ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
हेम्ना चैव मणिर्भाति मणिना हेम चैव हि । एवं च समये तस्य यज्जातं श्रूयतामिति
hemnā caiva maṇirbhāti maṇinā hema caiva hi | evaṃ ca samaye tasya yajjātaṃ śrūyatāmiti
Wie ein Edelstein durch Gold erstrahlt und Gold wiederum durch den Edelstein, so auch—gerade zu jener Zeit—höret, was sich in dieser Angelegenheit zutrug.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it functions as an upamā (simile) introducing the narrative—mutual illumination like Śiva-Śakti interdependence in manifestation.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
It highlights mutual illumination—like gold and a jewel—pointing to how divine grace (Shiva’s shakti) and receptive devotion (the listener’s shraddha) together make sacred truth shine; it also emphasizes śravaṇa (listening) as a primary doorway for bhakti and inner purification.
The verse functions as a narrative bridge: by inviting attentive listening, it prepares the mind for the forthcoming Jyotirlinga/Linga-centered account, where Saguna Shiva becomes experientially ‘radiant’ for the devotee through story, remembrance, and pilgrimage-oriented devotion.
Śravaṇa of Shiva-kathā with focused attention—ideally preceded by simple purity observances (like applying Tripuṇḍra/bhasma and mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’)—so the teaching is received as sādhana, not mere information.