Chapter 40 - The Glory of Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī Tīrthas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: These Tīrthas [i.e., Gāyatrītīrtha and Sarasvatītrtha] are in the garden behind the Hanumān Temple.

Śrī Sūta said:

1-4. Henceforth, O sages, I shall recount the glory of Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī (Tīrthas) that sanctify the worlds. It bestows salvation on men, and destroys the great sins of those who listen to it or read it. It yields great merits to men and destroys the tortures of Narakas. If men joyously take their holy bath in Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī (Tīrthas), they will no longer stay in a womb. They will certainly be liberated.

These two rivers (Tīrthas) are called so because of the proximity of the two wives of god Brahmā, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī, on the Gandhamādana mountain.

The sages said:

5. How did it happen that Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī came to be present on the Gandhamādana mountain? O Sūta, describe it to us.

Sūta narrated:

6-8. Prajāpati (i.e. Brahmā) was formerly deluded, O Brāhmaṇas. He desired like a lover his own daughter named Vāc (Speech) joyously.

This daughter of Prajāpati bacame ashamed on noticing his lecherous love for her. Hence she assumed the form of a Rohita deer. Inclined to have sexual dalliance with her, Brahmā too took the form of a deer. As she went ahead in the guise of a female deer, he too followed her.

9-10a. On seeing him intent on having sexual intercourse with his daughter, all the deities condemned him: “This Brahmā is committing a deed that should not be done, i.e. (attempt to have) sexual union with one’s own daughter.” Thus they censured the creator and the Lord of the worlds.

10b-12. On seeing Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā) engaged in the forbidden act, Lord Hara took up the Pināka bow and assumed the form of a hunter. He fitted one arrow to his bow. He drew the bow string as far as his ear and hit Brahmā with his sharp arrow. Struck down by the arrow of the Annihilator of the three Puras, Brahmā fell down on the ground.

13. A great luminous refulgence rose up from his body. It became the constellation named Mṛgaśīrṣa of great lustre in the sky.

14. Assuming the form of the constellation Ārdrā, Hara pursued him inflicting pain on the constellation named Mṛgaśīrṣa, the form of Brahmā.

15. Even now, O Brāhmaṇas, the Annihilator of the three Puras is clearly seen in the sky in the form of a hunter of deer, near Mṛgaśīrṣa.^[1]

16-19. When Parameṣṭhin was thus slain by Śaṃbhu, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī who were bereft of their husband became extremely sad. With a desire to resuscitate their husband, O excellent sages, they consulted each other: “What shall we do to revive our lord?”

In order to regain their lost husband, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī went to Gandhamādana, the most excellent holy spot of Śiva, the bestower of all desires of men. They were inclined to perform penance. They observed all the restraints in order to perform the penance with Śiva in view.

20. For their holy bath, O Brāhmaṇas, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī made two Tīrthas after their own names, destructive of all sins.

21-26. They joyously took their holy baths thrice everyday there. They performed their penance abstaining from food for a long time. They were free from (the bad feelings of) lust, anger, etc. They practised very severe observances and restraints. They were absorbed in meditation on Śiva. They were auspicious. They strictly adhered to the recitation of the great five-syllabled Mantra. Thus, for the sake of resuscitating their lord, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī performed the penance with Mahādeva in view.

Delighted with their penance, Mahādeva, the great lord, presented himself there in his great form with a desire to grant them the benefit of their penance.

On seeing Śaṃbhu, Lord Śiva, the lover of Pārvatī, present there, attended on either side by Gaṇeśa and Kārttikeya, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī became extremely pleased. With many hymns and prayers they eulogized Mahādeva, the storehouse of mercy, worthy of being eulogized.

Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī eulogized:

27-33. Obeisance to the sole cause of the destruction of the darkness of unavoidable worldly existence. Bow to the lord who consumed the Kālakūṭa poison dreadful on account of the blazing flames.

O lord who fascinate the universe, obeisance to you, the sole cause of the destruction of the body of Kāmadeva equipped with five missiles. Obeisance to you, O annihilator of the ruthless Yama who destroys the worlds. Bow to the lord who wears a cluster of matted hair washed by the waves of Gaṅgā. Obeisance to you, O lord with uneven (three) eyes. Hail to the lord wearing the crescent moon. Obeisance to the lord who frightened the dwellers of the three Puras by means of the dreadful twanging sound of the Pināka bow; bow to you, the lord who cut off the head of the creator of the universe full of things of diverse kinds and shapes. O lord who protected Mṛkaṇḍu’s son with compassionate vision, peaceful and devoid of impurities. Obeisance to you, O lord of the Daughter of the Mountain. We have sought refuge in you, protect us both. O Mahādeva, O lord of the universe, O Śaṅkara, O destroyer of the Tripuras, O Vāmadeva, O Mahādeva, we have sought refuge in you. Protect us both.

