A consideration of Mahisagara Samgama Tirtha

A consideration of Mahi-sagara Samgama Tirtha / By Dr. R. N. Mehta; 195-196 M. S. University, Baroda / 195-196

[ puranapatrikayah IV. 1; V. 2 ankayoh 'mahisagara samgama ' tirthamsya visaye vimarsah srasit | asmin laghunibandhe tatsambandhe punah vivecanam krtam | samlagnacitre tatsamipavartisthananam pradarsanam ca vartate | ] In a discussion about Mahisagarasangama two opinions were expressed by V.M. Bedekar and D.C. Sircar in the Puranam Vol. IV No. 1 p. 197 ff. and Puranam Vol. V. No. 2 p. 352 ff 2 respectively. V.M. Bedekar expressed the opinion that Mahisagarasangama is "at the meeting-place of the earth and the sea." This opinion was aptly refuted by D. C. Sircar in the second paper. Here he showed that Mahisagarsangama is the confluence of the Mahi and the sea. This opinion is very well corroborated by the Skanda Purana in its kumarika khanda, which is cited by Shri Bedekar. The relevant part of the Skanda Purana is an interesting work of about the 17th century A.D³. In chapter 39 describing the Barkaresvara it is clearly mentioned that the girl with goatface intends to go to Mahisagarasangama and goes to Stambhatirtha (39-69-94). LA This indicates that the place where the goat died and where the temple of Barkaresvara exists is near very the 1. Bedekar V.M., The Legend of Chirakarin in the Skanda Mahapurana and the Mahabharata: A Comparative study, Puranam Vol. IV. No. 1 p. 107. Mahisagara-sangama, Puranam Vol. V. No. 8161 2. Sircar D.C. p. 352. 3. Bedekar V.M., Op. cit, feels that this is later than 700 A. D. but the present author has discussed the date of this part of Skanda purana in Kaumarikakhanda, A study, journal of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vol XIV, No. 1, P. 39 ff, where it is pointed out that the work belongs probably to the 17th cent. A.D.

196 puranam - PURANA [Vol. IX., No. 1 Mahisagarasangama. The present day position of the said temple of Barkaresvara is in the same situation (Fig. 1). The other evidence comes from chapter 52 where Kotitirtha This Kotitirtha is a cremation ground near a Siva temple to the north of Nagara, which is situated at a distance of about 5 Kilometers to the north of Cambay (Fig. 1). The local custom of throwing the post-cremation materials in the Mahisagarasangama is clearly noted in the Kaumarika Khanda as :Asya tire Dehadaho Yasya Kasya Prajayate | Asthiksepo Yasya Bhaven Mahisagarasangame. II 52.54 These two references from the text clearly indicate that the Mahisagarasangama is the confluence of the Mahi with the gulf of Cambay as rightly inferred by D.C. Sircar. Incidently it may be noted that most of the tirthas mentioned in the Kaumarikakhanda are situated in and around Cambay as could be seen from the attached map of the area (Fig. 1) The author of this Tirtha Mahatmya is Narada according tb Skanda purana. It is interesting to note that Naradiya Brahmins exist in and around Cambay till this date and claim to be a section of the Audicya Brahmins. It may be very likely that some Naradiya Brahmin might be responsible for the writing of this part of the Skanda purana. Such authorship is not unknown. The Nagarakhanda a part of the Shandapurana s most probably written by a Nagara Brahmin. The Mallapurana was also written by an Audicya Brahmin as is clearly known from it. 4. Mehta R.N. 5. Sandesra B.J. & Mehta R.N. Kumarika-khanda, Ane Khambhat, Svadhyaya (Gujarati) Vol. 11 No. 4 Page 460 ff. Mallapuranam, G. O. series No. 144 p.7.

TIRTHAS AROUND CAMBAY VADUCHI MATA TO NAGARA KOTITIRTHA & JAYADITYA APARA DWARKA NARADESVARA Rly. Station BHIMESVARA BAHUDAKA & KAPILESVARA STAMBHESVARA 1. PRATIJNESVARA KUMARESVARA SIDDHESVARA SAKTICHHIDRESVARA BARKARESVARA MAHISACARA SANGAM Cambay AREA Mahi Kavi Gulf of Cambay