Shloka 58

Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)

Devanagari script

शिवयोः कृपया सर्वे विस्तारं बहुधा गताः । तेषां च प्रथमा पूजा महापूजा महात्मनः

Transliteration

śivayoḥ kṛpayā sarve vistāraṃ bahudhā gatāḥ | teṣāṃ ca prathamā pūjā mahāpūjā mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Durch die gnadenvolle Barmherzigkeit Śivas und Gaurīs, der göttlichen Gefährtin, wurden all diese heiligen Erscheinungsformen auf vielerlei Weise weithin begründet. Unter ihnen ist die vornehmste Verehrung die Große Pūjā (Mahāpūjā) jenes großherzigen Herrn.

Word by Word

• śivayoḥ: of the two Śivas / of Śiva and (his consort)
• śivayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (Genitive/Locative Dual)

• kṛpayā: by (their) grace
• kṛpayā: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vistāram: expansion
• vistāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bahudhā: in many ways
• bahudhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• gatāḥ: attained/went to
• gatāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘have gone/attained’

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• prathamā: first
• prathamā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); agreeing with pūjā

• pūjā: worship
• pūjā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• mahā-pūjā: great worship
• mahā-pūjā: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः ‘great (is) worship’

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled one
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General purāṇic framing: the many manifestations/establishments of Śiva-worship (liṅga, mūrti, kṣetra, vrata, pūjā-vidhi) are said to spread in the world through the compassionate grace (kṛpā/anugraha) of Śiva together with His Consort; among all rites, Mahāpūjā is declared foremost.

Significance: Establishes hierarchy of worship: prioritizing Śiva’s principal pūjā is taught as the most efficacious entry-point to auspiciousness and spiritual fruition (śiva-anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that the spread and accessibility of Shiva’s sacred forms and worship arise from divine grace (anugraha). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it is Pati’s compassion—along with Shakti—that makes the path of devotion and liberation practicable for bound souls (paśu).

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

In the Kotirudra context (Jyotirlinga-centered pilgrimage and worship), “expansion in many ways” points to Shiva’s saguna accessibility through consecrated forms such as the Linga. The verse ranks the Lord’s worship as supreme, supporting Linga-puja as a primary, grace-bestowing means to approach the transcendent (nirguna) Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to prioritize Mahāpūjā—formal, wholehearted Shiva worship—supported by core Shaiva observances: chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water/bilva to the Linga, and maintaining purity with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to devotion and remembrance.