Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 6
इयं माहेश्वरी गङ्गा महेश्वरतनूद्भवा । प्रोक्ता दक्षिणगङ्गेति भारतस्य युधिष्ठिर
iyaṃ māheśvarī gaṅgā maheśvaratanūdbhavā | proktā dakṣiṇagaṅgeti bhāratasya yudhiṣṭhira
هذه هي غَنْغا الماهيشْوَرِيّة، المولودة من جسد ماهيشْوَرا نفسه؛ وقد أُعلنت «غَنْغا الجنوب»، يا يودهيشْثيرا من بهاراتا.
Narrative voice addressing Yudhiṣṭhira (speaker not explicit in the snippet; framed as authoritative Purāṇic instruction within Revā Khaṇḍa)
Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā) as ‘Māheśvarī Gaṅgā’
Type: river
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira (Bhārata)
Scene: A luminous river-goddess Revā rises as if from Śiva’s own body; sages and a royal listener (Yudhiṣṭhira) receive the proclamation ‘Dakṣiṇa-Gaṅgā’. Śiva’s presence is suggested through matted locks, crescent moon, and a subtle aura over the river.
FAQs
Narmadā’s holiness is equated with Gaṅgā, and her sanctity is rooted in a direct Śaiva origin, elevating her as a foremost tīrtha.
The Narmadā (Revā) river, honored as the ‘Dakṣiṇa Gaṅgā’ (Southern Gaṅgā).
No specific rite is stated; the verse functions as a māhātmya declaration establishing the river’s status for pilgrimage, bathing, and worship.