Mathru Gaya Kshethra (Siddhpur) - Glory & Significance

What is the uniqueness and significance of Siddhpur? that it is called Mathru Gaya Kshethra....

It is a pious place located on the banks of the Vedic river Saraswathi and the sacred lake Bindu Sarovara. It is a sacred place where Sage Kardhama did severe penance for 10000 divine years and had the darshan of Lord Vishnu. It is a holy place where Divine parents Sage Kardhama also known as Kardhama Prajapathi and his wife Devahuti lived and performed penance for several years.

It is a place of adoration where Sage Sri Kapilaacharya also known as Kapila Bhagavantha a philosophical incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born to the Divine parents Sage Kardhama Prajapathi and Devahuti.

It is a virtuous place where Sri Kapila Bhagavantha the founder and exponent of Saankhya Philosophy had preached Divine Knowledge to his Mother Devahuti. It is a Divine place where Devahuti attained Siddhi and Salvation and thenceforth the place came to be known as Siddhipada which in course of time referred to as Siddhpur.

It is also said to be the place where Lord Sri Parashurama the dynamic avathara of Lord Vishnu, performed sacred rites to his Mother. In view of so much of holiness associated with the Divine Mother, the place popularly came to be known as Mathru Gaya, the Siddhi Kshetra the place which has given Siddhi and Salvation (Moksha) to a Mother.

Hence, so much of significance lies behind performing sacred rites exclusively to a Mother at this place. It is one of the holiest places in North Gujarat to be visited by Hindus.

Sage Kapilaacharya (Kapila Bhagavantha)...

Lord Vishnu had undertaken several incarnations out of which, 21 are considered to be the most important. Sri Kapilaacharya also known as Kapila Maha Muni or Kapila Bhagavantha (Lord Kapila) was one of those 21 incarnations of Lord Sri ManNarayana.

This incarnation took place during the Vedic period in Krita Yuga also known as Sathya Yuga. He was born to Sage Kardhama and his wife Devahuti daughter of Swayambhuva Manuvu.

It was a philosophic avathara meant for the purpose of giving Siddhi (Divine Knowledge) to his Mother. The Divine knowledge (Aatma Gnana), the path of self realization preached by Sri Kapila Maha Muni to his Mother Devahuti is known as Saankhya philosophy. After inducting Divine knowledge to his Mother, Sage Sri Kapilaacharya left his hermitage at Bindu Sarovara having fulfilled his mission.

Sage Sri Kapila Maha Muni is indirectly responsible for the descending of the Holy river Ganges to the Earth due to a curse given by him to the sons of Sagara that eventually led to the severe penance performed by Bhageeratha for the descent of holy River Ganges.

Kapila Theertham at the foothills of Tirumala Kshethra is also associated with Sage Sri Kapilaacharya and it is said that Sri Kapila Mahamuni lived at this place and performed penance. The holy lake formed at this place came to be known as Kapila Theertham. Pilgrims visiting Tirumala makes it a point to visit Kapila Theertham before visiting Tirumala temple. The place is also sanctified by the presence of Lord Shiva known here as Sri Kapileshwara.

Sage Kardhama & Devahuti...

Sage Kardhama was one of the greatest sages hailing from the early period of creation and was also known as Kardhama Prajapathi. He was Brahma Manasa Puthra (mind born son). He did severe penance for 10000 divine years on the banks of holy river Saraswathi and had darshan of Lord Vishnu.

As per the Lord’s directions Sage Kardhama married Devahuti daughter of Swayambhuva Manuvu and Satharoopa Devi. The sage couple had initially nine female children and Sri Kapila Mahamuni was born as the 10th child.

After the birth of Sri Kapila Mahamuni and after getting his daughters married, Sage Kardhama left his hermitage on the banks of Bindu Sarovar for renunciation. After initiation into the Tatva Gnana by his Divine son Sage Sri Kapila Mahamuni, Devahuti started practicing Saankhya Yoga and ultimately attained salvation on the banks of holy Lake Bindu Sarovar.

Pouranic reference....

Sri Mad Bhagavatha Purana, Thrutheeya Skhanda (3rd Canto) has made an elaborate reference to Sage Sri Kapilaacharya, his parental lineage and his preachings to his Divine Mother.

Lord Sri Krishna in his Bhagavathgeetha (Chapter 10, Vibhuthi Yoga) says that He is Kapilaacharya (Siddhaanaam Kapilo Munihi) among the Siddhas, a perfect Yogi with highly developed spiritual powers.

Lord Sri Krishna preached Saankhya Yoga to Arjuna that is covered in the 2nd chapter of Bhagavathgeetha. Further Lord Sri Krishna also preached once again Saankhya Yoga before His niryana to his friend Uddhava that came to be known as Uddhava Geeta (11th canto of Sri Mad Bhagavatha Purana).

We also find reference to Sri Kapila Muni in Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram sloka # 57 "Maharshi Kapilaacharya Kritagyo Medineepatih"

It is said that, Skhanda Purana has made a reference to Siddhpur as Sreesthal the most pious place as it was known to be. It is said that Pandavas also had visited this place during their exile.

Siddhpur is known as the most sacred and celestial place in the hinterland of Vedic river Saraswathi in Gujarat state. It is said that people from surrounding places up to a distance of even 100 km come to this place for performing funeral rites to the deceased as it is believed to be the Kaasi of Gujarat.

BINDU SAROVARA....

In Hindu Philosophy several holy places have come up on the banks of sacred rivers and lakes which are religiously known as Theerthas. Most prominent and ancient among these several holy lakes five of them are known as Pancha Sarovar. They are,

Ø  Manasa Sarovara (Tibet)

Ø  Pushkara Sarovara (Rajasthan)

Ø  Bindu Sarovara (Siddhpur - Gujarat)

Ø  Narayana Sarovara (Kutch, Gujarat)

Ø  Pampa Sarovara (Near Hampi - Karnataka)

Bindu Sarovar is glorified with the incarnation of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu as Sri Kapila Mahamuni on its banks, sanctified as the Tapo Bhoomi of Sage Kardhama Prajapathi, the holy place where Sri Kapilaacharya had preached Moksha Gnana (Saankhya philosophy) to his Mother, and celestial place where Devahuti attained salvation.

Literally Bindu means a drop and Sarovar means a lake. It was known as a Lake of Drops (Bindu Sarovar) where tears of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu are believed to have fallen in this lake. Bindu Sarovar is considered as holy as Triveni Sangam at Allahabad. There are three sacred water ponds around here known as Gnana Vapi, Alpa river and Bindu Sarovar. Generally we find people taking bath in Bindu Sarovar before performing the sacred rites which is considered as highly meritorious.

Along the shore of the Bindu Sarovar we find the temples of Sri Kapila Mahamuni, Sage Kardhama Prajapathi, Devahuti, where earlier existed their hermitages. We also find a temple of Gaya Gadhadhara in the same line. On the opposite side we find a temple of Lord Shiva and also other temples of Hindu Deities. On the banks of Bindu Sarovara near the Moksha Peepal Tree we find an image of Lord Parashurama offering Pinda Daan to his Mother. Since then it is believed to have become a tradition to perform sacred rites to a Mother at this place.

Known to be famous as Mathru Gaya Kshethra, Bindu Sarovar at Siddhpur has acquired lot of religious and spiritual significance with Hindus from across the country visiting this place to perform sacred rites to their departed Mothers. It is the only place in India where sacred rites to a Mother (Mathru Sraaddha) is exclusively performed.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu