Shloka 23
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
ब्रह्मापि तद्वचः श्रुत्वा विस्मयं परमं ययौ । शिवमायां सुप्रशस्य श्रावयंस्तानुवाच ह
brahmāpi tadvacaḥ śrutvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ yayau | śivamāyāṃ supraśasya śrāvayaṃstānuvāca ha
Als Brahmā jene Worte vernahm, wurde auch er von höchstem Staunen erfüllt. Die wunderbare Māyā Śivas preisend, wandte er sich darauf an sie und ließ sie aufmerksam lauschen.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; the verse foregrounds ‘Śiva-māyā’—Śiva’s sovereign power that astonishes even Brahmā—setting a doctrinal tone for later resolution.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva’s māyā cultivates humility and reliance on grace; recognizes that cosmic administrators operate within Śiva’s overarching śakti.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Recognition of Śiva’s māyā as the governing principle behind extraordinary events affecting devas and worlds.
FAQs
It highlights that even Brahmā becomes awestruck before Śiva’s supreme power (Śiva-māyā), pointing to Śiva as Pati—the transcendent Lord whose reality surpasses ordinary comprehension and invites reverent listening (śravaṇa) and devotion.
By praising Śiva’s māyā, the verse supports Saguna devotion: the Lord’s manifesting power makes His accessible forms—such as the Jyotirliṅga—possible, so devotees can approach the transcendent through sacred, worship-worthy manifestations.
The immediate takeaway is śravaṇa and mananā—listening attentively to Śiva-kathā with reverence; in practice, this pairs well with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before or after Liṅga-pūjā.