General introduction to the Panchatirthi Pilgrimage

  • Puranic Authorization for the pilgrimage:

"O Prince, among the Pancha Tirthi (set of five Tirthas) is exceedingly excellent. By the holy ablution therein a man can well forget further stay in the womb.

The first one is the confluence of Asi (with the Ganga), the greatest and most excellent one among the T$rthas is called Dashashvamedha which is resorted to by all the Tirthas. There is the Padodaka T$rtha in the vicinity of adikeshava; then is the meritorious Panchanada (Panchaga%ga) which removes mass of sins by the ablution. O highly excellent one, apart from these four Tirthas the fifth one named Manikarnika accords the purity of the mind and the limbs....

By taking the holy bath in Panchatirthi a man ceases to take up the body of the five elements. Or he becomes Panchasya (the five-faced Lord himself)." Linga Purana IV.ii107-10,114.

  • Pilgrims follow a the pilgrimage route similar that Shiva himself is said to have performed when he came to Kashi seeking expiation from the horrible sin of cutting off Brahm@'s head. He is said to have gone to Lolarka (Asi Ghat), Keshava, and then to Manikarnika where the head which was stuck to his hand finally fell off.
  • This entire city is the JyotirLinga (the linga of Light).
  • All of these Tirthas mark places where there are, or were, river confluence.