Shloka 48
Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)
इति वश्च समाख्यातो गौतम्याश्च समुद्भवः । माहात्म्यमुत्तमं चैव सर्वपापहरं परम्
iti vaśca samākhyāto gautamyāśca samudbhavaḥ | māhātmyamuttamaṃ caiva sarvapāpaharaṃ param
ఇట్లు నేను మీకు గౌతమీ యొక్క ఉద్భవమును, ఆమె పరమోత్తమమైన మహాత్మ్యమును వివరించితిని; అది సమస్త పాపాలను హరించు పరమ శ్రేష్ఠము।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Introduces/recaps the ‘samudbhava’ (origin) and ‘māhātmya’ of the Gautamī river; its glory is framed as sarva-pāpa-hara, preparing the listener for the linked Tryambakeśvara tīrtha complex.
Significance: Bathing/association with Gautamī is presented as purificatory and sin-destroying; in Siddhānta terms, it supports purification of pāśa (māyā/karma) and readiness for Śiva’s grace.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It concludes the narration by affirming that hearing and understanding the Gautamī’s origin and glory is itself purifying—pointing to Shiva’s grace working through sacred narratives and tirthas to dissolve sin and support liberation.
In the Kotirudrasaṃhitā, tirtha-glory is typically tied to Jyotirlinga-centered pilgrimage; the verse frames the Gautamī’s mahatmya as a Shiva-bestowed means of purification that complements Saguna Shiva worship through darśana, japa, and pilgrimage disciplines.
A practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) of the mahatmya and, where applicable, tirtha-snāna (sacred bathing) with Panchakshara japa—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a purification-oriented practice.