A holy place. During the Pandavas’ exile, they visited the sage Pulasthya’s ashram, where the sage told them about the holy places in India. “After visiting Markandeyatheertha, proceed to the famous sangam of Ganga and Gomati. From there, travel to Gaya, where you will find Akshayavata. If you take a bath there, you will attain moksha.”

According to Devibhagavata, Navamaskanda, “Pushpabhadra is a famous river in India. This river originates in the Himalayas as Sharavati, and flows to the left of Gomati river, for 500 yojanas before joining the ocean in the west. On the banks of this river is Akshayavata. Here the sage Kapila had an ashram long ago, where he meditated. The place is named so because of the vatavruksha found here. It is said that Shiva, Skanda and Bhadrakali visit this tree occasionally.