Sindhu (River)
Sindhu, “the river”
Sindhu has other meanings too: see all meanings of Sindhu.
The Sindhu is a holy river of Bhārata. The Agni Purāṇa, which Agni Deva taught to Vasishṭha Maharshi, names it in three places. In the account of Śrī Rāma’s reign, it tells that Bharata, at Rāma’s command, slew the evil gandharva Śailūsha, who lived on the bank of the Sindhu, together with his three crore sons. In the glory of the tīrthas, Agni Deva counts the Sindhu among the excellent tīrthas (holy places) of the west, with Carmaṇvatī, Somanātha and Prabhāsa. And in the mantras for a king’s abhisheka, the tīrtha where the Sindhu meets the ocean is called on to bathe and protect the king.
Bharata and the gandharva Śailūsha
The Agni Purāṇa tells the Rāmāyaṇa as Nārada told it to Vālmīki. While Rāma was ruling, Agastya and the other ṛshis came to him and told him the line of the rākshasas. When they had been honoured by Rāma and had left, Śatrughna, at Rāma’s command, slew the rākshasa Lavaṇa.
Then, commanded by Rāma, Bharata slew with sharp arrows the three crore sons of Śailūsha. He also slew Śailūsha himself, an evil gandharva who lived on the bank of the Sindhu. Then he made his own sons Taksha and Pushkara rulers of those lands, came back with Śatrughna and served Rāma. So Rāma, in human form, slew the wicked in battle and protected the good.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 11
An excellent tīrtha
Agni Deva said: “Now I shall tell the glory of the tīrthas, which grants bhukti (enjoyment) and mukti (moksha).” Only he whose hands, feet and mind are held in restraint, and who has learning, tapas and good name, gains the full fruit of the tīrthas. The pilgrim who gives up accepting gifts, eats measured food, keeps his senses in control and is free of pāpa (sin) gains the fruit of all yajñas. The fruit that comes from yajñas comes from tīrtha-yātrā.
After Pushkara and the tīrthas near it, Agni Deva names the tīrthas of the west: Kaṇvāśrama, Koṭitīrtha, the Narmadā and Arbuda are excellent tīrthas. Carmaṇvatī, the Sindhu, Somanātha, Prabhāsa, the meeting of the Sarasvatī and the sea, and Sāgara are also excellent tīrthas. Piṇḍāraka kshetra, Dvārakā and the Gomatī follow: all these are tīrthas that grant every siddhi.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 109
The meeting of the Sindhu and the ocean
Pushkara taught Paraśurāma the mantras for the abhisheka (consecration bath) of a king. If the kalaśa is filled with water and kuśa and the king is bathed with it, all his wishes are fulfilled. Each mantra is a blessing on the king. After the devatās, the ṛshis, the worlds, the mountains and the oceans, the tīrthas and the holy rivers are called on: “May these tīrthas and holy rivers perform your abhisheka and protect you.” Among the tīrthas named are Pushkara, Prabhāsa, Naimishāraṇya, Gayāśīrsha, Kedāra, Vārāṇasī, Badarikāśrama, Dvārakā, Śrīśaila, Purushottama, Śālagrāma and the tīrtha at the saṅgama (meeting) of the Sindhu and the ocean.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 219
Sources
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 11, 109, 219