Shloka 27
Gautama–Ahalyā-Upākhyāna: Durbhikṣa, Tapas, and Varuṇa’s Boon (गौतमाहल्योपाख्यानम्)
ततश्च गौतमस्तत्र जलं प्राप्य सुदुर्लभम् । नित्यनैमित्तिकं कर्म चकार विधिवत्तदा
tataśca gautamastatra jalaṃ prāpya sudurlabham | nityanaimittikaṃ karma cakāra vidhivattadā
Then Gautama, having obtained there that exceedingly hard-to-find water, duly performed at that time the daily and occasional rites in the prescribed manner.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: The verse situates Gautama in an austerity-forest where scarce water is obtained to maintain nitya-naimittika rites; it functions as a tīrtha-like setting but is not explicitly tied here to a named Jyotirliṅga.
Significance: Models dharma-sustaining purity: securing water for obligatory rites is presented as a means to preserve ritual order and merit even under scarcity.
FAQs
It highlights that spiritual progress in Shaiva dharma is supported by disciplined purity and obedience to scriptural injunctions—Gautama’s obtaining rare water and then performing nitya-naimittika duties shows steadiness (niyama) as a foundation for Shiva’s grace.
In Kotirudra narratives, pilgrimage and sacred resources (like tīrtha-water) are commonly used for abhiṣeka and ritual purity; the verse reflects the outer discipline that supports Saguna Shiva worship, where correct procedure (vidhi) sanctifies devotion.
Perform one’s nitya (daily) and naimittika (occasional) observances—such as स्नान (ritual bathing), संध्या (sandhyā worship), and tīrtha-water usage for puja/abhiṣeka—steadfastly and “vidhivat,” i.e., according to śāstra.