Shloka 51
गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्
Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship
त्रिवारं पृथिवीं सर्वां क्रम पापं प्रकाशयन् । पुनरागत्य चात्रैव चर मासव्रतं तथा
trivāraṃ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ krama pāpaṃ prakāśayan | punarāgatya cātraiva cara māsavrataṃ tathā
ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಮೂರು ಬಾರಿ ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಪಾಪವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿ ನಿವಾರಿಸಿದ ಬಳಿಕ, ಮತ್ತೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೇ ಬಂದು ಈ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲೇ ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕ ಮಾಸವ್ರತವನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಬೇಕು।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The verse prescribes a purificatory pilgrimage-circumambulation of the earth (bhū-pradakṣiṇā) and a month-long vow; it reflects the purāṇic idea that sin becomes ‘manifest’ (prakāśita) and thereby removable through regulated tapas and movement through sacred geography.
Significance: Bhū-pradakṣiṇā and māsavrata function as intensive prāyaścitta: humility, endurance, and self-regulation weaken karmic bondage and reorient the devotee toward Śiva.
FAQs
It teaches that sustained, disciplined practice—pilgrimage undertaken with right intention and a month-long vow—purifies pāpa and turns outward travel into inward refinement, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s grace (anugraha).
In the Kotirudrasaṃhitā, such instructions typically culminate at a sacred Shiva-kṣetra or Jyotirlinga, where returning “here” implies re-centering devotion at the manifested (saguṇa) presence of Shiva for focused worship and vrata.
A structured māsa-vrata after pilgrimage—paired with daily Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and purity observances (like bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where customary).