Rāma’s Stotra to the Gautamī (Brahma Purāṇa)
Rāma Kṛta Gautamī Stotra · rāma kṛta gautamī stotra, “the stotra to the Gautamī spoken by Rāma”
Rāma’s Stotra to the Gautamī is the praise of the river Gautamī that Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, spoke to the vānaras on her bank, on his way home to Ayodhyā after the slaying of Rāvaṇa. It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 87 (verses 9–14), where Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of Kishkindhā-tīrtha, where Bhagavān Śiva dwells as Bhava. In it Śrī Rāma tells how by the power of the Gautamī his father Daśaratha was freed of pāpa and went to svarga, Vibhīshaṇa became his ally, Sītā was won back and Laṅkā fell, and he takes refuge with body, speech and mind in the mother of the good who dwells in the jaṭā of Śiva.
The setting
Brahmā tells Nārada that Śrī Rāma, with the help of the dwellers of Kishkindhā, slew in battle Rāvaṇa, who made the worlds cry, together with his sons and his army. Then the king returned with Sītā, with his brother Lakshmaṇa, the mighty vānaras, Vibhīshaṇa and the devas. The rite of svastyayana, the blessing for a safe journey, was performed for him, and they flew towards Ayodhyā in the vimāna Pushpaka, which had belonged to Kubera, ruler of wealth and went swiftly wherever one wished.
On the way Śrī Rāma, the refuge of all who seek refuge, saw the Gaṅgā flowing as the Gautamī: the sanctifier of the universe, the giver of every cherished desire, the last resort for the removal of distress, a delight to the eyes. He came down to her bank and, in a voice faltering with joy, spoke to the vānaras, Hanūmān first among them.
The stotra
Śrī Rāma said:
- “O vānaras, it was by the power of this river that my father, the lord, became free of all pāpas and went to svarga.
- She is the mother of all creatures. She gives enjoyment, and she will give even moksha. She destroys even terrible pāpas. Which other river is her equal?
- All pāpas are destroyed for ever. By the power of this river even enemies have become friends: Vibhīshaṇa has become my lasting ally, Sītā has been won back, and Hanūmān has become my kinsman.
- It is through the pūjā of this river that Laṅkā was destroyed and Rāvaṇa slain with all his host. Gautama Maharshi worshipped the supreme Śiva of the jaṭā, worthy of refuge, and so gained this river.
- She brings forth every desired thing and destroys all that is inauspicious. She alone sanctifies the universe. Today the mother of rivers is seen before my eyes.
- With body, speech and mind I take refuge in the Gaṅgā, who is worthy to be resorted to. With every feeling of reverence I bow to the mother of the good, who has made her dwelling in the jaṭā of Śiva.”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 87
What followed
Hearing the king, the vānaras plunged into the river and swam, and worshipped her with many kinds of flowers and offerings. Śrī Rāma worshipped Bhagavān Śiva as the rite prescribes and praised him with words full of feeling, and the vānaras danced and sang. That night he stayed there happily with Sītā, among people full of love, and left behind all the trouble his enemies had brought. “What is not gained by resorting to the Gautamī?” asks Brahmā. Looking at his followers with wonder, Śrī Rāma praised the Godāvarī and honoured them all.
At sunrise Vibhīshaṇa said, “We are not yet satisfied with this tīrtha. Let us stay four more nights, and then go to Ayodhyā together.” The vānaras agreed, and for four nights they worshipped Īśvara, the ruler of all. They went also to the tīrtha famed in all the world as Siddheśvara, by whose grace Rāvaṇa had become very powerful, and worshipped liṅgas they had installed themselves; Hanūmān, son of Vāyu, served there.
When they were about to leave, Śrī Rāma told Hanūmān to take up with due rite all the liṅgas installed by him, by others who knew the mantras and by Śaṅkara’s servants, for no outer liṅga of Bhava should be joined to the great Śaṅkara without that rite. He taught that one who slights the deity or the liṅga stands as on a sword’s edge, and that those without śraddhā, the careless, and those who neglect their duty after worshipping the liṅga are roasted in every naraka by the servants of Yama. Hanūmān went, but he could not move the liṅga with his hands, nor, winding his tail around it, with his tail, and the vānaras and the king were astonished. “Who, however wise or strong, can shake the liṅga of Maheśa once it has gained stability and greatness?” says Brahmā. Śrī Rāma called brāhmaṇas, went round the liṅgas in pradakshiṇa, worshipped them with a pure heart and bowed to them with all the brāhmaṇas.
Saying “Mother Gautamī, be pleased,” Śrī Rāma bowed to her again and again, full of wonder. Because the great dwellers of Kishkindhā resorted to it, the tīrtha is called Kishkindhā, and the devas say it is most sacred; great pāpas are surely destroyed by bathing there. Whoever reads, remembers or hears this account with devotion is freed of his pāpas; what then of one who bathes and gives dāna there?
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 87
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 87