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
ด้วยพระกรุณาของพระศิวะ แม่น้ำคงคาจึงสถิต ณ ที่นั้นในนาม “คौตมี” เพื่อความปีติของฤๅษีโคตมะ นางสถิตอยู่—เป็นผู้ชำระให้บริสุทธิ์และเป็นที่รักของพระศังกร
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.