Shloka 135

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

मध्यमेश्वरसंज्ञं च तथा पाशुपतेश्वरम् शङ्कुकर्णेश्वरं चैव गोकर्णौ च तथा ह्युभौ

Transliteration

madhyameśvarasaṃjñaṃ ca tathā pāśupateśvaram śaṅkukarṇeśvaraṃ caiva gokarṇau ca tathā hyubhau

Translation

Er ist auch bekannt als Madhyameśvara und als Pāśupateśvara—Herr der gebundenen Paśu-Seelen. Er wird verehrt als Śaṅkukarṇeśvara und ebenso als die beiden Gokarṇa, indem er in diesen heiligen Gestalten zum Heil und zur Befreiung der Bhaktas erscheint.

Word by Word

• मध्यमेश्वरसंज्ञम्: known by the name Madhyameśvara

• च: and

• तथा: likewise

• पाशुपतेश्वरम्: Pāśupateśvara, the Lord (Īśvara) of the paśus (souls)

• शङ्कुकर्णेश्वरम्: Śaṅkukarṇeśvara (a named form/linga of Śiva)

• च एव: and indeed

• गोकर्णौ: the two (sites/forms) called Gokarṇa

• च: and

• तथा: likewise

• हि: indeed

• उभौ: both (two).

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

This verse lists specific, named Shiva-linga manifestations (Madhyameśvara, Pāśupateśvara, Śaṅkukarṇeśvara, and Gokarṇa), emphasizing that worship of the Linga in consecrated tirthas is a direct means to approach Pati (Śiva) for grace and purification.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By naming Śiva as Pāśupateśvara, it frames Shiva-tattva as Pati—the sovereign Lord of paśus (individual souls) who removes pāśa (bondage). The plurality of names indicates one Supreme Īśvara accessible through many sacred forms without compromising non-duality of lordship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The focus is tirtha-based Linga-pūjā—pilgrimage, darśana, and worship of established lingas. Implicitly, the Pāśupata orientation is devotion and discipline aimed at loosening pāśa through Śiva’s grace rather than mere external rite.