अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
सूत उवाच । इति धैर्यं समास्थाय समर्चां पार्थिवस्य च । कृत्वा ते च द्विजाः सम्यक्स्थिता ध्यानपरायणाः । दृष्टा दैत्येन तावच्च ते विप्रास्सबलेन हि
sūta uvāca | iti dhairyaṃ samāsthāya samarcāṃ pārthivasya ca | kṛtvā te ca dvijāḥ samyaksthitā dhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | dṛṣṭā daityena tāvacca te viprāssabalena hi
Sūta sprach: „So fassten sie Mut, vollzogen ordnungsgemäß die Verehrung der irdischen (pārthiva) Gestalt, und jene zweimal Geborenen, die Brahmanen, standen fest gegründet, ganz der Meditation hingegeben. Doch in eben diesem Augenblick wurden diese Vipras vom Daitya erblickt, der mit seinem Heer heranzog.“
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Sthala Purana: Pārthiva-liṅga worship episode: brāhmaṇas fashion and worship an earthen liṅga as immediate śaraṇāgati-prayoga; Śiva’s grace is invoked amid asuric threat.
Significance: Models the efficacy of pārthiva-liṅga pūjā and dhyāna under संकट: steadiness and worship invite Śiva’s protective anugraha.
Offering: pushpa
It highlights steadiness (dhairya) and single-pointed meditation after proper worship—showing that Shaiva practice is not merely ritual, but culminates in dhyāna, even when adversity approaches.
The “pārthiva” worship indicates a tangible, saguna mode of approaching Shiva through an earthen Liṅga; after the external offering, the devotees stabilize inwardly in contemplation, uniting pūjā with inner realization.
It suggests completing Parthiva Liṅga pūjā and then remaining “dhyāna-parāyaṇa”—sitting steadily for meditation, maintaining courage and focus despite distractions or threats.