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| Pushkarudu |
Sanctity
India
is a country of innumerable sacred rivers and rivulets. Such
rivers have become Theerthas. The Theerthas have the reputation
of washing away the sins of the sinners.
The
most important sacred rivers of North India are the Ganga,
the Yamuna, the mythical Saraswathi and the Brahamaputra.
The notable rivers flowing in the South India are the Godavari,
the Krishna, the Narmada, the Tungabahdra, the Tambrapani
and the Cauveri.
The
rivers that flow into the Sea have the distinction of being
called the Mahanadis. The Godavari is a Mahanadi and it has
a sacred history in the Puranas. It has also got the fame
of being called the Saptha Godavari as it merges with the
sea in seven streams. In the Telengana region the Godavari
is considered as the Ganga. The Skanda Purana contains an
elaborate account of the holiness of the Godavari.
From
the Heaven to the Earth
The
great sage Gouthama who was an ardent Shiva Bhaktha performed
a rigorous penance in "Pattisam" in AP, South India
and brought down to the earth the Tripathaga lodged in the
tresses of Lord Shiva. This spot on earth is called Triambaka
which is the origin of the Godavari. It is a pilgrim center
and is in Nasik district of Maharastra. From here, the Godavari
meanders into Andhra Pradesh.
“Saptha
Godavaram Theertham Sarva Theerthottamam”
Renowned
sages have opined that among all the Theerthams the saptha
Godavari Theertham is the best. The Godavari after leaving
the territory of Maharastra, flows through the Districts of
Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Khammam, Warangal, West &
East Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh. The river branches
into seven streams at Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari District
and merges with the Eastern Sea at Antharvedi. The Manjira
and the Sabiri are the tributaries of the Godavari.
The
importance of Pushkarams
Though
there are innumerable rives in India, only twelve of them
have a unique stature of their own, the celebration of the
Pushkarams. The Pushkarams occur according o the transition
of the planet Brihaspathi into various Rasis, as follows
| 1. The Ganga | Mesha Rasi |
| 2. The Narmada | Vrishaba Rasi |
| 3. The Saraswathi | Mithunam Rasi |
| 4. The Yamuna | Karkataka Rasi |
| 5. The Godavari | Simham Rasi |
| 6. The Krishna | Kanya Rasi |
| 7. The Cauveri | Tula Rasi |
| 8. The Bhimarathi | Vrischikam Rasi |
| 9. The Brahamaputra | Dhanush Rasi |
| 10.The Tungabhadra | Makaram Rasi |
| 11. The Sindhu | Khumbham Rasi |
| 12. The Pranahitha | Meenam Rasi |
