Shloka 19
Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)
एवं कृते तदा तेन गौतमेन तदाज्ञया । कुशावर्तं नाम चक्रे गङ्गाद्वारादधोगतम्
evaṃ kṛte tadā tena gautamena tadājñayā | kuśāvartaṃ nāma cakre gaṅgādvārādadhogatam
આ રીતે થયા પછી, તે આજ્ઞા અનુસાર ગૌતમે ગંગાદ્વાર (હરિદ્વાર)થી નીચે તરફ વહેતો ‘કુશાવર્ત’ નામનો પવિત્ર આવર્ત-પ્રવાહ રચ્યો.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: A tīrtha is physically instituted: by command and yogic/ascetic power, Gautama creates the Kuśāvarta flow descending from Gaṅgādvāra. This is a classic Purāṇic mechanism for sthala-purāṇa—sanctity anchored in a named hydrological feature.
Significance: Establishes a named tīrtha for snāna and prāyaścitta; bathing/ritual contact with the created current is implied to confer purification and eligibility for higher worship.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights that sacred places and purifying currents arise through dharmic obedience to a higher command; the tirtha becomes a channel for inner and outer purification, supporting the Shaiva aim of cleansing mala (impurity) and turning the mind toward Shiva.
In the Kotirudra context of Jyotirlinga pilgrimage, sanctified waters and tirthas serve as preparatory supports for Saguna Shiva worship—bathing, vows, and ritual purity that culminate in Linga-darśana and devotion.
A practical takeaway is tirtha-snāna (holy bathing) undertaken with sankalpa and humility; devotees may pair it with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before or after visiting a Jyotirlinga shrine.