Shloka 51
गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्
Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship
त्रिवारं पृथिवीं सर्वां क्रम पापं प्रकाशयन् । पुनरागत्य चात्रैव चर मासव्रतं तथा
trivāraṃ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ krama pāpaṃ prakāśayan | punarāgatya cātraiva cara māsavrataṃ tathā
Having circumambulated the whole earth three times—thereby bringing sin to light and dispelling it—one should return here again and, in this very place, duly observe the month-long vow (māsa-vrata) as prescribed.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The verse prescribes a purificatory pilgrimage-circumambulation of the earth (bhū-pradakṣiṇā) and a month-long vow; it reflects the purāṇic idea that sin becomes ‘manifest’ (prakāśita) and thereby removable through regulated tapas and movement through sacred geography.
Significance: Bhū-pradakṣiṇā and māsavrata function as intensive prāyaścitta: humility, endurance, and self-regulation weaken karmic bondage and reorient the devotee toward Śiva.
FAQs
It teaches that sustained, disciplined practice—pilgrimage undertaken with right intention and a month-long vow—purifies pāpa and turns outward travel into inward refinement, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s grace (anugraha).
In the Kotirudrasaṃhitā, such instructions typically culminate at a sacred Shiva-kṣetra or Jyotirlinga, where returning “here” implies re-centering devotion at the manifested (saguṇa) presence of Shiva for focused worship and vrata.
A structured māsa-vrata after pilgrimage—paired with daily Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and purity observances (like bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where customary).