Bṛhaspati’s Stotra to the Gautamī (Brahma Purāṇa)
Bṛhaspati Kṛta Gautamī Stotra · bṛhaspati kṛta gautamī stotra, “the stotra to the Gautamī sung by Bṛhaspati”
Bṛhaspati’s Stotra to the Gautamī is the short praise that Bṛhaspati, guru of the devas, offered to the river Gautamī (the Godāvarī, the Gaṅgā of the south) after his wife Tārā was made pure by bathing in her waters. It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 82 (verses 38–39), where Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of the tīrtha called Nanditaṭa. In it Bṛhaspati hails the Gautamī as worthy of pūjā by all and the giver of moksha, and grants her a vara: whenever he is in the sign of Siṃha, she will purify the three worlds, and all the holy waters of svarga, earth and pātāla will come to her to bathe.
The setting
Brahmā tells Nārada that Candra, the radiant son of Atri, learned the Vedas and Dhanurveda, the science of archery, from Bṛhaspati, along with all the other arts. When he wished to give his guru the guru-dakshiṇā, Bṛhaspati sent him to ask his wife Tārā, whose radiance was like that of Rati. Candra went into the inner rooms, and seeing Tārā with her star-like face, he caught her by the hand and carried her off by force to his own abode.
Bṛhaspati, here also called Jīva, heard of it from the servants, rebuked Candra and pronounced a śāpa on him, and fought him with the help of the devas. But neither the śāpas of the devas, nor their weapons charged with mantras, nor Bṛhaspati’s abhicāra mantras could harm Candra, and he kept Tārā with him, as well as Rohiṇī, for many years. Kings and ṛshis could not win her back, by peaceful means or by threats. When every means was exhausted, Bṛhaspati remembered his own nīti: the wise man puts aside his pride and gains his purpose by any means. So he went to Śukra, guru of the daityas, who received him with honour and heard the whole matter.
Śukra vowed: “Dear brother, ruler of the grahas, I will not eat or drink, sleep or even speak until I bring back your wife. After worshipping Śiva and pronouncing a śāpa on Candra, who betrayed his guru, I shall fetch her.” He worshipped Bhagavān Śiva with great bhakti and received many varas. Then he went with Bṛhaspati to where Candra was with Tārā and pronounced his śāpa: “Since you have done this pāpa out of arrogance, you shall be struck by disease.” At once Candra was scorched by the śāpa and gave up Tārā, and Śukra took her away.
Śukra called together the devas, the ṛshis, the pitṛs, the rivers, the oshadhis (healing herbs) and the pativratās, and asked them the prāyaścitta (rite of purification) for Tārā. The Vedas answered: “Let her bathe in the Gautamī with great devotion, together with Bṛhaspati, and she will become pure. This is a great secret, not to be told to just anyone: in every trouble, the Gautamī is the one refuge of men.” Tārā bathed in the Gautamī with her husband as the rite prescribes. Flowers rained down and cries of “Jaya” rose up. Freed of pāpa and impurity, she was given back to Bṛhaspati, and joy spread among the devas. Greatest of all was the joy of Bṛhaspati, Śukra and Tārā, and Bṛhaspati, filled with supreme joy, spoke to the Gaṅgā.
The stotra and the vara
Bṛhaspati said:
- “O Gautamī, you are worthy of pūjā by all, and you give moksha to all.
- Especially when I am in Siṃha, you will become the purifier of the three worlds.
- O best of rivers, all the holy waters will join you.
- O Mother, when I am in Siṃha, the holy rivers, lakes, ponds and other waters of svarga, of the world of mortals and of pātāla will come to you to take their holy bath.”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 82
The tīrtha and its phala
Because Tārā was freed of pāpa there, that tīrtha became the destroyer of pāpas and the giver of every cherished desire. Brahmā says that the tīrtha named Ānanda gives wealth, fame and long life, increases health and prosperity, and brings good fortune and great wealth. Gautama Maharshi says there are five thousand tīrthas there. By remembering and reciting this account one gains what one wishes.
The place is called Nanditaṭa, “the bank of Nandī“, because Nandī, the attendant of Bhagavān Śiva, is installed there and always performs his holy rites on the bank of the Gaṅgā. It is called Ānanda because it increases the joy of everyone.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 82
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 82