Cakratīrtha is a sacred tīrtha (holy bathing place) in the Setu-kshetra on the Gandhamādana mountain. It is known for being split into two parts by the Sudarśana cakra of Bhagavān Vishṇu when he destroyed the asura Durgamu. The tīrtha is closely tied to the tapas (austerity) of the ṛshi Gālava and to the liberation of the royal souls of Sahasrānīka, Mṛgāvatī and Udayana of Kauśāmbī. The sacred lake Dharma Pushkariṇī lies next to it in the same kshetra.

Location and appearance

Cakratīrtha lies in the Setu-kshetra on the Gandhamādana mountain, next to Rāmasetu. It can be seen to be divided into two parts. These are the two halves of a tīrtha, parted by the force of the Sudarśana cakra, which struck the mountain range at this spot. The nearby Dharma Pushkariṇī is a very beautiful sacred lake. Its water is crystal clear, it is surrounded by divine trees, and divine beings live there. The ṛshi Gālava saw this tīrtha on his travels and at once felt drawn to do tapas here (Chapter 3).

Origin: the slaying of Durgamu

Cakratīrtha got its name, and its split form, when the Sudarśana cakra of Bhagavān Vishṇu struck the mountain range here to destroy the asura Durgamu. Durgamu had been a gandharva. Vasishṭha cursed him, and he became a terrible asura. He took over the tīrtha-kshetra and began to trouble and terrify the area. Bhagavān Vishṇu sent the Sudarśana cakra to destroy him. The weapon struck the mountain with such force that it split the tīrtha into two parts, and at that moment Durgamu was destroyed. This splitting is why Cakratīrtha has its two-part form (Chapters 3 and 4).

Gālava’s tapas and Bhagavān Vishṇu’s darśana

The ṛshi Gālava came to the Setu-kshetra and was taken by the great beauty of Dharma Pushkariṇī and Cakratīrtha. He did hard tapas aimed at Bhagavān Vishṇu. Bhagavān Vishṇu was moved by Gālava’s devotion and appeared before him and gave him darśana (the sight of the divine). At this meeting Gālava worshipped Bhagavān Vishṇu and composed a stotra (hymn of praise) in his honour. Dharma, in the form of the sacred lake, also sang a stotra to Bhagavān Śiva at this tīrtha. Gālava then composed a stotra in honour of the Sudarśana cakra. When Gālava asked why the tīrtha was split, Bhagavān Vishṇu told him how Durgamu was destroyed (Chapter 3).

The account of Durgamu

Durgamu was first a gandharva who lived among the divine beings. The great ṛshi Vasishṭha cursed him, and he fell from his divine rank and became an asura of terrible power. The Purāṇa also tells the ancient account of why mountains no longer have wings: Indra’s vajra struck the mountains and cut off their wings, and so it split the mountain ranges. Durgamu took over the tīrtha area and defiled it. The Sudarśana cakra, sent by Bhagavān Vishṇu, struck down through the mountain range. It killed Durgamu and left the tīrtha split in two (Chapter 4).

Liberation of Sahasrānīka, Mṛgāvatī and Udayana

The power of Cakratīrtha is shown by the liberation of three royal souls.

A vasu named Vidhūma was cursed by Brahmā to be born as a pāpī (sinner) in the world of mortals. He was born again as Sahasrānīka, king of Kauśāmbī. The apsarā Alambusā was cursed in the same way and was born again as Mṛgāvatī, who became Sahasrānīka’s queen. Their son Udayana was conceived in an unusual way. Mṛgāvatī breathed in the sweet smoke of burning sandalwood and became pregnant, and she gave birth to Udayana.

All three, Sahasrānīka, Mṛgāvatī and Udayana, gained liberation from the cycle of birth and death by bathing in Cakratīrtha. The power of the tīrtha wiped out their stored karma and gave them back their divine rank (Chapter 5).

Merit of bathing here

Bathing in Cakratīrtha, and giving dāna (gifts) and doing japa (repeating a mantra) and homa (fire offerings) at this tīrtha, lead to ananya-mukti, liberation with no return to saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death). The tīrtha destroys pāpa (sin) and frees those who have fallen from their true nature because of curses or pāpas (Chapter 3).

Sources

Skanda Mahāpurāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapters 3, 4 and 5

Cakratīrtha (Rāmasetu)