Carmaṇvatī
Carmaṇvatī · carmaṇ-vatī, “she who has hides”
Carmaṇvatī is a holy river of Bhārata. The Agni Purāṇa, which Agni Deva taught to Vasishṭha Maharshi, names her in two teachings. In the glory of the tīrthas she stands first in a group of excellent tīrthas with the Sindhu, Somanātha, Prabhāsa, the saṅgama of the Sarasvatī and the sea, and Sāgara. In the mantras for the abhisheka of a king, she is one of the holy rivers called on to bathe the king and protect him.
Among the excellent tīrthas
Agni Deva told Vasishṭha Maharshi the glory of the tīrthas, which grants bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and mukti (release). Only one whose hands, feet and mind are held in restraint, and who has learning, tapas and good name, gains the full fruit of a tīrtha. The tīrtha-yātrī who gives up accepting gifts, eats measured food, keeps his senses in check and is free of pāpa gains the fruit of all yajñas; the fruit that comes from yajñas comes from tīrtha-yātrās. One who has not fasted for three nights and has not gone on tīrtha-yātrā becomes poor.
Agni Deva first praised Pushkara, the best of tīrthas, where Brahmā is present with all the devatās at the three sandhyās. Then he named the tīrthas of the west: “Kaṇvāśrama, Koṭitīrtha, the Narmadā and Arbuda are also excellent tīrthas. Carmaṇvatī, Sindhu, Somanātha, Prabhāsa, the saṅgama of the Sarasvatī and the sea, and Sāgara are also excellent tīrthas.” After them he named Piṇḍāraka kshetra, Dvārakā and the Gomatī, which grant every siddhi.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 109
At the abhisheka of a king
Agni Deva told Vasishṭha Maharshi how Pushkara taught Paraśurāma the mantras for the abhisheka (consecration bath) of a king, mantras that remove all pāpas. If the kalaśa is filled with water and kuśa grass and the king is bathed with it, all his wishes are fulfilled. Each mantra is a blessing on the king: may Brahmā, Vishṇu, Śiva and all the devatās perform his abhisheka; may the maharshis, the pitṛs and the great nāgas protect him; may the lokas, the dvīpas, the varshas and the mountains give him the kingdom and śānti. After the seven oceans and the great tīrthas, the holy rivers are called on: “May these holy rivers perform your abhisheka and protect you”: the Gaṅgā, Sarasvatī, Śatadru, Gaṇḍakī, Acchodā, Vipāśā, Vitastā, Devikā, Kāverī, Varuṇā, Niścirā, Gomatī, Pārā, Carmaṇvatī, Rūpā, Mahānadī, Mandākinī, Tāpī, Payoshṇī, Veṇā, Vaitaraṇī, Godāvarī, Bhīmarathī, Tuṅgabhadrā, Araṇi, Candrabhāgā, Śivā, Gaurī and the rest.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 219
Sources
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 109, 219