The Sanctity of Godavari Pushkarams
Tulyatreyee Bharadwaja Gowthami Vruddha Gowthami
Kousika ca Vasista ca sapthadhayanthi namostute
Having divided into seven channels, the Godavari finally reaches the Bay of Bengal. I salute all the seven channels of the Goddess Godavari before I take my holy dip in it.
Adyatu Gowthami Ganga paschyat Bhagiradhi smrutha
Tayo rekataraa sevyaa Gowthami tatra paavani
The smrities proclaim that one should take one’s holy dip first in the Godavari and then in the Ganges though these two great rivers are treated equally. The Godavari is holier than the Ganges in this context.
5 essential natural elements
Out of the five essential natural elements created by God, Water and Air occupy the most predominant place in man’s existence. The other elements are Prithvi, Agni and Akash. The use of water is of special significance in Hinduism. A living river is a permanent source of water for human existence. Apart from its life-sustaining properties, a river is vastly used for piety and spirituality. Bathing in a river has also its religious significance.
The relationship between a river and a human being is maintaining mutual health and co-existence. A river offers great benefits to the present and future generations. A holy dip i.e., ‘Punyasnanam’ in the waters of a sacred river is believed to absolve one from all sins and fear of death. Each river is a Mother Deity having its mythology, identity and spirituality within her. Rivers are the arteries of the earth. They are personified as beautiful women and worshipped as Goddesses.
Most of the holy places in India like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Talakaveri, Patna and Ujjain are situated along the banks of the holy rivers. It is not an exaggeration to say that Indian spirituality is unique and miraculous by itself. Natural elements like rivers, mountains, trees, animals, and flowers are sacred in Indian philosophy. Right from our birth to death, and even in the afterlife also, the rivers play a vital role.
During Pushkarams, water and spirituality go hand in hand. Pure rivers are essential for spiritual, aesthetic and ecological purposes. The religious feelings for rivers can be used as a potential social instrument to educate the people to protect the rivers from pollution.
The rivers have been the promoting sites of the evolution of Indian culture, architecture, dance, music, history and mythology. They have the credit of protecting life, religious convictions, knowledge, valour, devotion, detachment and renunciation. They are the sources of food, transport, recreation, power, and energy and also the promoters of the salvation of the souls of human beings.
Godavari
The Godavari, one of the holiest rivers in India purifies the pilgrims of their sins. A holy dip in the sacred waters of it is believed to be free from all sins. The Hindus highlight the heritage and tradition associated with historical literature and glory of the ever-flowing, sacred and mighty Godavari and also take up various cultural activities to facilitate the heavy rush of pilgrims expected at all the Godavari basin bathing ghats and temples symbolising the historical and mythological heritage of the river.
Pushkaram is an Indian festival of a river celebrated when Jupiter enters certain signs of the zodiac. The celebrations happen annually once in twelve years along each river. Each river is associated with a zodiac sign and the river for each year’s festival is based on which sign Jupiter is in at that time.
12 Sacred Rivers
Accordingly, twelve sacred rivers have been identified in which Pushkara enters each river once in twelve years coinciding with the transit period of Jupiter in twelve zodiac signs.
The transit of Jupiter is as follows:
- Jupiter in the Mesha Rashi — the Ganges
- Jupiter in the Vrishabha Rashi — the Narmada
- Jupiter in the Mithuna Rashi — the Saraswathi
- Jupiter in the Karkataka Rashi — the Yamuna
- Jupiter in the Simha Rashi — the Godavari
- Jupiter in the Kanya Rashi — the Krishna
- Jupiter in the Thula Rashi — the Kaveri
- Jupiter in the Vrischika Rashi — the Bheemarati
- Jupiter in the Dhanus Rashi — the Pushkara (Brahmaputra)
- Jupiter in the Makara Rashi — the Thungabhadra
- Jupiter in the Kumbha Rashi — the Sindhu
- Jupiter in the Meena Rashi — the Pranahita
Pushkara
The word ‘Pushkara’ has twenty-seven connotations. The most significant of them are water, sky, stars, mrudangam, serpent, the trunk of an elephant, lotus stem, lotus flower, and lotus leaf.
Pushkara or Pushkar is a Sanskrit word derived from the element of ‘Push’ (Pushti) meaning nourishment and ‘Kara’ means one who does it.
Pushkara is the energy that nourishes. In Tirumala, the sacred water tank near the temple of Lord Varaha Swamy is known as Swamy Pushkarini.
Regarding the legends, Pushkara energises the rivers and provides rivers with spiritual purification. In Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram, one finds a reference to the word Pushkara in the 5th sloka where Lord Vishnu is referred to as Pushkaraksha which means the one who has lotus eyes, the one who provides nourishment to the entire Universe and the one who is always present in sacred ‘Theerthas’.
Pushkara Kshetra
Pushkar is the name of a famous pilgrim center known as Pushkara Kshetra located in Rajasthan about 17 Kms from Ajmer. It is believed that the lake known as Pushkaralake was the creation of Lord Brahma on the banks of which He performed penance for several thousands of years.
