by bathing there, giving dāna and doing other such rites there one gains every cherished desire. The place where the Maruts‘ friendship with Indra came about is called Mitratīrtha; because it made Indra free of pāpa it is called Śakratīrtha; and where Indra gained his glory is named Kamalatīrtha. All these tīrthas give every cherished desire. Saying “All this will come to pass,” Bhagavān Śiva withdrew from sight, and all who had gathered there went home content. It is well known that a hundred thousand tīrthas that give puṇya are there.

• Putratīrtha is full of puṇya; even hearing its greatness gives one’s cherished desires.
• Barrenness of a woman or impotence of a man is set right merely by bathing here.
• With bath and dāna for three months, with fruits and Kaśyapa‘s stotra, one gains a son; a woman who bathes after her menstrual bath bears a son; a pregnant woman who keeps the rite bears a son equal to Indra.
• Piṇḍas, propitiation of the pitṛs and a little gold surely give a son to one who lacks one through offences to the pitṛs or misused wealth.
• The pūjā of Siddheśvara at the confluence of Diti and the Gaṅgā gives a hundred sons and Śivapura.
• Reciting Kaśyapa’s stotra anywhere gives a son within six months.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 54