Shloka 37
द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्
Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations
शिवानुग्रहतस्तत्र गंगा नाम्ना तु गौतमी । संस्थिता गौतमप्रीत्या पावनी शंकरप्रिया
śivānugrahatastatra gaṃgā nāmnā tu gautamī | saṃsthitā gautamaprītyā pāvanī śaṃkarapriyā
Dengan anugerah Śiva, sungai Gaṅgā pun menetap di sana dengan nama Gautamī. Ia bersemayam demi kegembiraan Gautama, sebagai penyuci dan yang dikasihi oleh Śaṅkara.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara
Sthala Purana: Śiva’s anugraha establishes Gaṅgā’s presence at the kṣetra under the name ‘Gautamī’—a localization of the celestial purifier to serve the sage and sanctify the land around the Jyotirliṅga.
Significance: Bathing in Gautamī/Kuśāvarta is paired with Jyotirliṅga worship; tīrtha-snāna is framed as purification (pāvanī) supporting the devotee’s readiness for Śiva’s grace.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that purification is ultimately rooted in Śiva’s anugraha (grace): the sacred river becomes holy and effective because it is established by Śiva and remains a purifier for the welfare of devotees.
By calling the river “Śaṅkara-priyā,” the verse links tīrtha-devotion to Saguna Śiva: honoring what is beloved to Śiva (his sacred places and purifying powers) becomes an indirect yet potent form of Śiva-bhakti that supports Linga worship and inner sanctification.
Pilgrimage and tīrtha-snān (sacred bathing) with remembrance of Śiva—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as a practical means of purification through Śiva’s grace.