Here, one finds very few temples where Lord Brahma is worshipped. Pushkara also indicates the twelve-year time factor in the Vedic terms.
Our ancient seers prescribed certain austerities to be observed during Pushkara time known as Pushkara Vidhi.
The most important obligations during the Pushkarams are
- Pushkara snana,
- Pushkara Vaasa (staying),
- Pushkara Darshana,
- Siro Mundana (tonsuring),
- Fasting,
- Pushkara Karma and
- Pushkara Dana.
The Pushkaram is celebrated at temples along the banks of twelve major sacred rivers in India in the form of worshipping one’s ancestors. Spiritual discourses, devotional music, and cultural programmes are to be held on this auspicious occasion. It is believed that during the first twelve days of the Godavari Pushkaram, the river gets medicated and this helps man in sharpening his mind spiritually.
When Jupiter enters into the Aquarius sign of the zodiac the Kumbhamela is celebrated in Haridwar, Prayag and Nasik where the Godavari has started its natural and sanctifying course.
The Origin of Pushkara
According to the holy scripts, Pushkara is the son of Lord Varuna the presiding deity of all the rivers. As per the legend, Pushkara prayed to Lord Brahma and asked Him to live in the sacred waters of His Kamandalam which came from the foot of Lord Vishnu intending to provide purity to all the rivers. Looking at the selfless desire expressed by Pushkara, Lord Brahma granted him the boon to live in the waters of His Kamandalu.
Later, Pushkara also performed penance and acquired the ‘Jala Tattva Siddhi’ from Lord Shiva as a boon. By the boons acquired from Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, Pushkara became the king of all ‘Theerthas’ and was regarded as the ‘Theerthapalaka’.
At the time when Pushkara acquired the boons, Jupiter also performed penance and pleased Lord Brahma. Looking at the perpetual sacredness of Pushkara, Jupiter wanted Lord Brahma to spare Pushkara to be with him permanently. But Pushkara was not willing to go along with Jupiter.
Consequently, Lord Brahma resolved the situation by asking Pushkara to be associated with Jupiter for twelve days in the beginning and twelve days at the end of his short stay in a particular Rashi in the zodiac, the transit of which generally happens once a year.
Adi Pushkaralu & Antya Pushkaralu
The first twelve days are called ‘Adi Pushkaralu’ and the last twelve days are called ‘Antya Pushkaralu’. It has become a custom and tradition since time immemorial to celebrate the transit of Jupiter in a particular house in the zodiac as the Pushkara festival of a particular river.
In the 10th chapter of the Gita, it is mentioned by Lord Krishna that He is Brihaspati. Pushkara always resides in the Kamandalu of Lord Brahma in the sanctified waters that have emerged from the foot of Lord Vishnu. Entry of Pushkara into a particular river signifies the Pushkara festival when all Gods, all Sages, all ‘Pithrudevathas’, and all ‘Theerthas’ on the earth including the Ganges enter into a particular river along with Jupiter and Pushkara.
The time of their entry into a particular river is considered highly sacred and celestial which has the power to diminish the dreadful sins committed by human beings.
Having a darshan, taking a bath, touching Pushkara waters, and drinking the sacred waters of Pushkara are considered to be highly auspicious and soul-cleansing. It is considered to be the most sacred time to perform rites to ‘Pitru Devatalu’ on the banks of the Pushkara River to help them further to attain salvation.
The Legend
According to legends, the sage Gautama lived in the Brahmagiri Hills at Trimbakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The Sage kept his stock of rice in a granary. A cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the Sage tried to ward the cow off with a blade of ‘Darbha’ grass, it fell dead. The sage felt remorse for the sin of killing the cow. He prayed to Lord Shiva and requested him to divert the waters of the Ganges to purify his sin and his hermitage.
Lord Trimbakeswara
Pleased with the Sage’s earnest and sincere request, Lord Shiva appeared as Lord Trimbakeswara and diverted the Ganges to flow in his hermitage. The Sage felt very happy. The stream called ‘Ahalya’ meets the Godavari in front of the Trimbakeswar temple. It is believed that the childless do get children if they worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati at the Ahalyasangam. Trimbakeswar itself is a place of worship because it is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas of Lord Shiva.
Brahmagiri is the mountain range in the Western Ghats of Maharastra where Lord Brahma appears in many mythological and legendary documents. It is situated in Nasik district. Lord Trimbakeswar temple one of the Dwadasa Jyothirlingas is located near the place. The Godavari originates from Trimbak in Nasik and flows towards the Eastern Ghats and finally merges into the Bay of Bengal.
The Significance of the Godavari
From Nasik onwards, the Godavari progresses its journey to wash away the sins of humanity through many significant places like Kopergaon, Puntamba, Paithan, Nanded, Sironcha, Basara, Nirmal, Dharmapuri, Godavarikhani, Bhadrachalam, Polavaram, Pattiseema, Rajahmundry, Kovvur, Dowleswaram, Ravulapalem, Tallapudi, Kotipalli, Narasapuram, Antervedhi and Yanam.
