Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 18
Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)
सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्याश्चक्रुर्वै ते तथाऽखिलाः । संप्रार्थ्य गौतमं दीनाः क्षंतव्यो नोऽपराधकः
sūta uvāca | iti śrutvā vacastasyāścakrurvai te tathā'khilāḥ | saṃprārthya gautamaṃ dīnāḥ kṣaṃtavyo no'parādhakaḥ
سوت نے کہا—اُس کے کلمات سن کر اُن سب نے ویسا ہی کیا۔ پھر عاجزی سے گوتم سے التجا کی اور کہا—“ہم خطاکار ہیں؛ ہمیں معاف فرمائیں۔”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha
Sthala Purana: The narrative turns to human response: after hearing the Goddess’s instruction (tasyāḥ), the group obeys and then seeks forgiveness from Gautama. This models paśu’s movement from error to śaraṇāgati, a prerequisite for grace in the kṣetra.
Significance: Shows the ethical core of tīrtha-yātrā: obedience to injunctions and confession/forgiveness (kṣamā-yācñā) as practical means to reduce karmic bondage.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva ethic that spiritual progress begins with humility—acknowledging one’s fault (aparādha) and sincerely seeking forgiveness, which purifies the heart and restores dharmic alignment.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual but inner transformation; repentance and seeking pardon remove inner impurities that obstruct devotion to Saguna Shiva and the grace that leads toward realization.
A practical takeaway is aparādha-kṣamā-prārthanā—confession and a forgiveness-prayer before worship, followed by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a resolve to avoid repeating the fault.