The holy bath of Langalbandha
There are several interpretations of this place attaining the name Langalbandha and becoming holy. Yet, what we know in general from the Purana and other religious books are as the following:
There was a saint named Jamadagni in the state of Magadha at the beginning of Treta Yuga. Jamadagni was the father of Parashuram. Parashuram was the youngest among the five sons of the saint. The world was full of sins at the time of Parashuram's birth. He came to earth as a divine incarnation to emancipate the world from the vices. His name was Rama at his early age. He became known as Parashuram later as he took 'Parashu' (axe) in his hand to destroy the sinner 'Khatrias'.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Name of Parashuram is inter-connected with Langalbandha. Renuka Devi, mother of Parashuram, once went to the river to bring water. There she saw the king of Gandharbas enjoying bath with his beautiful mistresses. Renuka Devi was rather hypnotised to see this romantic scene. She herself become amorous too and for the time being forgot that the prayer time of saint Jamadagni was passing away. When her mind returned to normalcy she rushed back home with water and sought apology from Jamadagni. Saint Jamadagni knew everything through his power of meditation. He was angry and could not control himself. He ordered his sons to kill their mother. Four of his elder sons refused to obey it. But Parashuram killed his mother and four brothers with axe to fulfil his father's desire. His father was pleased with Parashuram for his obedience and wanted to give reward. Taking this opportunity Parashuram wanted back the lives of his mother and four brothers. Jamadagni agreed and revived them to life with his meditational power.
But Parashuram could not remove the axe from his hand, it just remained stuck. He asked for remedy from his father. His father said, 'you did two great sins, killing your mother and a woman. So you travel around the holy places. In one of the holy places the axe stuck to your hand will fall after getting the touch of holy water. Remember, that is the greatest holy place in the world'.
Parashuram started visiting holy places. At last he went to Brahmakunda. When he was taking bath there the axe fell down. Parashuram thought to open the flow of this holy water for salvation of common people. So, he made a plough with the axe and brought the flow of the holy water to the plains cutting the rocks of Himalaya. He was moving to the south making a furrow with his plough. At one stage he was tired and stopped ploughing. This was the place now known as Langalbandha at Sonargaon. This flow of Brahmaputra moved to river Dhaleswari.
As the new river was emerged from the spirit of Brahma its name was Brahmaputra. Once it was one of the biggest rivers of the world. Its birthplace Brahmmakunda is near Manas Sarobar in Tibet. This river is known as Sampoo in Tibet. Sampoo means pure. River Sampoo comes to Asam (India) and from there to Bangladesh.
Now there are 11 temples, 13 bathing ghats and seven ashrams for guests at Langalbandha. Sri Sri Chaitanya Dev came to Langalbandha 500 years ago. People think that he stayed here for some days. Swami Vivekananda, one of the closest disciples of Sri Razmakrishna, with his mother Bhubaneswari and other relatives came here and took bath at Rajghat on 27 March 1901. Kings of Nepal visited the place and took bath at Rajghat. Part of Mahatma Gandhi's remains (ashes) was dropped here in river Brahmaputra on 12 February 1948.
Every year innumerable pilgrims come to Langalbandha. This holy place occupies an important part in the golden heritage of Bangladesh. It should be protected and well managed.