Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 38
Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana
The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva
संवत्सरकरो मंत्रः प्रत्ययः सर्वतापनः । अजः सर्वेश्वरस्सिद्धो महातेजा महाबलः
saṃvatsarakaro maṃtraḥ pratyayaḥ sarvatāpanaḥ | ajaḥ sarveśvarassiddho mahātejā mahābalaḥ
هو المانترا التي تُتمّ دورةَ السنة؛ وهو سندُ الثقة، والذي يُحرقُ جميعَ الآلام. غيرُ مولود، ربُّ الكلّ، كاملٌ على الدوام—ذو بهاءٍ عظيم وقوّةٍ كبرى.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: No direct jyotirliṅga reference; the verse highlights Śiva as ‘mantra’ and ‘sarvatāpana’—the one whose revelation and grace burn afflictions, a generalized salvific theme.
Significance: Frames mantra as Śiva Himself; pilgrimage benefit is internal purification—tāpa (kleśa) is ‘burned’ by reliance (pratyaya) on Pati.
Mantra: संवत्सरकरो मंत्रः प्रत्ययः सर्वतापनः । अजः सर्वेश्वरस्सिद्धो महातेजा महाबलः
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Cyclic time (saṃvatsara) is presented as effected/regulated by the Lord, implying sovereignty over cosmic order.
FAQs
It praises Shiva as the unfailing refuge (pratyaya) and the inner mantra-power that burns karmic and mental afflictions, affirming Him as the unborn, ever-perfect Supreme (Pati) who grants liberation.
Though Shiva is aja (unborn) and beyond limitation, devotees approach Him through Saguna worship—especially the Linga—where mantra-japa and faith (pratyaya) become the practical means to experience His purifying, suffering-destroying grace.
Practice steady mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) with firm trust, contemplating Shiva as sarvatāpana (burner of all suffering); this aligns well with Linga-puja, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) devotion, and Rudraksha-supported meditation.