"From the earliest times divine and many of the great pilgrimages of Hindu India were focused upon sacred rivers such as the Ganges, Indus, Yamuna, Krishna, Godavari, and Brahmaputra.’ Henri Bergson, French Philosopher.

Much awaited Godavari pushkarams will take place from July 14 this year in 2015. This is a festival of sacred River Godavari which occurs once in 12 years. The pushkaram festival last held in the year 2003. Devotees are very fortune this year since Pushkarams is called Maha Kumbhamela which occurs once in every 144 years. The first 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Aadhi pushkaram and the last 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Anthya pushkaram. These 24 days are very pious to devotees, as Pushkaradu travels during these days.

During Godavari pushkarams, pilgrims from all over the country will descend on the banks of Godavari River to have a holy dip with the belief that they would be relieved from all sins, and perform rituals to departed souls. It is believed that during pushkaram, all devats (deities) and rishis take holy dip to purify and make the rivers sacred. Thus, a holy dip in Godavari which will enhance one's spiritual mental and physical abilities.

The river for each year festival is based on the presence of Jupiter on which Zodiac sign by that time. The pushkaram lasts for a period as long as the Jupiter remains in that particular Zodiac sign. It is believed that Pushkaradu, also known as pushkar God who is powerful to make any river holy will travel with Jupiter as ordained by Lord Brahma, as Jupiter travels from one Zodiac sign to another Zodiac sign. Pushkaram is a festival of rivers pertains to 12 important rivers in India which occurs once in 12 years for each river

When Jupiter enters Leo, Godavari Pushkarams are conducted. Following is the table that show the which river conducts pushkarams based on the entry of Jupiter into different zodiac signs:

Name of the river                           Zodiac sign 
Ganges                                 Aries
Narmada                              Taurus
Saraswathi                            Gemini
Yamuna                                Cancer
Godavari                               Leo
Krishna                                  Virgo
Kaveri                                    Libra
Tambrapani                           Scorpio
Brahmaputhra                       Sagittarius
Tungabhadra                         Capricorn
Indus                                      Aquarius
Pranahita                                Pisces

The first 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Aadhi pushkaram and the last 12 days of Godavari pushkaram is called Anthya pushkaram. These 24 days are considered sacred to the devotees.

What is the Origin of Godavari River?

According to Shiva Purana, Sage Gautama did great tapas (deep meditation) to request Varuna Deva to rain on Brahmagiri Mountain where there was a hundred year drought in the area. Varuna Deva denied his request. Then Gautama asks for "divine everlasting water yielding permanent results." So Varuna tells Gautama to dig a ditch, and then Varuna fills it with divine water and says this:

“O great sage, let there be a perennial supply of water in this ditch that has become sacred. This will becomes famous on the earth by your name. Charitable gifts made here, rites performed here, penance pursued here, the sacrifices done here for the gods, and the Shraddha offered here to the manes, everything will be imperishable.”

Later in the Siva Purana, we find that Gautama asks Lord Shiva for Ganga to be brought here in to Godavari so that everybody will be washed of their sins. When Lord Shiva request Ganga to flow in Godavari, Ganga says that she will agree to stay here only if Shiva also stays here. Lord Shiva manifests himself as Tryambakeshwara at Triambak in Nasik District, which is the source of Godavari River.  Godavari is also called as Gauthami since Sage Gautama was responsible for the creation of this sacred river.

Water is Sacred

In Vedic texts, water is referred to as Apah, considered as sacred and treated as purifier. The Waters are considered to be purifying in a spiritual context. ‘Hail to you, divine, unfathomable, all purifying Waters…’ (Rig Veda).

The Rig Veda identifies the Waters as the first residence or ayana of Nara, as well as the very foundation of this universe. Satapathi Brahmana says, ‘Water may pour from the heaven or run along the channels dug out by men; or flow clear and pure having the Ocean as their goal…In the midst of the Waters is moving the Lord, surveying men’s truth and men’s lies. How sweet are the Waters, crystal clear and cleansing…From whom… all the Deities drink exhilarating strength, into whom the Universal Lord has entered…’

Early Vedic tradition identified water as a manifestation of the feminine principle, known commonly as Sakti. Rig Veda observed, ‘I call the Waters, Goddesses, wherein our cattle quench their thirst; Oblations to the streams be given…’ It is said that the primordial cosmic man or Purusha was born of the Waters. Similarly later Vedic texts identify that, ‘Water is female…’ (Satapathi Brahmanas). Vedic philosophy attributed sacredness to water and also identified water as a medium to attain spiritual enlightenment. In fact the Atharvana Veda declared water as ‘the first door to attain the divine order.’ The use of water in daily life as well as in ritualistic ceremony was referred to as spiritual sacrifice, a process of attaining eternity.

