Shloka 9
Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)
गौतम उवाच । इमे च श्रीमदांधाश्च साधवो वाप्यसाधवः । एतत्पुण्यप्रभावेण दर्शनं दीयतां त्वया
gautama uvāca | ime ca śrīmadāṃdhāśca sādhavo vāpyasādhavaḥ | etatpuṇyaprabhāveṇa darśanaṃ dīyatāṃ tvayā
గౌతముడు అన్నాడు—ఇవీ శ్రీమంతులైనా అంధులే; సద్జనులైనా దుర్జనులైనా, ఈ పుణ్యప్రభావంతో మీరు వీరికి మీ దివ్యదర్శనం ప్రసాదించండి।
Gautama
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Gautama requests that even those lacking inner sight (metaphorically ‘blind’) receive darśana through the potency of the tīrtha’s merit—universalizing grace beyond strict moral binaries.
Significance: Affirms tīrtha-anugraha: sacred places can catalyze purification and moral awakening even for the spiritually impaired, when mediated by a saint’s compassion.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It emphasizes that Shiva’s grace (darśana) can be invoked through sacred merit and compassionate prayer, extending even to those who are spiritually “blind,” pointing to the liberating power of divine sight in Shaiva devotion.
In the Kotirudrasaṃhitā context of Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage, “darśana” aligns with approaching Saguna Shiva through the holy shrine/linga, where accumulated punya and sincere supplication culminate in an auspicious encounter with the Lord.
The practical takeaway is to seek Shiva-darśana through tīrtha-yātrā and bhakti—performing worship with mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī), and dedicating earned punya for the uplift of all beings.