In a sacred land, groups of illustrious seers gathered as officiating priests within a grand sacrificial enclosure. Under the guidance of the chief priest, ten horse sacrifices—ashvamedhas—were commenced simultaneously, a rare and mighty undertaking. The priests diligently brought these sacrifices to completion, yet when the king witnessed their conclusion, unease filled his heart. Troubled, he left that consecrated ground, seeking success elsewhere, and began the rituals anew. However, just as before, obstacles and faults arose at this new site. The sacrifices could not be completed, and the king, perceiving the incompleteness, turned to his teacher with concern. “Because of faults—be they of the place, of time, of myself, or perhaps of you—the ten horse sacrifices have not been brought to fulfillment,” he said. Distressed, the king, accompanied by the chief priest Kaśyapa, approached the venerable Saṃvarta, elder brother to the lord of hymns, seeking guidance. They addressed him with reverence: “O venerable one, where in this world might ten horse sacrifices, performed at once, reach completion? Please tell us the place and the teacher who can guide us, O bestower of honor.” Saṃvarta, the best of seers, entered deep meditation. Emerging from his contemplation, he advised, “Go to Brahmā, the supreme teacher; he will reveal to you the proper place.” In due course, the great sage Bhauvana also came to Saṃvarta, accompanied by noble Kaśyapa, and recounted all that pertained to the quest for the right teacher and the sacred place. Saṃvarta then addressed his son Bhauvana and Kaśyapa: “Go to the banks of the Gautamī. O king of kings, that land is sanctified by countless sacrifices. There, Kaśyapa, master of the Vedas, is the foremost teacher. By his grace and through the holiness of the Gautamī, you shall attain blessings. Even with a single horse sacrifice or by bathing there, the merit of ten ashvamedhas will be accomplished.” Hearing these words, King Bhauvana journeyed to the bank of the Gautamī, accompanied by Kaśyapa, and there undertook the horse sacrifice. When the great ritual was begun and brought to completion, the king prepared to give away the earth itself in charity. At that moment, a celestial voice resounded from the sky as the king honored the Brahmins, officiating priests, and learned assembly: “O king, in your wish to give the earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves, to the priest Kaśyapa, know that you have already given everything. Instead, renounce the desire to give the land again; give food, for the gift of food yields the highest merit. In all three worlds, there is no virtue equal to feeding others. Especially as you have performed this horse sacrifice with many gifts and with faith on the bank of the Ganga, your duty is fulfilled—may good fortune be yours. There is no need for further deliberation.” Yet, the Earth herself spoke to Bhauvana, who still wished to bestow her: “O universal sovereign, son of Vishvakarman, do not give me away again and again. I keep sinking into the midst of the waters; therefore, I should not be given.” Alarmed, Bhauvana asked, “What then should be given?” Again, the Earth, surrounded by brahmins, replied: “Sesame, cows, wealth, grain—whatever is given on the bank of the Gautamī becomes inexhaustible charity. What more will you give me, O Bhauvana? Whoever gives even a single mouthful on the bank of the Ganga, by him I am wholly given. What, then, will you give me?” Hearing these wise words from the Earth, Bhauvana, lord of the earth, accepted her counsel and, thinking “So be it,” generously distributed food among the brahmins. From that time onward, that sacred place became renowned as the site of the ten horse sacrifices, and it was declared that by bathing there, one attains the merit of ten ashvamedhas. Now, there is another holy place, known as Paishacha, honored by those learned in the Vedas. Its nature lies on the southern bank of the Gautami. Near the Brahmagiri mountain, O Narada, stands another mountain called Anjana. Upon this mountain, a celestial nymph, fallen by a curse, dwelled. Her name was Anjana, a female monkey of exceptional form. She was wed to Kesari, and another companion there was Adrika. Anjana, once a celestial nymph and wife of Kesari, had, through a curse, taken the form of a cat and now resided on Anjana mountain. Kesari, famed throughout the world, had journeyed to the southern ocean. During his absence, the great sage Agastya arrived at Anjana mountain. Anjana and Adrika both welcomed and worshipped Agastya, each according to her custom and with heartfelt devotion. Pleased by their service, the blessed sage offered them a boon. Both requested, “O lord of sages, grant us sons.” The sage consented: “So be it. Two sons, strongest among all and benefactors of the worlds, shall be born to you.” With that, Agastya departed for the southern direction. Some time later, Anjana and Adrika, filled with joy, were singing, dancing, and laughing atop the mountain peak. Vayu, the wind god, and Nirriti, the lord of destruction, beheld the two radiant beings and, their minds overcome by desire, swiftly approached. The women addressed them: “May we two, as husband and wife, become the bestowers of boons, O gods.” The gods replied, “So be it,” and vanished upon the mountaintop. Thus it was that Hanuman was born to Anjana and Vayu, and to Adrika and Nirriti was born Adri, lord of the piśācas, the spirits of the night. Yet, both mothers lamented, “By the sage’s boon, two sons have been born, but our forms are deformed, our heads marred.” A voice explained: “By the curse of the lord of Shachi, you both must be recognized as such.” Then the blessed Vayu and Nirriti spoke: “By bathing and giving gifts at the Gautami, the curse will be lifted.” Pleased, they disappeared from sight. Moved by affection for his brother Hanuman, Adri, in his piśāca form, took Anjana and bathed her at the Gautami, thus seeking to end the curse. Thus unfolded the sacred tales of sacrifice, charity, and the wondrous births that graced the banks of the Gautami, sanctifying the land for all ages to come.