Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Carmanvati included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Carmaṇvatī
A river in north India, now known as river Campā.
General.
King Śaśabindu, who ruled northern India in olden days once performed a yajña. The skins (carmans) of animals killed in the yajña lay there in a heap like a hill. When rain fell there flowed from the 'skin-hill' a river and it was called Carmaṇvatī. (Devībhāgavata, Prathama Skandha).
Other details.
(1) River Carmaṇvatī serves Varuṇa in his assembly. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 21).
(2) Once on the bank of this river Sahadeva defeated the son of Jaṃbhaka in fight. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Verse 7).
(3) He who bathes in this river will get the same result as from the Agniṣṭoma yajña. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 82, Verse 54).
(4) Carmaṇvatī is one of the rivers responsible for the origin of Agni. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 222, Verse 23).