Samudratīrtha (Gautamī)
Samudratīrtha · samudra-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of the ocean”
Samudratīrtha, the tīrtha of the Ocean, is the place where the Gautamī, the Godāvarī, meets the eastern ocean. She does not enter the sea in one stream but in seven, and the seven streams are known by the names of the seven ṛshis. Brahmā tells Nārada its account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa, the last tīrtha on the Gautamī’s course to the eastern ocean: the Ocean took a bodily form to welcome the Gaṅgā, and at her request brought the seven ṛshis with Arundhatī and their other wives, so that she could divide herself and join him. Samudratīrtha gives the fruit of all tīrthas, and in the three worlds there is no tīrtha greater for the destruction of pāpa, for bhukti and mukti, and for contentment of mind.
The Gaṅgā comes to the Ocean
“Listen attentively, O Nārada,” Brahmā says, “I shall tell its features.” Released by Gautama Maharshi, this Gaṅgā, the destroyer of pāpa (sin), flowed towards the eastern ocean for the good of the worlds. As she came down, Brahmā held the divine river in his kamaṇḍalu (water-pot), and Devī Gaṅgā was held in the matted hair (jaṭā) of Śambhu, Bhagavān Śiva, the Supreme Self.
The Ocean saw the Gaṅgā: born of the feet of Bhagavān Vishṇu, brought down to the world of mortals by a noble brāhmaṇa, Gautama, destroying pāpa merely when she is remembered, more worthy than the most worthy. Seeing her, the Ocean thought of his dharma: “She is worthy of the salutation of the universe. She is the devī of the worlds, to whom Brahmā, Śiva and the others bow. If I do not receive her duly, dharma will be defiled. If anyone, out of delusion, does not duly honour a noble person who comes to him, there is no saviour for him in either world.”
Thinking so, the master of rivers, Ratnākara, the treasury of jewels, took a bodily form full of humility, and with palms joined in añjali he spoke to the Gaṅgā.
The Ocean’s words
Sindhu, the Ocean, said: “All the water that is in pātāla, on the earth and in the sky may enter me; I will say nothing against it. In me are jewels, amṛta, rākshasas, devas and mountains. I bear all these, and other terrible things as well. With Devī Lakshmī, Bhagavān Vishṇu sleeps in me always. In the whole world, moving and unmoving, nothing is impossible for me. One who out of pride does not duly honour a great person who comes as a guest falls from dharma and falls into naraka.”
“I have no pain or sorrow in holding all these, except the discomfiture I suffered from Agastya. But in dignity you are far above them all. So I say this, O Devī Gaṅgā: join me as an equal. If you come in your whole form, in a single stream, I shall not be able to receive you. If you join me in many streams I shall receive you, and not otherwise. O Gaṅgā, if you are willing to come in several streams, I shall think on it.”
The seven streams
The Gautamī Gaṅgā said to the master of the waters: “Do as I say. Bring here Arundhatī and the others, the wives of the seven ṛshis (saptarshis), together with their husbands. Then I shall make myself smaller, and then I shall join you.”
Saying “So be it”, the Ocean brought the wives of the seven ṛshis, with the ṛshis, to Devī Gaṅgā. She divided herself into seven streams, and the Gautamī Gaṅgā went to the Ocean in seven channels. These seven Gaṅgās came to be known by the names of the seven ṛshis.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102
The phalaśruti
- Samudratīrtha gives the fruit of all tīrthas.
- A holy bath here, the giving of dāna (gifts), and devoutly listening to, reading and remembering this narrative are auspicious and fulfil every cherished desire.
- In the three worlds there is no tīrtha greater than the Ocean for one who seeks the destruction of pāpa, worldly enjoyment (bhukti), moksha (mukti) and contentment of mind.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 102