| Gautama all
along had remained unabsolved ! So he went in search of the river and scanned the whole of
the vicinity of Brahmagiri. At the base of the hill, towards the south-west he again
discovered Ganga and this time decided to prevent her from escaping from him. Hence he
spread the kusha or darbha grass around the stream and threatened Ganga that it she
disappeared again he would curse her. The former staved and as she was bound down by kusha
grass the name of this tirth is Kushavatta. once Ganga was neatly secured, Gautama bathed
himself in her waters and took the necessary ‘prayaschitta’ and was thus at last
absolved of his sin. This Kushavarta tirth is a large rectangular reservoir measuring
94’ by 85, and
is situated in the
midst the village. I lights of steps lead down
to the water from all four sides. On three sides, south, west, north, pillared aisels are
erected around the tank. Each consists of thirteen cells built of highly ornate stone arches and cypress
pillars. There is no structure on the eastern side and it affords the entrance to the
tirth. It is this tirth on which all the religious rites at this kshetra are to be
performed. The most elementary and the one which all the yatrikas perform is snana.
Other rites like shraddha, kshaura, etc., are also done
here on!, , There are numerous images around the tirth. The construction of the tirth, the
aisles and connected buildings is the work of one Raoji Abaji Parnerkar. This Parnerkar
was an accountant in the service of the Holkars of Indore. It was built around 1768, at a
cost of five to six lakhs of rupees. Kushavarta is referred to as the Lord of the tirths,
'tirth- raja’. |
