Vadhūsarā Tīrtha

Vadhūsarā, also named Dīpodama, is a tīrtha (pilgrimage place) told of in the Vana Parva of the Mahābhārata. It is the place where Paraśurāma Bhārgava won back his teja (spiritual power) after Rāma, son of Daśaratha (Rāmacandra), had taken it from him.

Lomaśa told this account to Yudhishṭhira during the pilgrimage of the Pāṇḍavas.

The loss and the recovery of teja

Rāmacandra met Paraśurāma carrying the bow of Bhagavān Vishṇu and shot an arrow from it at Paraśurāma. The arrow took away the great teja that Paraśurāma had gathered through his long and fierce tapas (austerity). Paraśurāma was left without his usual power.

His pitṛs (forefathers) appeared to him and gave him counsel. They sent him to Vadhūsarā Tīrtha and told him that the holiness of this place could give back what had been taken. Paraśurāma came here and bathed. By his stay and his tapas at this place he regained his teja. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 99)

Significance

Vadhūsarā is the place where one of the greatest tapasvis of his age came to heal a wound of the spirit that an avatāra had dealt him. It shows the power of sacred waters to give back what has been lessened.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 99