Acchoda Sarovara is a divine lake linked with the realm of Kubera. Five gandharva kanyakās (daughters of five gandharvas) came here every year in the spring to worship Gaurīdevī. The lake’s ghāṭas (bathing steps) are described as built of śuddha-sphaṭika (pure crystal) and vaidūrya (lapis lazuli).

The Padma Mahā Purāṇa tells of the five maidens at this lake. Here they first met the beautiful brahmacārī (student) son of Vaidyanidhi ṛshi, and kāma (desire) struck them. They gave and received a mutual śāpa (curse), became piśācas, and lived in that state for years. They were freed through the guidance of Lomaśa Maharshi and the touch of the waters of the Narmadā.

Description

The Swarga Khaṇḍa describes Acchoda Sarovara as a sacred lake with bathing ghāṭas of crystal and vaidūrya. The five gandharva kanyakās did their ritual snāna (bath) here before the Gaurī-pūjā.

The lake held svarṇa-kamala (golden lotuses). It lay among beautiful forests, rich enough for the five maidens to gather mandāra flowers as they went from forest to forest.

The lake was the centre of the maidens’ worship and of their life together. The Gaurī-pūjā they did here, with a mṛttikā-mūrti (image made of clay), candana (sandal paste), gandha (fragrance), bhakshya-bhojya (foods to chew and eat), gīta (song) and nṛtya (dance), showed their devotion to Gaurīdevī in the spring.

What happened at the lake

The lake is the place of both the mutual curse and the return to their senses. The brahmacārī and the five kanyakās became piśācas together and roamed the shores of Acchoda tīrtha. They returned to their senses when Lomaśa arrived.

Sources

Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Swarga Khaṇḍa, Chapters 22–23