Shloka 27
गौतमस्य शिवदर्शनं पापक्षयवचनं च | Gautama’s Vision of Śiva and the Teaching on Sin and Purification
गंगोवाच । ऋषिं तु पावयित्वाहं परिवारयुतं प्रभो । गमिष्यामि निजस्थानं वचस्सत्यं ब्रवीमि ह
gaṃgovāca | ṛṣiṃ tu pāvayitvāhaṃ parivārayutaṃ prabho | gamiṣyāmi nijasthānaṃ vacassatyaṃ bravīmi ha
Gaṅgā said: “O Lord, after I have purified this sage—together with his attendants—I shall depart to my own abode. Truly I speak these words.”
Ganga
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara
Sthala Purana: Gaṅgā accepts Śiva’s directive to purify Gautama and then return to her own abode; this frames the tīrtha’s sanctity as purposeful, mission-like descent under Śiva’s governance, reinforcing the kṣetra’s regulated sacred order.
Significance: Affirms that purification at the kṣetra is not random but dharma-ordered; encourages pilgrims to approach the tīrtha with truthfulness (satya) and obedience to dharma for lasting benefit.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights tīrtha-śakti (the sanctifying power of sacred waters) operating under Śiva’s lordship: purification is affirmed as real when aligned with truth (satya) and devotion, supporting the Shaiva Siddhanta view that grace and right order lead the soul toward upliftment.
Gaṅgā addresses “Prabho,” implying Śiva as the regulating Lord of purification and pilgrimage. In Jyotirliṅga contexts, sacred rivers and baths are presented as auxiliaries to Saguna Śiva worship—preparing the devotee for darśana, pūjā, and surrender at the liṅga.
A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snāna (ritual bath) with satya-saṅkalpa (truthful resolve) before Śiva worship; one may follow it with liṅga-archana and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” to internalize purification.