Shloka 4
Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)
औदुंबरस्य शाखायास्तत्प्रवाहो विनिस्सृतः । तत्र स्नानं मुदा चक्रे गौतमो विश्रुतो मुनिः
auduṃbarasya śākhāyāstatpravāho vinissṛtaḥ | tatra snānaṃ mudā cakre gautamo viśruto muniḥ
จากกิ่งของต้นอุทุมพะระได้บังเกิดธารน้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์ไหลออกมา ณ ที่นั้น ฤๅษีโคตมะผู้เลื่องชื่อได้อาบน้ำชำระตามพิธีด้วยความปีติยินดี
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: A sacred stream issues from an udumbara branch—an emblem of tīrtha-manifestation where nature becomes a conduit for grace; Gautama’s snāna establishes the place’s sanctity.
Significance: Models tīrtha-snāna as a means of śuddhi and pāpa-kṣaya; the udumbara-associated spring becomes a localized pilgrimage spot in the narrative world.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights tirtha-snana (sacred bathing) as an act of inner and outer purification that supports Shiva-bhakti; Gautama’s joyful ablution models the devotee’s reverent readiness for worship and grace.
In Kotirudra narratives, pilgrimage settings and purificatory acts like snana commonly precede approaching a Jyotirlinga; the bath symbolizes cleansing malas (impurities) so the devotee may worship Saguna Shiva (the Linga) with steadier mind and devotion.
Perform snana with sankalpa (spiritual intention), then proceed to Shiva-puja—optionally japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a disciplined sequence of purification followed by devotion.