Shloka 46
अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”
पतिव्रतां स्त्रियं दृष्ट्वा पापनाशो भवेन्मम । शुद्धा जाता विशेषेण गौरीतुल्या पतिव्रता
pativratāṃ striyaṃ dṛṣṭvā pāpanāśo bhavenmama | śuddhā jātā viśeṣeṇa gaurītulyā pativratā
“Upon seeing a devoted wife (pativratā), may my sins be destroyed. May I be purified in a special way—for she is a pativratā, comparable to Goddess Gaurī herself.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages, in Kotirudrasaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames darśana of a pativratā as a purifier, implicitly aligning her with Gaurī (Śiva’s śakti) and thus making the encounter itself a grace-bearing tirtha-like moment.
Significance: Darśana of dharma embodied (pativratā) is treated as pāpa-kṣaya and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi, preparing the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse praises the sanctifying power of darśana (auspicious sight) of a truly virtuous pativratā, presenting her purity as spiritually potent—capable of removing pāpa and inspiring inner śuddhi, which supports Shaiva pursuit of grace and liberation.
In the Shiva Purana, outer pilgrimage and Liṅga worship are meant to culminate in inner purification; honoring embodiments of dharma (here, the pativratā likened to Gaurī) complements Saguna Shiva-bhakti by cultivating purity and receptivity to Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
The takeaway is to cultivate śuddhi through reverence and right conduct—offer respectful salutations, maintain purity of speech and mind, and pair such attitudes with Shaiva practices like japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for sustained inner cleansing.