A cleansing bath was believed to liberate one from sin and impurity: ‘…Whatever sin is found in me, whatever wrong I may have done, if I have lied or falsely sworn, Waters remove it far from me…’ (Rig Veda).

Water is considered sacred and pure. There is no life without water. Rig Vedaemphasizes the importance of water as thus: “The waters which are from the firmament and which flow after being dug, and even those that spring by themselves, the bright pure waters which lead to the sea, may those divine waters protect me here.”

The act of bathing was considered intensely spiritual and it was believed that physical acts of imperfection were removed and spiritual oneness with the Eternal Self was attained during the process. According to the Vedas, it was not the act of taking a bath itself, but the coming into contact with the sacredness of water, and the attainment of such knowledge and proximity that made one sinless and guided the individual to the Eternal Self. Water was considered sacred but it was clarified that man does not pray to water, the physical entity, but to the source of life and spirituality within water.

What is Pushkara?

According to our scriptures, Pushkara is the son of Lord Varuna, the Presiding Deity of rain, water and the rivers.  As per the legend behind, it is said that, Pushkara acquired tow boons – one from Lord Brahma and the other from Lord Shiva.  Based on his own request, Lord Brahma granted Pushkara the boon to live in the waters of His Kamandalu. Later, Pushkara also performed severe penance and acquired the Jala Tattva Siddhi from Lord Shiva as a boon. By virtue of the boons acquired from Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, Pushkara became the King of all Theerthas and was regarded as the Theerthapalaka.

Second, Pushkara also means Lotus, sanctified water, Swan, Sword, Sky, Lake Etc.  In Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram we find a reference to the word Pushkara where Lord Sri Maha Vishnu is referred to as Pushkaraakshah meaning 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. In Tirumala Kshethra the water tank near Sri Varaha Swamy temple is known as Swamy Pushkarini.

Third, Pushkar is the name of a famous pilgrim center known as Pushkara Kshethra located in Rajasthan about 17 km from Ajmer city.  According to one legend, Lord Brahma desirous of having a place on earth, he supposed to have thrown three lotus (pushpa) petals toward the earth. When the petals landed, three holy lakes sprung up – one for each petal.  Because the lakes had been created from the flower (pushpa) thrown from Brahma’s hand (Kara), the area became known as Pushkara. The three lakes are known as Jyeshta Pushkara (“senior Pushkara”), Madhya Pushkara (“middle Pushkara”), and Kanishtha Pushkara (“junior Pushkara”).

Benefits of Pushkara Snana (bathing)

Jupiter (Brihaspati), the Deva guru (guru of Gods), is the most benevolent planet symbolizing the wealth, fortune, learning, knowledge, divinity, progeny, domestic peace, charity, morality, meditation, devotion, auspiciousness and responsible for curing ailments affecting the stomach. Whenever Pushkara enters the zodiac sign facilitating him to enter into a particular river is considered as highly sacred and that has the power to diminish the ghastly and dreadful sins committed. Taking bath in the river, having darshan of the river , and touching the water or sipping the sacred waters of Pushkara is considered to be highly meritorious, spiritual and soul cleansing.  Performing Shraddha ceremony to forefathers on the banks of Pushkara River is believed to attain salvation.

Hindu believe that taking bath in a river is considered meritorious as the body is cleansed and the sins are eliminated. Scriptures reveal that taking bath in flowing river is considered very important. Taking bath in a sacred river during the tome of Pushkaras is considered even more auspicious and one accrues manifold merits.  In fact it is believed that all the Devatas, sages and Pitru Devatas along with Brihaspati and Pushkaradu reside in these sacred rivers during the Pushkara time.

Taking bath in a Pushkara river will help to cleanse the inner selves, wash out the evil tendencies and open up a path for a righteous living.  This bath should be taken early in the morning before Sunrise during Brahmi Muhurtham which is highly meritorious time.  It is believed that Pushkara Snana also has curative properties from chronic ill health.  After Pushkara Snana one has to pray and give Arghya to the concerned Pushkara Theertha (River), Theertha Raja (Pushkara), Brihaspati, Lord Vishnu who is eternally present in all the Theerthas, Brahmaadi Devatas, Vasishta Sage, Ganga River and the Sun God (Sri Surya Narayana).

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