Seven Channels of Godavari
The Godavari that flows up to Rajahmundry is called ‘Akhanda Godavari’. Thereafter it is divided into seven channels namely Tulya, Atreya, Bharadwaja, Gowthami, Vruddha Gowthami, Kousika and Vasista. So it is also called ‘Sapta Godavari’.
At present, these seven channels have become two namely Vruddha Gowthami and Vasista before it reaches the Bay of Bengal. The statues of the Goddess Godavari Mata and Lord Pushkara were erected on the banks of the Godavari at the Pushkar Ghat in Rajahmundry. The statue of the goddess Godavarimata was constructed at the main railway station also in Rajahmundry.
It is believed that the Godavari is holier than the Ganges in the sense that the Goddess Ganga will take Her dip in the waters of the Godavari to wipe out all the sins of the pilgrims who take their bath in Her waters and will regain Her original scintillating brightness.
It is in practice the pilgrims bring the holy waters of the Ganges to the Godavari to mix the waters and become sanctified.
The Significance of Pushkarams
It is staunchly believed that during the time of ‘Pushkaralu’ Lord Parasurama, Dhruva, Bhakta Markendeya, Lord Hanuman and Aswathama who are called ‘Chiranjeevulu’ would take a holy dip in the sanctifying waters of the Godavari.
Along with them, all River-Goddesses, Siddhas, Sadyas, Vasuvulu, Rudrulu, Adityulu, Lord Indra and other ‘Dikpalakas’ along with their Consorts, Trimurthulu, and ‘Mukkotidevatalu’ would take their holy dip in their glorious forms. It is believed that the great saints like Sanaka Sanandanadulu, Vasista, Vamadeva, and the great divine singers Narada and Tumbura would take their holy baths in the waters of the Godavari.
Pushkarasamaya
Our ancestors believe that all the waters consisting on the earth, in the sky, and the ‘Pathalaloka’ enter in the waters of Pushkara River as ‘Antervahini’. The time when one drinks water at the time of ‘Pushkara’ is called ‘Pushkarasamaya’.
In Hindu philosophy, utmost significance is given to taking a bath in a flowing river which is called ‘Nithyakarma’. God has given us a beautiful life to live in this magnificent world. When ever a pilgrim wants to have a holy bath in a river, he should chant the following sloka:
Gange ca Yamune caiva Godavari Saraswathi
Narmada Sindhu Kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru
(In this water, I invoke the presence of divine waters from the Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. These rivers are considered as Goddesses and I pray to them for bestowing their blessings on me.)
Taking a bath in a Pushkara river helps one in cleansing the inner self, washing out tendencies and opening up a path for a righteous living. The bath should be taken early in the morning before Sunrise. It is believed that ‘Pushkarasnana’ also has a great curative influence on all kinds of ill health. After the bath, one has to pray and give ‘Arghya’ to the concerned Pushkaratheertha; Theertha Raja- Jupiter, Lord Vishnu who is eternally present in all the Theerthas, and the Sun-God.
Pithruyagna – Pithrushraaddha & Pitrutharpana
The ritual of offering ‘Pithrushraaddha’ and ‘Pitrutharpana’ called ‘Pithruyagna’ is prescribed to get discharged from the debt of our ancestors. It has to be performed on the banks of the sacred ‘Pushkara Theertha’. It is in practice that Pushkarashraaddha is performed on any day of Pushkaram. It is believed that the departed souls descend on earth during Pushkara days and reside on the banks of Pushkara river longing for their progeny to perform ‘Pithrukarma’.
Final Word
Performing Pushkara rituals, one will be bestowed with peace and prosperity to the family. It will also work as a remedy for various worldly problems one faces in life related to marriage, progeny, health, and wealth. During the Pushkara period, ‘Snana’, ‘Shraaddha’ and ‘Dana’ are considered to be highly auspicious that give eternal and auspicious results to one’s family. Charity can be given to the Brahmins in the form of ‘Dasa Dana’ or ‘Shodasa Dana’.
Some of the significant charities are as follows: Cookedrice, gold, silver, a piece of land, rice, ghee, jaggery, honey, a sacred book like the Gita, vasthra, chappals, umbrella, a walking stick, palm fan, cot, fruits, bell, brass or silver vessel, mat, a pot of water, ‘nava dhanyalu’, milk, honey, cow, and salagramam.
Pushkaram is a huge river-based festival participated by lakhs of people including foreign tourists and is performed along the path of a particular river. Since time immemorial, the Hindus consider rivers as divine. The worship of a river in the form of Pushkaram is performed to make mankind realise the significance of water in normal life.
Aswamedha phalam caiva laksha godanjam phalam
Prapnothi snanamatrena gouthamyam simhage guru
According to Puranas, a pilgrim gets simply the result of performing aswamedha yaga if he takes a holy dip in the waters of the river during the pushkaram. He also gets easily the result of donating one lakh cows if he takes a bath in time of pushkaram.
It is our spiritual responsibility to respect and follow the tradition and culture pioneered by our ancient sages and ancestors with ardent piety and keen foresight and to perform the Pushkara rituals for the redemption of our sins, betterment in life and finally to attain salvation.
