Shloka 14

उत्तरदिग्देशस्थ-शिवलीङ्गमाहात्म्य

Māhātmya of Northern-Region Śiva-liṅgas

Devanagari script

नैमिषारण्यतीर्थे तु निखिलर्षिप्रतिष्ठितम् । ऋषीश्वरमिति ख्यातं शिवलिंगं सुखप्रदम्

Transliteration

naimiṣāraṇyatīrthe tu nikhilarṣipratiṣṭhitam | ṛṣīśvaramiti khyātaṃ śivaliṃgaṃ sukhapradam

Translation

Am heiligen tīrtha von Naimiṣāraṇya befindet sich ein Śiva‑Liṅga, von allen Rishis errichtet. Er ist als Ṛṣīśvara bekannt und schenkt Wohlergehen und Glück.

Word by Word

• नैमिषारण्यतीर्थे: at the Naimiṣāraṇya sacred ford
• नैमिषारण्यतीर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष-अरण्य-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—नैमिषारण्यस्य तीर्थम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• निखिलर्षिप्रतिष्ठितम्: established by all sages
• निखिलर्षिप्रतिष्ठितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल-ऋषि-प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; √स्था/स्थाप् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; समासः—निखिलैः ऋषिभिः प्रतिष्ठितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• ऋषीश्वरम्: (named) ‘Lord of sages’
• ऋषीश्वरम्: Samjna/Predicate (संज्ञा/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—ऋषीणाम् ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: known/called
• ख्यातम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• शिवलिङ्गम्: the Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य लिङ्गम् / शिवं लिङ्गम् (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थसम्भव)

• सुखप्रदम्: bestowing happiness
• सुखप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—सुखं प्रददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: At Naimiṣāraṇya-tīrtha, the sages collectively establish (pratiṣṭhita) a Śiva-liṅga named Ṛṣīśvara (‘Lord of the ṛṣis’), emphasizing communal consecration and the kṣetra’s sanctity.

Significance: Darśana and worship at Ṛṣīśvara in Naimiṣāraṇya is praised as sukha-prada (bestowing welfare), aligning tīrtha merit with Śiva’s gracious presence in a consecrated liṅga.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sages (Rishis)
• Naimisharanya

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse presents the Linga as Saguna Shiva—an accessible divine form through which devotees receive śiva-anugraha (Shiva’s grace). A Linga consecrated by realized sages signifies purified intention and collective tapas, making the tirtha a potent field for auspiciousness and inner peace.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It explicitly names a particular Shiva-Linga (Ṛṣīśvara) and affirms its fruit—sukha and well-being—showing that reverent Linga worship at a sanctified place is a direct means to receive Shiva’s blessings, supporting devotion (bhakti) and gradual liberation-oriented living.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tirtha-yatra with Linga-pūjā: offer water (abhisheka), bilva leaves, and repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm, surrendered mind, seeking Shiva’s grace for auspiciousness and steadiness.