Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 70
रुद्र उवाच । प्रविष्टा गोमुखे यस्मादपानेन विनिर्गता । गायत्रीनाम ते पत्नी तस्मादेषा भविष्यति
rudra uvāca | praviṣṭā gomukhe yasmādapānena vinirgatā | gāyatrīnāma te patnī tasmādeṣā bhaviṣyati
Rudra dit : Puisqu’elle est entrée par la bouche de la vache et qu’elle est sortie par le passage descendant, celle-ci deviendra ton épouse, nommée Gāyatrī.
Rudra (Śiva)
Tirtha: Gomukha (as narrative locus)
Type: cave
Listener: (Implied) Brahmā and assembled sages/Brāhmaṇas
Scene: Rudra pronounces a decisive boon/ordinance: a maiden associated with a cow-mouth cavern/spring emerges transformed; the moment is sealed by the naming ‘Gāyatrī’ and the declaration of marriage to Brahmā.
FAQs
Purification and divine naming establish sacred identity; transformed origin becomes a basis for dharmic legitimacy.
The imagery of gomukha evokes sacred symbolism often tied to tīrthas, but this verse does not name a specific location.
It supports the forthcoming marriage rite by declaring her sanctioned status and name (Gāyatrī) for the ritual order.