Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 55
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
रोगास्सर्वे क्षयाद्याश्च ह्यसाध्या ये भवंति वै । ते सर्वे च क्षयं यान्ति षण्मासं स्नानमात्रतः
rogāssarve kṣayādyāśca hyasādhyā ye bhavaṃti vai | te sarve ca kṣayaṃ yānti ṣaṇmāsaṃ snānamātrataḥ
一切疾病——如消耗之症等，乃至被视为不治之疾——确实都将消灭；只要在那圣地持续沐浴六个月即可。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: The kuṇḍa’s snāna is extolled as removing even ‘asādhya’ rogas over sustained practice (ṣaṇmāsa), framing the kṣetra as a locus of Śiva’s healing grace.
Significance: Health and purification as signs of pāśa-kṣaya; sustained observance disciplines the paśu and makes it fit for higher śiva-bhakti.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse teaches that sustained tirtha-snana connected to Shiva is not merely physical hygiene but a karmic purification practice; by Shiva’s grace, deep-seated afflictions—seen as fruits of past bonds (pāśa)—are said to be dissolved through disciplined devotion over time.
In the Kotirudra context, holy bathing is undertaken in relation to Shiva’s manifest presence (Saguna) as Jyotirlinga and tirtha; the act becomes an offering and surrender to the Linga, through which Shiva’s compassionate power is believed to cleanse impurity and suffering.
A sustained vow of regular sacred bathing for six months is implied; it is traditionally paired with Linga-darśana, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and simple vrata-like discipline to align the body, speech, and mind with Shiva-bhakti.