On being eulogized by them both, Śaṃbhu, the great lord, the lord of Devas, became pleased. He spoke to Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī.

Mahādeva said:

34-35. O Sarasvatī, O Gāyatrī, I am pleased with you both. Choose a boon from me, whatever may be in your minds.

On being addressed thus by Hara, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī spoke to Mahādeva, the lord of Pārvatī, the storehouse of mercy:

Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī said:

36-42. O lord, O merciful lord of all, kindly resuscitate our husband, the Four-faced Lord. O lord, you are our father. We are your two daughters. Hence, O Destroyer of the Three Puras, save us by giving back to us our husband.

On being thus requested by both of them, O eminent Brāhmaṇas, Śaṃbhu said to Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī, “It will be so”. He was eager to unite the same body of Brahmā with his head.

O sages of virtuous conduct, Śaṃbhu got the body of Brahmā along with his heads there itself through the Bhūtas, the chiefs of whom were Nandī and Bhṛṅgī. In a moment in the presence of Vāṇī (Sarasvatī) and Gāyatrī, Śaṅkara united those many heads with his body. Thus joined by Hara, the Four-faced Lord of the universe got up immediately, O Brāhmaṇas, as though he was getting up from his sleep. On seeing the moon-crested Lord Śaṅkara, Prajāpati (i.e. Brahmā) eulogized him with excellent words along with his wives.

Brahmā said:

43-47. Obeisance to you, O lord of the chiefs of Devas, O merciful Śaṅkara. Protect me, O ocean of mercy. Save me from committing forbidden actions. By your mercifulness, let there be no inclination in me towards the commission of forbidden acts henceforth. Further, protect me always.

The Lord of the Daughter of the Mountain said to Brahmā: “Let it be so. O Brahmā, henceforth do not commit any similar blunder. I am the perpetual chastiser of all persons who go astray.”

After saying this to the Four-faced Lord, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, Mahādeva said to Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī:

Mahādeva said:

48-51a. Due to my favour, O Gāyatrī, O Sarasvatī, the Fourfaced One, your husband, has come back alive. Go to the world of Brahmā along with him. Let there be no delay. Since you two will be perpetually present in these two sacred Kuṇḍas, men will attain salvation in the form of Sāyujya by taking the holy bath here. This Tīrtha will become famous permanently all over the world by your names, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī.

51b-53. Of all the Tīrthas, this pair of Tīrthas will be more efficacious as the bestowers of purity, destructive of great sins, cause of great peace, and givers of all desired objects unto men. They will cause pleasure to me and to Viṣṇu also. There never was nor will ever be a Tīrtha on a par with these two Tīrthas.

54-57. Indeed by taking the holy bath everyone will realize every desire. These two sacred Kuṇḍas created by you two are very great. They will become famous by your names. They will bestow salvation. Those who do not regularly perform the Upāsti (meditation and worship) of Gāyatrī, those who are devoid of Vedic studies and recitation, those who are without Aupāsana (sacrificial rites), those who do not perform the five daily Yajñas—all these shall attain the respective merits by taking the holy bath in your Kuṇḍas. Others who commit great sins and do not perform. the daily devotional rites shall, by taking the holy bath in these two Kuṇḍas, become pure and excellent, O Brāhmaṇas.

58. After speaking thus to Sarasvatī and Gāyatrī Maheśvara instantly vanished there itself, even as all were watching.

59-61. After getting back their husband, Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī became joyous. Along with him, they went to the world of Brahmā, O excellent Brāhmaṇas.

Śrī Sūta said:

Thus it has been recounted to you, O Brāhmaṇas, how and why Gāyatrī and Sarasvatī happened to be present at Gandhamādana Parvata.

He who listens to this chapter or he who reads this with devotion, shall undoubtedly attain the merit of taking the holy bath in these two Kuṇḍas.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This is generally attributed to the destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice when Fire-god flew in the heaven and Śiva followed him as a hunter.