The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s12.40

c5.s12.40

Tīrthapurī—A sacred spot on the west of Mount Kailas in Western Tibet, twenty-one miles from Darchin or Gangri, and half-a-day’s journey to the north-west of Dulju in the Himalaya, on the bank of the Sutlej. It contains a very hot sulphur spring. Bhashmâsura or Bṛikâsura is said to have been killed at this place; a heap of ashes is pointed out as the remains of that Asura (*JASB.*, 1848, p. 156; Sherring’s *Western Tibet*, p. 284; see also *Bhâgavata*, X, ch. 88). The place of Bhashmâsura’s death is also pointed out in a cave called Gupteśvarnâtha Mahâdeva’s temple, situated in a hill near Sasiram in the district of Shahabad. Bhashmâsura obtained a boon from Mahâdeva to the effect that whoever should be touched by him upon the head would at once be consumed to ashes. He wanted to try the efficacy of the boon by touching the head of Mahâdeva himself, the giver of the boon. Mahâdeva fled, pursued by Bhashmâsura and took the protection of Vishnu, who advised the Asura to make the experiment by placing the hand upon his own head instead of upon that of another. He followed the advice, and was at once consumed to ashes. But the story is differently stated in Sherring's Western Tibet, p 285.