Pushkariṇī
Pushkariṇī
Grammar: feminine noun.
Meaning: a water body, a vāpī or bāvalī; also a tīrtha, and a Devī given in marriage to Varuṇa in the rite.
In the scriptures: In the abhisheka of Bhagavān Sūrya, Pushkariṇī is among the tīrthas contemplated as present in the water (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 55).
Sūta tells the brāhmaṇas that holy water from a vāpī, a pushkariṇī and the like is poured with Gaṅgā water into new water works. A pushkariṇī and the like should be built in front of a devatā’s temple. One who builds a pushkariṇī gains endless fruit and does not fall again from Brahmaloka; one who does not perform the pratishṭhā of a vāpī, a temple and the like incurs fear of misfortune and a share of pāpa (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapter 9). If a tank, pushkariṇī or garden is made smaller than the stated measure there is dosha, but if it is of ten hastas there is no dosha (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapters 10–11).
In the rite, images of Bhagavān Varuṇa and of Pushkariṇī Devī are made on one vedī, of gold or the like as one can afford. The marriage of Devī Pushkariṇī with Bhagavān Varuṇa is performed, and she is given to him (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 19–21).
The pratishṭhā. One first does bhūtaśuddhi and offers arghya to Bhagavān Sūrya. Then one does pūjā of Gaṇeśa, the Gurupādukā, Jaya and Bhadra; in the middle of the maṇḍala, of Ādhāra-śakti, Ananta and Kūrma; of Candra, Sūrya and others; in a second vessel, of Bhagavān Varuṇa; on the eastern and following petals, of the dikpālas beginning with Indra and their weapons, and in the middle, of Brahmā; of the tattvas भूर्भुवः स्वः; and on the north of the maṇḍala, of Ananta in nāga form. In the homa the first oblation goes to Varuṇa, then to the dikpālas, Nārāyaṇa, Śiva, Durgā, Gaṇeśa, the grahas and Brahmā, followed by the svishṭakṛt homa and bali.
A silver image of Varuṇa is set on a lotus. A gold image of the pushkariṇī is made, honoured and released into the water. A boat is placed in the middle of the water, and the ṛtvij does homa there. An image of Śeshanāga is released too, and dakshiṇā is given to the brāhmaṇas. Makaras, grāhas, fish, tortoises and other water creatures, lotuses and śaivāla are released into it. One goes round it in pradakshiṇā, releases parched grain and shells and pours a stream of milk. A red thread is wound around the pushkariṇī on all sides. One satisfies the poor and enters the house (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 4–8).
Related terms: Vāpī · Varuṇa · Pratishṭhā · Tīrtha
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 55; Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapters 9–11; Bhāga 2, Chapters 19–21; Bhāga 3, Chapters 4–8