Sagar Island, Sage Kapil's Temple & Holy Bath on Makar Sankranti

Sagar island and holy bath

Sagar island is one of the famous pilgrims' Destinations in India. It is situated in Gangetic delta, 100 km away from Kolkata. This island is a part of Kakdweep subdivision in the diatrict of South 24 parganas,  West Bengal. Every year millions

of people gathered here to take holy bath at the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. People offer prayer at Kapil Muni temple at Sagar island.Almost 30 lakhs prilgrims gathered at Kapil Muni temple this year on Makar Sankranti (15th January 2020) this year.

 

But, do you know the mythological story of Kapil Muni and river Ganges?

 

Mythological story related to it

Of course, you heard of Lord Rama of Solar Dynasty.  First ruler of this clan was Ikshvaku. There was a king named Sagar in this ascendancy who ruled before Lord Rama. He was the son of king Bahuk and queen Yadavi. Other wives of Bahuk was very much jealous on Yadavi. They poisoned her during her pregnancy.  That poison confined the child in her womb for seven years. During her pregnancy stage, king Bahuk died. After the death of her husband, the pregnant queen Yadavi decided to perform Sati (sacrifice herself in pyre). At that time holy sage Aurva came and  forbade her to perform Sati. With his blessings, the poison turned non-toxic and queen Yadavi gave birth to Sagar. His named was given Sagar as because he was born with ("Sa") poison ("gar").

King Sagar had two wives- Keshini and Sumati. But for a long time, king Sagar had no child. So he observed extreme penance to get a child. Sage Aurva was very much pleased with his worship and gave him a boon that one of his queens would give birth of a son who will be the heir and maintainer of the lineage. Another queen would give birth of 60000 sons. But the holy gave did not mention the names of the queens who would get what. Queen Sumati accepted the boon of 60000 sons.Keshini chose to have one son. Subsequently,  Keshini gave birth of Asamanjyas, the upholder of the race.Sumati gave birth of a gourd-like lump. On advice of sage Aurva, the lump were separated into 60000 pieces and each piece was kept in a earthen pot filled with ghee. From those pots, 60000 sons were born. Prince Asamanjyas was very arrogant,  ill-mannered price.His sixty thousand brothers were also very rude and cruel.

Once King Sagar arranged Aswamedh Yagnya (horse-sacrifice). The ritual was- the holy horse which was selected for sacrifice, was allowed to roam the world freely till he returned to the altar-place. Then the horse would be sacrificed. King Sagar directed sons of Sumati to protect the sacred horse. When the horse reached south-eastern zone, Lord Indra captured the horse and hid it under the earth ("Patal"). As the sacred horse went missing, all of sixty thousand sons put all their labours to trace out the horse. Then they found it underneath the earth. They dug the earth and reached at the depths of the earth. There they found the holy horse and holy a sage meditating there. His was leaning his head. His name was Kapil. King Sagar's sons suspected sage Kapil that he theft the holy horse. They accused him and prepared to attack him. Being angry, Kapil Muni opened his eyes and stared at them. His stare was powerful and fiery that they were burned into ashes.

Who was Sage Kapil?

After creation of the universe, Lord Brahma created ten "Manasputra" (sons born from His mind), Manu Swayanbhu (he was first human born) and Sage Kardama.

Satarupa was born from Swayanbhu and she got married his own creator Swayanbhu. Priyavrata, Uttānapāda, Akūti, Devahūti, Prasuti were their children. Sage Kardama married Devahuti. Once Kardama performed extreme penance before Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu became satisfied with his worship.  He gave him a boon that He would take birth as Kardama's son. Later, sage Kapil was born as incarnation of Lord Vishnu. 

Asamanjyas, son of Sagar and Keshini, had a son. His name was Anshuman. His character was a foil for his cruel father. He was very honest and noble prince. After demise of king Sagar, Anshuman became king of the province. Sagar requested Anshuman to find out his sixty thousand sons. So Anshuman follow the same route his uncles created and he reached at Kapil muni ashram. There he

saw holy sage Kapil and the holy horse. He asked whereabouts of his 60000 uncles. Sage Kapil narrated the entire story and informed Anshuman that his uncles were burnt and turned into Ashes. Anshuman requested Kapil to forgive his uncles. Sage Kapil assured him that his grandson would bring Holy river Ganga into Earth and when the holy water of river Ganges would touch the ashes, his uncles would gain release and go to heaven.

 

 

Dilip was Anshuman's son and Bhagirath was his son. He came to know about The Prophecy of Kapil Muni. So he performed extreme penance to satisfy mother Ganga. But mother Ganga told him that there is no one to stop her extreme force except Lord Shiva. So Bhagirath performed penance again before Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was so satisfied with him that he agreed to hold the powerful force of river Ganga. Lord Shiva tied the extreme force of river Ganga in his hair lock and released her force in very peace and calmly. The holy river Ganga followed Bhagirath and Bhagirath went to the Kapil Muni ashram following same root his uncle dug out. The burnt Ashes of his uncles came into touch of holy water of river Ganga and they attained freedom and their souls were released. This incident accidentally happened on the day of Makar Sankranti. So this is very much ritual for the Hindu people to take bath in the holy river Ganga on the day of Makar Sankranti at Kapil muni ashram to attain release from all of their vices.