Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 6
Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)
गंगाद्वारं च तन्नाम प्रसिद्धमभवत्तदा । सर्वपापहरं रम्यं दर्शनान्मुनिसत्तमः
gaṃgādvāraṃ ca tannāma prasiddhamabhavattadā | sarvapāpaharaṃ ramyaṃ darśanānmunisattamaḥ
ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਉਹ ਥਾਂ “ਗੰਗਾਦ੍ਵਾਰ” ਨਾਮ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ ਹੋ ਗਈ। ਹੇ ਮੁਨੀ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ, ਇਹ ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ ਤੀਰਥ ਕੇਵਲ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਸਭ ਪਾਪ ਹਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: The place becomes famed as “Gaṅgādvāra,” the threshold where Gaṅgā is accessed for purification; mere darśana is said to destroy sins.
Significance: Darśana and tīrtha-sevā are credited with sarva-pāpa-kṣaya; a classic Purāṇic framing of tīrtha as a locus of Śiva’s grace mediated through Gaṅgā.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches the Shiva Purana principle that certain Shaiva-connected tīrthas carry purifying power: Gaṅgādvāra is praised as a place where even simple darśana (reverent visitation) burns pāpa and turns the mind toward Shiva-oriented liberation.
In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā’s pilgrimage context, tīrtha-glorification supports Saguna Shiva devotion: visiting Gaṅgādvāra complements Jyotirliṅga worship by preparing the devotee through purity, faith, and auspicious remembrance of Shiva’s grace linked with the Gaṅgā.
The verse highlights darśana as a practice; traditionally this is paired with Gaṅgā-snān, offering water to Shiva (jala-abhisheka), and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a repentant, purified intention.