Sambodhi 2012 Vol 35

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 73

Vol. XXXV, 2012
On Some Tīrthas in the Vāmanapurāņa
63
In view of its sanctity and cultural significance a large number of hermitages had cropped up on its bank which housed thousands of sages and ascetics (tatra tīrthasahasrāni rsibhih sevitāni ca, VP. 33.3). It was because of its over - crowded banks that the sages who had come all the way from the Naimisāranya to have a holy dip in the Sarasvati failed to take a bath there. Annoyed by the crowd on its bank, it turned to the west. A bath in its eastern flow was regarded as sanctifying as a dip in the holy Gangā.14 Narmadā, Yamunā and Sindhu are but its different forms. A snāna in the holy water of Sarasvati tantamounts to having a bath in all the tīrthas individually.15 The Sarasvati is regarded so sacred a tīrtha (river) that only a thought of it absolves one of sins of all hues (VP, 31.3).
From the way it has been enlogised in the VP (32. 6-22), it appears to be an ode to the goddess of knowledge rather than to a river. 'She' symbolises all gods and all that exists in the world. 'She' is revered as lokamātā (universal mother) and Devārani the divine churning stick. The eternal Brahman resides in 'her as does fire in the wood and smell in the earth. All that the three mātrās of Omkāra represent, is embodied in Sarasvati (VP, xxxii. 6-22). Prācī Sarasvati
Though described briefly in the VP, the Prācī Sarasvati seems to have been a very sacred tīrtha. The observation in the Purāna that Prāci Sarasvati entered and issued out by the divine path (devamārga) may seem cr it bespeaks its intimate association with the deities. A corpus of mighty gods including Brahmā, Sankara, Sürya, Nara, Nārāyana and Sūrya actually dwelt at the Prāci Sarasvati (VP, 42.21). It was liberal even to the sinner and bestowed merit on him (punyā api duskrtakarmaņām, VP, 42.20). Those who performed the trirātra vrata or resided there for three nights, were absolved of all misdeeds. 16 There was nothing unattainable in heaven and earth for them who performed a Sraddha at the sacred tīrtha. A visit to it on Pancami was highly fruitful. The person who paid homage to it on that auspicious day was rewarded with fabulous riches (laksmīvān).17 What more, even a killer of his mother, father and Brāhmana, as also he who committed adultery with his teacher's wife were purified of the grave sin by taking a bath in the holy Prācī Sarasvati (VP, 42. 18-19). According to the Bhagavata - Purāna Prācī Sarasvati in Brahmăvarta, the land of Manu, represents the place where king Pșthu performed one hundred horse - sacrifiges. (4.19.1)
It is opined on valid ground that "the adjective Prācī pre-supposes an