Tuṅgabhadrā

Tuṅgabhadrā · tuṅga-bhadrā, “the lofty and auspicious one”

The Tuṅgabhadrā is a holy river of the south of Bhārata. The Agni Purāṇa, which Agni Deva taught to Vasishṭha Maharshi, names it twice. In the glory of the tīrthas, Agni Deva counts the Tuṅgabhadrā among the excellent tīrthas (holy places) of the south, with Śrīparvata, the Godāvarī, the Kāverī who grants varas, the Tāpī and the Revā. And in the mantras for a king’s abhisheka, the Tuṅgabhadrā is one of the holy rivers called on to bathe and protect the king.

An excellent tīrtha of the south

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. One who has not fasted for three nights and has not gone on tīrtha-yātrā becomes poor. The fruit that comes from yajñas comes from tīrtha-yātrā.

Then Agni Deva names the tīrthas of the south: Śrīparvata, Kolācala, Sahyagiri, Malayagiri, the Godāvarī, the Tuṅgabhadrā, the Kāverī who grants varas, the Tāpī, the Payoshṇī, the Revā (Narmadā) and Daṇḍakāraṇya are also excellent tīrthas.

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 109

At the abhisheka of a king

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 are called on, and then the holy rivers: “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