Saurya Tīrtha

Saurya Tīrtha · saurya-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Sūrya”

Saurya Tīrtha (Sauryatīrtha) is a tīrtha on the bank of the Gautamī, the Godāvarī, beside Brahmatīrtha. It is the place where Bhagavān Sūrya stays directly, in visible form, in the form of the devas. It is one of the tīrthas that arose where Bhagavān Śiva removed the fierce fifth head of Brahmā and held it in his hand out of compassion for the worlds. Brahmā himself tells Nārada this account in the Gautamī Māhātmya of the Brahma Purāṇa. Saurya Tīrtha is famed as giving the fruit of all yajñas, and one who bathes there and has darśana (sacred sight) of Sūrya is not born again.

The fifth face of Brahmā

The hosts of the devas were standing on the bank of the Gautamī. The daityas had fled into the nether worlds and the Mātṛs were following them. Brahmā sat in the midst of the devas. Then his fifth face, which had the terrible form of an ass, spoke: “O daityas, why do you flee? Do not fear. I am coming quickly. I shall devour all the devas who come here.”

The devas were afraid and said to Bhagavān Vishṇu: “Save us, O Vishṇu, save us, O Jagannātha. Cut off this face of Brahmā.” Bhagavān Vishṇu, the bearer of the cakra, said: “I could cut off the head with my cakra, but the moment it is cut off it would destroy the whole world of moving and unmoving beings. The three-eyed Bhagavān Śiva is the one to cut off Brahmā’s head. He will surely hold it.”

Then Brahmā praised Śambhu: “Yajña passes away; it gives no fruit that can be seen. Knowing that Kapardin, the one with matted hair, is the sure giver of the fruit, people take refuge in him and gain realization.” Bhagavān Śiva, ruler of the devas, was pleased and said, “So be it.” With his nails, sharp as needles, Candraśekhara, the moon-crested one, removed that fierce face, the very form of pāpa (sin). Bhūmi, the Earth, said she could not hold the head, for she would sink to the nether worlds, and Samudra, the Ocean, said he would dry up in a moment. So, at the devas’ prayer and out of compassion for the people, Bhagavān Śiva held the head of Brahmā in his hand, and the devas praised him with love and devotion.

Saurya Tīrtha and the tīrthas around it

From then on the tīrtha has been known as Brahmatīrtha, and to this day the four-faced form of Brahmā stands there. Brahmā names the tīrthas around it:

  • Rudratīrtha, where Rudra stood and cut off Brahmā’s head.
  • Sauryatīrtha, the excellent tīrtha where Sūrya stays directly, in the form of the devas.
  • Avimukta, the tīrtha on the bank of the Gautamī where Mahādeva installed the fifth head of Brahmā, for the good of the devas.

The phala

  • Saurya Tīrtha is famed as giving the fruit of all yajñas.
  • One who bathes there and has darśana of Bhagavān Sūrya is not born again.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 43

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 43