The Gautami Mahatmya

by G. P. Bhatt | 1955 | 127,137 words

This is the English translation of the Gautami-Mahatmya, which forms the fourth part of the Brahma-purana. The Gautamimahatmya narrates the legends and merits of the various holy places (tirthas) situated around the bank of the Godavari river in 105 chapters. It can be seen as distinct work by itself, and was declared as a “highly meritorious puran...

Chapter 37 - Description of seventeen holy centres

Brahmā said:

1. The holy centre where Śiva is called Vṛddheśvara is named Vṛddhā Saṅgama. I shall describe it in detail. Listen to it. It destroys sins.

2-3. There was a sage belonging to the family of Gautama, named Vṛddha. He was a sage of great penance. When the brahmin was a boy as the son of Gautama (scion of the family of Gautama) he had no nose. He was born without a nose. Hence he had an ugly form. Due to the lack of worldly attachment he wandered to various holy centres in the land.

4. Since he was shy and modest he had no contact with any preceptor. Since he was bashful and reserved he had no opportunity to learn along with other pupils.

5. With great difficulty (somehow) he was initiated into the study of Vedas by his father Gautama. After doing so much Gautama set out on a journey.

6. Thus, much time elapsed. The brahmin was supported by the brahmin mother. That Gautama had no opportunity to study the Vedas.

7. Gautama did not engage himself in a regular study of any scriptures. But he observed vows regularly and performed rites in sacred fires.

8-10. He was brahmin only by name, by the practice of Gāyatrī and the performance of holy rites in sacred fire. He maintained his brahmin-hood with this much alone. O sage, Gautama the noble brahmin continued to perform holy rites in the fire and repeated the Gāyatrī Mantra. O son, Gautama became long-lived. His span of life increased but he could not get a wife. There was no one to offer him his daughter (in marriage).

11. He was wandering about in the holy centres in various places in different forests and holy hermitages.

12. During the course of his wanderings, Gautama came to Himalayas. There he espied a beautiful cave overgrown with creepers and branches of trees.

13. The great brahmin sat down there and decided to stay. Entering within he saw an excellent woman.

14. She was a lean old woman with flaccid limbs. She was a virgin practising celibacy and performing penance. She was staying in isolation there.

15. On seeing her the excellent sage stood ready for making obeisance to her but she prevented him.

The old woman said:

16. You are about to become my Guru (preceptor). It does not behove you to salute me. Longevity, learning, wealthy fame, virtue, heavenly enjoyment etc. of a person, perish if a Guru were to bow down to his disciple.

Brahmā said:

17-18. Gautama who was surprised (at this remark) spoke to her with palms joined in reverence:

Gautama said:

You are a saintly old lady superior to me in qualities. I am younger in age with lesser knowledge and learning. How can I be your Guru?

The old woman said:

19-23. In this connection, O sage of good holy rites, I shall narrate to you what happened long ago.

The son of Arṣṭiṣeṇa was known as Ṛtadhvaja. He was a meritorious, intelligent and heroic Kṣatriya devoted to the duties of Kṣatriyas. Once, attracted by a desire for hunting, Ṛtadhvaja went to a forest. He took rest in this cave. He was a clever, intelligent youth surrounded by a large army. As he was taking rest, a celestial damsel, the daughter of the king of Gandharvas, known as Suśyāmā saw the excellent king. On seeing her the king became enamoured of her and she too began to love him. O sage of excellent intellect, the king indulged in sexual dalliance with her. As his passionate love was fully satisfied the great king took leave of her and went back home.

24. I was born of that Suśyāmā, O sage of great intellect. As she was about to go back to heaven, O sage, my mother said this to me:

Suśyāmā said:

25-30. O gentle lady, he who enters this cave will become your husband.

The old lady said:

After saying this, O sage of great intellect, my mother expired. You are the only man who has entered this cave. Never has anyone else entered it. My father performed penance after ruling over his kingdom for eighty thousand years. Then he went to heaven. After my father had gone to heaven, O great sage, my brother ruled over that kingdom for ten thousand years and then died. But I remained here itself. O brahmin, I have never been wooed by anyone else. I have neither father nor mother. O brahmin, I am mistress of myself, a Kṣatriya girl waiting ready (for you). Hence, O brahmin, accept me who have been seeking a man and observing the holy vows.

