Shloka 88

Devanagari script

गङ्गा माता जगन्माता रुद्रलोके व्यवस्थिता शिवभक्ता तु या नन्दा सा मे पापं व्यपोहतु

Transliteration

gaṅgā mātā jaganmātā rudraloke vyavasthitā śivabhaktā tu yā nandā sā me pāpaṃ vyapohatu

Translation

Möge Mutter Gaṅgā—Mutter der Welten, im Reich Rudras gegründet—sie, Nandā, die Śiva in Bhakti verehrt—meine Sünde hinwegnehmen.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): Ganga

• माता (mātā): mother

• जगन्माता (jaganmātā): mother of the universe

• रुद्रलोके (rudraloke): in Rudra’s world/realm

• व्यवस्थिता (vyavasthitā): established, abiding

• शिवभक्ता (śivabhaktā): devoted to Shiva

• तु (tu): indeed

• या (yā): who

• नन्दा (nandā): Nandā (epithet/name)

• सा (sā): she

• मे (me): my

• पापं (pāpaṃ): sin, demerit

• व्यपोहतु (vyapohatu): may she remove/drive away.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrative voice; contextual attribution)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Rudra
• Shiva
• Nanda

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It functions as a purification-prayer: by invoking Gaṅgā as established in Rudra’s sphere and as a Śiva-bhakta, the worshipper seeks removal of pāpa before or alongside liṅga-pūjā, aligning the pashu (soul) toward the Pati (Śiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is implied as the supreme realm (Rudraloka) and the source of sanctity: even Gaṅgā’s purifying power is framed through her grounding in Rudra and her devotion to Śiva, indicating Pati as the ultimate purifier beyond pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Atonement and inner cleansing (pāpa-śodhana) through mantra-like remembrance of Gaṅgā in relation to Śiva—supporting pūjā-vidhi and the Pāśupata orientation of reducing pasha via devotion and purification.