Penance of Kumaras and emergence of river Gomati

Dwaraka: Penance of Kumaras and emergence of river Gomati:

(Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya - 5)

• Penance of Kumaras and emergence of river Gomati: I meditate on the Kumaras performing penance in Dwaraka which resulted in the appearance of Lord Vishnu and the emergence of river Gomati.

• During creation Lord Brahma created the Kumaras (Sanaka and others) and asked them to procreate. The Kumaras with folded hands said that they want to see Lord Brahma in the form of Lord Vishnu and do not want to be bound in the task of creation. Also, the Kumaras wished that they could be horses who are fit to be sacrificed.

• Then the Kumaras went to the western shore of the sea in Dwaraka and started performing a difficult penance. The place became filled with the radiance of their penance. After thousand years, Lord Vishnu became pleased and pierced out of the water manifesting a bright form. There was also an incorporeal voice. The Kumaras thinking that the Lord will appear soon (i.e. manifest more concretely from that bright form) prepared a Chakra (Discus) as an offering to the Lord. The Kumaras eulogized the Lord with Stotras and worshipped the Lord with unbroken grains.

• Then Lord Brahma told river Ganga to descend on earth at Dwaraka following sage Vasishtha. Lord Brahma said that Ganga will be venerated there as Gomati. As per the instruction of Lord Brahma, Devi Ganga descended at Dwaraka following sage Vasishtha.

• The Kumaras said that as sage Vasishtha has brought the river, she will be known as his offspring. The river will be known as Gomati. A sight of the river will take man towards liberation. By taking bath in Gomati and making charities, people will earn a passage to the abode of Hari. The ascetics who makes offerings and sing hymns in praise of Hari will earn the supreme state as mentioned in the Vedic Purusha Sukta.

• The Kumaras started singing the praise of Hari. Pleased with their eulogy, Hari appeared there decorated in yellow clothes along with Devi Lakshmi. The Kumaras were filled with bliss and sang hymns from the Vedas. The Lord became pleased and granted the boon that the Kumaras will be united with the knowledge which is inaccessible. The brahmanas who offer water to the Lord there with a desire for liberation will have their desire fulfilled. The place became known as Chakra Teertha.

• Devi Ganga worshipped the feet of Hari and touched the feet with her head. The she started flowing as river Gomati towards the sea.