Dharma Pushkariṇī is a very sacred lake on the Gandhamādana mountain, in the Setu-kshetra of Rāmasetu. The Setu Māhātmya describes it as a place of great beauty, where divine beings live.

Two great events belong to this lake. The ṛshi Gālava did tapas (austerity) here and met Bhagavān Vishṇu. And Śrī Devī slew the asura Mahishāsura here. So the lake holds both Vaishṇava and Śākta sacred history.

Description

The Setu Māhātmya describes Dharma Pushkariṇī as a lake of great natural beauty. Its waters are clear as crystal, divine trees stand on its banks, and divine beings are present there. It lies on the Gandhamādana mountain, next to Cakratīrtha. The name means “the lake of Dharma”, and it shows the lake to be a sacred seat of cosmic righteousness.

While Gālava was wandering in the Setu-kshetra, the beauty of this lake held him. He chose it as the place for his tapas, which he offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu.

Gālava’s tapas

Gālava found Dharma Pushkariṇī and did strong tapas on its banks. His tapas moved Bhagavān Vishṇu, who gave him darśana (a sacred sight of Bhagavān Vishṇu) at this lake.

When Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared, Dharma in his own personal form also offered a stotra (hymn of praise) to Bhagavān Śiva at this tīrtha. For this reason the lake is linked to both the Vaishṇava and the Śaiva traditions.

Site of the slaying of Mahishāsura

Dharma Pushkariṇī is also the place where Śrī Devī slew the asura Mahishāsura, who had the form of a buffalo-headed asura. Mahishāsura had won all three worlds and driven out the devas. Then Brahmā, Vishṇu, Śiva and all the devas joined their tejas (divine radiance) and made Śrī Devī. This gathered divine energy took the form of the Mahādevī, who then fought Mahishāsura.

The deciding battle took place here, on the Gandhamādana mountain, and Devī slew the asura. The place of this great victory is Dharma Pushkariṇī. So the lake is linked with the triumph of dharma over adharma. The nearby town that grew around the place came to be called Devīpattana.

Connection to Rāmasetu

The building of Rāmasetu began from Devīpattana, the town next to Dharma Pushkariṇī. Bhagavān Rāma gathered his vānara army at Devīpattana and told Nala to begin the bridge from this very place. So Dharma Pushkariṇī stands where Rāmasetu begins.

Sources

Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 3 (the description of the lake and Gālava’s tapas)
Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 7 (Mahishāsura and the start of Rāmasetu)