Shloka 34
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
पंचक्रोशं चतुर्दिक्षु क्षेत्रमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् । समंताच्च तथा जंतोर्मृतिकालेऽमृतप्रदम्
paṃcakrośaṃ caturdikṣu kṣetrametatprakīrtitam | samaṃtācca tathā jaṃtormṛtikāle'mṛtapradam
Dieses heilige Gebiet wird gerühmt, sich in den vier Himmelsrichtungen über fünf Krośas zu erstrecken. Und ringsum gewährt es dem Lebewesen zur Stunde des Todes Unsterblichkeit — nämlich Befreiung.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The ‘pañcakrośī’ boundary motif is characteristic of Kāśī: the sacred field measured in a defined circuit is proclaimed to grant amṛtatva (mokṣa) at death to beings within its compass, by Śiva’s salvific agency.
Significance: Pilgrimage-circuit (pañcakrośī-yātrā) sanctifies the body-mind; dying within the kṣetra is held to culminate in release through Śiva’s grace.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that a Shiva-sanctified kṣetra has liberating power: within its sacred boundary, Shiva’s grace can grant amṛtatva—freedom from rebirth—especially for one who departs life there with remembrance and devotion.
Kotirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes Jyotirliṅga-kṣetras where Saguna Shiva is worshiped as the Liṅga; the verse frames the surrounding area itself as charged with Shiva’s presence, making Liṅga-darśana and kṣetra-sevā potent means toward mokṣa.
Pilgrimage and residence/last remembrance in the kṣetra are implied; practically, one should perform Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintain vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa with devotion while in the holy boundary.