aśvatīrtha

aśva—tīrtha n. N. of a place of pilgrimage near Kānyakubja on the Gaṅgā, MBh. iii, 11052; xiii, 216.

aśvatīrtha (a° + tī°) n. N. pr. eines Wallfahrtsortes in der Nähe von Kānyakubja an der Gaṅgā MBH. 3, 11052 (p. 571). 13, 216.

aśvatīrtha n. N.pr. eines Tīrtha.

Aśvatīrtha, a holy place on the Gaṅgā in the neighbourhood

of Kanyākubja, where Varuṇa gave to Ṛcīka 1000 steeds as

a dowry to Gādhi: III, 115, 10152 (Jamadagni); V, 119,

4007 (Gālavacar.); XIII, 4, 216 (Viśvāmitrop.). Cf. VP.

IV, 16.

AŚVATĪRTHA . An ancient holy place on the banks of

the river, Ganges, near Kanauj. It was at this place

that the horses rose from the earth at the request of

Ṛcīka Ṛṣi to Varuṇa (See under Aśvakṛta). (Śloka

17, Chapter 4, M.B.)

Aśvatīrtha nt.: Name of a tīrtha.

A. Location: The bank of the Ganges,

not far from the city Kanyakubja, “is even

now known as Aśvatīrtha” (adūre kanya-

kubjasya gaṅgāyās tīram uttamam/aśva-

tīrthaṃ tad adyāpi mānavāḥ paricakṣate)

13. 4. 17; one of the tīrthas on Gomatī

3. 93. 2. B. Description: Holy (puṇya)

3. 93. 2. C. Origin: Varuṇa gave to

Bhārgava Ṛcīka one thousand white (pāṇ-

ḍura), shining like the moon (candra-

varcas), and swift (tarasvin) horses who

had a black ear on one side (ekataḥśyāma-

karṇa); the horses were meant to be given

by Ṛcika to Gādhi, king of Kanyakubja,

as a dowry for marrying his daughter 3.

115. 9, 12; 5. 117. 5; 13. 4. 14, 16; the

place where the horses emerged from the

water of Gaṅgā (13. 4. 16) came to be

known as Aśvatīrtha (tad aśvatīrthaṃ vi-

khyātam utthitā yatra te hayāḥ) 3. 115.

16; 5. 117. 6. D. Religious importance:

After bathing there, the Pāṇḍavas gave away

cows and riches 3. 93. 2; they repeatedly

offered there offerings to gods and manes

and satisfied the Brāhmaṇas (tatra devān

pitṝn viprāṃs tarpayitvā punaḥ punaḥ) 3.

93. 3.