Shloka 88

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

गौरी कुमुद्वती चैव संध्या रात्रिर्मनोजवा ख्याती च पुण्डरीका च गङ्गा सप्तविधा स्मृता //

Transliteration

gaurī kumudvatī caiva saṃdhyā rātrirmanojavā khyātī ca puṇḍarīkā ca gaṅgā saptavidhā smṛtā //

Translation

Gaṅgā is remembered as sevenfold: Gaurī, Kumudvatī, Saṃdhyā, Rātri, Manojavā, Khyātī, and Puṇḍarīkā.

Word by Word

• gaṅgā: the river-goddess Gaṅgā

• saptavidhā: sevenfold, of seven forms

• smṛtā: is remembered/considered

• gaurī: ‘Fair/Bright One’ (a name/form)

• kumudvatī: ‘Lotus(-lily) bearing/abounding’ (a name/form)

• saṃdhyā: twilight (a name/form)

• rātriḥ: night (a name/form)

• manojavā: swift as thought (a name/form)

• khyātī: fame/renown (a name/form)

• puṇḍarīkā: white lotus (a name/form)

• ca/caiva: and/indeed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, continuing the didactic narration of sacred geography and merits)

Entities Mentioned

• Gaṅgā
• Gaurī
• Kumudvatī
• Saṃdhyā
• Rātri
• Manojavā
• Khyātī
• Puṇḍarīkā

Tags

• Tirtha
• Ganga Mahatmya
• Sacred Rivers
• Names of Deities
• Puranic Geography

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it instead classifies Gaṅgā into seven named forms, a typical tīrtha-mahātmya style enumeration used for worship, remembrance, and sacred geography.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

By prescribing recognizable names/forms of Gaṅgā, it supports householders (and rulers who sponsor public rites) in performing Gaṅgā-related practices—such as bathing (snāna), offerings (arghya), and name-recitation (nāma-japa)—which the Purāṇas treat as meritorious duties sustaining dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse functions as a canonical name-list for invoking Gaṅgā in japa and pūjā; such enumerations are often used when consecrating water (jala-saṃskāra) or during river-bath vows. No specific Vāstu/temple-measurement rule is stated in this line.