Gautama said:

31. O gentle lady, I am aged a thousand years. You are older than I. I am a boy. You are an old lady. Hence, our mutual union is impossible.

The old lady said:

32-34. You have been indicated formerly as my husband. No one else is accepted by me to be my husband. You have been granted to me by Brahmā. Hence, it does not behove you to disown me. Or, if you do not desire me in spite of the fact that I am undefiled and ever prepared to follow you, I shall abandon my life even now in your presence. To all embodied beings death is far better than the non-acquisition of what is desired. There is no end to sins if one abandons persons attached to one.

Brahmā said:

35-37. On hearing the words of the old lady, Gautama said:

Gautama said:

I am devoid of penance. I do not possess good learning. I am poor and without possession. I am not a suitable bridegroom for you. I am deformed and bereft of worldly pleasures. I have no nose. What shall I do? I have neither learning nor penance as my asset. Hence first, O splendid lady, you should make me handsome and bestow on me good learning. Afterwards you can carry out what you have slated. Thereupon, the old lady said to the brahmin:

The old lady said:

38-39. Goddess Sarasvatī has been propitiated by me, O brahmin, by means of penance. So also the Waters of beautiful form and Agni the bestower of comeliness. Hence, goddess Speech will grant you learning and Agni, the beautiful god, will grant you a lovely form.

Brahmā said:

40. After saying this to Gautama the old lady pleaded (fire god) and made him handsome as well as learned.

41. Thereafter, Gautama who became learned, handsome and brilliant married the old lady. With great pleasure he sported with that charming lady for many years in the cave. He was happy and delighted in his mind.

42-43. While the couple stayed happily in their cave on the mountain, O most revered sage, sages Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva and others who had been wandering over sacred holy centres reached that cave,

44-45. On coming to know about the arrival of those sages, Gautama accompanied by his wife welcomed them with great hospitality. Some of them laughed at them. Some of those sages, boys proud of their youth, as well as men of middle age saw the old lady as well as Gautama and laughed.

46-48. They saw that the old lady was lean and lanky with hairs over the body. Her lips were hanging down. Her ears were broad like the winnowing basket. Her teeth, nose and hairs were all too long. She was infirm with her physical form shattered and decaying. They saw that Gautama was equipped with learning, good fortune, brilliance and comely features. On seeing this (disparity) some of those childish sons of sages began to laugh. On seeing her the narrow-minded disciples said smilingly:

The sages said:

49. Is this your son or grandson, old lady? Who is this Gautama? Tell us the truth, O gentle lady.

After saying this those brahmins laughed.

50-54. (They went on saying thus) “O saintly lady, truly the fruit of penance has been said to be powerful. By means of penance one attains peace and tranquility. If one is incompetent one is faced with exhaustion. O splendid lady, only he who views (everyone) with equanimity has peace and tranquility. Truthful speech amounts to the protection of what has been acquired in the course of many births.

Of what avail is profuse speech now. It is practically meaningless and worthless. You alone are blessed lady endowed with good fortune in this world. Tell us (is it not so?).

Your sins have been burnt by austerities you have practised. You have been glorified by your exertion in performing penance.

In this world, you have become lean and emaciated by practising austerities and subjugating your sense-organs, by worshipful hospitality to the guests and the nursing and nurturing of your son. Let not the body be nourished by accumulating sins.

55-60. Mercifulness, charitable gift, penance, truthfulness, cleanliness, subjugation of sense-organs, worshipful hospitality to the guests, quiescence, protection of sons etc.—by means of all these you are maintaining your duty. If anyone has only such activities as are conducive to the acquisition of what is required by his belly, he is considered certainly fit to be confined to hell. O beautiful lady, tell me who is that woman who endures all miseries? Who is that woman who is on a par with a dog (for miserable life)? A woman even of good eyebrows should be considered unholy if she is devoid of husband and sons. O splendid lady, certainly you are endowed with virtue because of your continuous hospitality to the guests. You are feeding brahmins with cooked food. Although you are very old and bereft of your husband you are still virtuous and splendid. Although you are deformed (physically) you must be considered beautiful. Although you have no wealth you are still rich. Penance has been performed by you with good concentration. Ekāṅguṣṭha (standing on a single toe) and similar other severe and difficult penances have been performed by you.

