Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 8
अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”
सूत उवाच । इत्युक्ते च तया तत्र मुनिपत्न्या मुनीश्वराः । सरिद्वरा दिव्यरूपा गंगा वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
sūta uvāca | ityukte ca tayā tatra munipatnyā munīśvarāḥ | saridvarā divyarūpā gaṃgā vākyamathābravīt
苏多说道：当那位牟尼之妻在彼处如此说完，诸位最胜仙人啊，恒河女神——诸河之最上、具天妙之形——便开口说道。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It marks a sacred narrative turning point: after a devotee-woman’s statement, Gaṅgā—revered as a divine purifier—begins to speak, indicating that dharma and grace can be voiced through holy beings who serve Śiva’s salvific order.
Within the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā’s Jyotirliṅga framework, Gaṅgā’s divine speech supports Saguna Śiva devotion by emphasizing sacred geography and consecrated presences that guide devotees toward liṅga-worship and pilgrimage-based purification.
A practical takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) to purāṇic discourse and tīrtha-smaraṇa (contemplation of holy rivers like Gaṅgā) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as preparatory purification for liṅga-darśana.