Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49
मनु-शतरूपा-प्रसूतिः तथा दक्षकन्याविवाहाः
Manu–Śatarūpā, Prasūti, and the Marriages of Dakṣa’s Daughters
मेनां च धरणीं चैव याभ्यां विश्वमिदं धृतम् । अग्निष्वात्तसुता मेना धरणी बर्हिषत्सुता । मेना हिमवतः पत्नी मैनाकं क्रौंचमेव च । गौरीं गंगां च सुषुवे भवांगाश्लेषपावनीम्
menāṃ ca dharaṇīṃ caiva yābhyāṃ viśvamidaṃ dhṛtam | agniṣvāttasutā menā dharaṇī barhiṣatsutā | menā himavataḥ patnī mainākaṃ krauṃcameva ca | gaurīṃ gaṃgāṃ ca suṣuve bhavāṃgāśleṣapāvanīm
Menā and Dharaṇī indeed—by whom this whole universe is upheld. Menā was the daughter of the Āgniṣvāttas, and Dharaṇī the daughter of the Barhiṣads. Menā became the wife of Himavat and gave birth to Maināka and also Krauñca; and she bore Gaurī and Gaṅgā—Gaṅgā, the purifier through her contact with the body of Bhava (Lord Śiva).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Gaṅgā’s sanctity is traced to her contact with Bhava (Śiva), anticipating later tīrtha-māhātmyas where Gaṅgā becomes the paradigmatic purifier for Śiva-bhaktas.
Significance: Bathing/ācamanam in Gaṅgā is framed as purification through Śiva-saṃsparśa (contact with Śiva’s body), supporting Śaiva tīrtha practice.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Descent/manifestation of Gaṅgā as purifier via Śiva-saṃyoga (allusive to Gaṅgāvataraṇa cycle)
FAQs
It links cosmic order and sacred lineage: Gaurī (Śakti) arises in the Himalayan line, and Gaṅgā is praised as supremely purifying because her sanctity is sealed by association with Bhava (Śiva), pointing to Śiva as the ultimate source of purification and grace.
By calling Gaṅgā “purifier through contact with Bhava’s body,” the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s tangible, grace-giving presence—mirrored in Linga worship where devotees approach Śiva through a consecrated form and receive purification through abhiṣeka and devotion.
A practical takeaway is Gaṅgā-jala abhiṣeka of the Śiva-liṅga (or offering pure water while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), meditating on Śiva as Bhava whose contact purifies the mind and loosens pāśa (bondage).
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