61. Lord of Lakṣmī (i.e. Viṣṇu) has been worshipped very well by you in your previous birth with devotion. Good charitable gifts have been distributed, sacrifices with good monetary gifts have been performed (by you.)

62. Holy centres have been duly visited and plenty of gifts have been given and much has been sacrificed. Hence Gautama, the knower of the Vedas has been obtained by you as son.

63. He is conversant with all the principles of Vedas and Vedāṅgas; he is well read in all the scriptures. A son (like) Gautama is very difficult to obtain even by the merit of all the three worlds.

64. (Defective Verse) Is he your great-grandson, grandson or son? Or is he your daughter’s son? Sesamum seeds are causes of satisfaction through a son but in the case of daughter’s son they are like those kept in a leather bag.

65-66. O old lady with plenty of penance, through this boy you will attain the great region of Viṣṇu or a pure befitting family (in the next birth). In this matter no worry need be felt.”

Thereupon some of the disciples of sages said in surprise: “A youthful woman is poison unto an old man but a young man is like nectar unto an old woman. Oh, the conjunction of desirable and undesirable things has been seen by us after a long period.”

Brahmā said:

67. Thus spoke some of them even as the couple were listening to their talk.

After saying this and after receiving due hospitality the great sages went away.

68. On hearing the talk of the sages the couple were ashamed and sorry. The highly intelligent Gautama in the company of his wife asked Agastya the great excellent sage:

Gautama said:

69. What is that land or holy centre where happiness can be had? What is that place which bestows worldly pleasures and salvation? O highly intelligent one, tell me quickly.

Agastya said:

70-71. These words have been heard by me from the sages who had been narrating the same: “All desires are realised in Gautamī river”. Hence go, O sage of great intellect, to Gautamī, the destroyer of sins. I shall follow you. Do as you please.

Brahmā said:

72-73. On hearing these words of Agastya Gautama and the old lady went there. That holy sage performed penance along with his wife. He eulogized lord Viṣṇu and Śambhu. The holy sage propitiated Gaṅgā on behalf of his wife.

Gautama said:

74. Like a tree unto the travellers in the desert, O Śiva, you in the company of your consort are the sole refuge unto those persons who are distressed in this world.

75. You entirely remove the sins of all living beings—high and low. O Kṛṣṇa, you are like the cloud to the planets that wither due to drought.

76. O Gautamī, you are the ladder leading to the fort of Vaikuṇṭha that is difficult of access. You are the river of nectar. Be the refuge of seven (? worlds) coming beneath.

Brahmā said:

77. Then the delighted Gautamī, worthy of being sought refuge in, spoke to Gautama who was accompanied by the old woman, who had sought refuge in her and who was in great distress.

Gautamī said:

78-80. Pour my water over your beloved wife after consecrating it with Mantras. Pour the water out of pots sanctified with Mantras and other modes of worshipful service. She will then become beautiful with all her limbs rendered youthful. She will have conjugal felicity, fascinating eyes and good traits. She will attain beautiful physical form. Your beautiful wife shall pour water over you. That being done you will have all good traits in full and you will attain a beautiful form.

Brahmā said:

81. At the instance of Gaṅgā they said ‘yes’ and did as they were told. Both of them obtained beautiful form by the grace of Gautamī.

82. The water used for pouring became a river; it became well known, O excellent sage, by the name of the old woman.

83. It was known as ‘Vṛddhānadī.’ Similarly, Gautama was called ‘Vṛddhagautama’. He was so called by the sages staying along with them.

The old woman said to Gautamī Gaṅgā in visible form:

Vṛddhā said:

84-85. O goddess, let this river be called Vṛddhā after my name. Let its confluence with you be an excellent holy centre. By means of holy dip, charitable gifts, Homas etc., let it be conducive to the increase of beauty, good fortune, wealth, sons and grandsons. Let it bestow longevity, health and welfare. Let it give victory and increase pleasure. Let it sanctify the manes.

Brahmā said:

86. “Let it be so”, said Gaṅgā to the old lady, the beloved wife of Gautama. The Liṅga installed by Gautama is glorified by the name Vṛddhā.

87-88. The excellent sage attained great joy there itself along with the old woman. The holy dip and charitable gifts there are the bestower of all desired things.

Thereafter, that holy centre is called Vṛddhā Saṅgama.

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