Kapālamocana Tīrtha (Sarasvatī)

Kapālamocana is a tīrtha (holy bathing place) on the river Sarasvatī. It is also called Auśanasa. Its name means “freedom from the skull”. The ṛshi Mahodara was freed here from a skull stuck in his leg. Paraśurāma also bathed here to be cleansed of pāpa (sin).

Origin of the name

Kapāla means skull and mocana means freedom or release. The name points to the event that made the place holy. The ṛshi Mahodara came here with a skull stuck in his body, in his leg, which no ordinary means could remove. The holy waters of this tīrtha freed the skull and set Mahodara free from his trouble.

The name Auśanasa

The tīrtha is also called Auśanasa. This name ties it to Uśanas, who is also called Śukrācārya.

Paraśurāma at Kapālamocana

Paraśurāma bathed here after he had destroyed the kshatriya class twenty-one times and given the earth to Kaśyapa. This bath cleansed him of the pāpa gathered through war. It adds a second meaning to the power of this tīrtha to set people free.

Balarāma at Kapālamocana

Balarāma bathed here and did the rites that the tīrtha asks for.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 42