Talk:Gomati

By Swami Harshananda

Gomati

Gomatī is one of the sacred rivers mentioned in the Nadisukta of the Rgveda (10.75.6). There, it is a tributary of the river Sindhu (Indus).

The modern Gomatī (spelt as Gomtī) is a tributary of the river Gaṅgā flowing near Lucknow (the capital of Uttar Pradesh).

According to some mythological accounts, Kauśiki, sister of Viśvāmitra, being cursed by her husband Rcīka, became the river Gomatī.

Śrī Rāma is said to have conducted the Aśvamedha sacrifice on the banks of this river.

The Mahābhārata (Ādiparva 169.20) says that one can get rid of one’s sins by drinking the water of this river.

The Sabhāparva of the same epic 0vide 9.23) declares that the goddess Gomati, the presiding deity of the river, lives in the court of Varuṇa (the deity of the water principle or oceans), serving him.

Sometimes Gomatī and Gaṅgā are considered identical, the former being given as one of the names of the latter (Skandapurāna, Kāśikhanda 29-51).

According to Sātātapa, a writer on the dharmaśāstras referred to by others, Gomatī is a type of Vedic mantra used in prāyaścittas or expiations, especially for killing a cow.

References

* The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

OLD CONTENT

Gomati Gomatī is one of the sacred rivers mentioned in the Nadisukta of the Rgveda (10.75.6) . There, it is a tributary of the river Sindhu (Indus). The modern Gomatī (spelt as Gomtī) is a tributary of the river Gaṅgā flowing near Lucknow (the capital of Uttar Pradesh). According to some mythological accounts, Kauśiki, sister of Viśvāmitra, being cursed by her husband Rcīka, became the river Gomatī. Śrī Rāma is said to have conducted the Aśvamedha sacrifice on the banks of this river. The Mahābhārata (Ādiparva 169.20) says that one can get rid of one’s sins by drinking the water of this river. The Sabhāparva of the same epic 0vide 9.23) declares that the goddess Gomati, the presiding deity of the river, lives in the court of Varuṇa (the deity of the water principle or oceans), serving him. Sometimes Gomatī and Gaṅgā are considered identical, the former being given as one of the names of the latter (Skandapurāna, Kāśikhanda 29-51). According to Sātātapa, a writer on the dharmaśāstras referred to by others, Gomatī is a type of Vedic mantra used in prāyaścittas or expiations, especially for killing a cow.