Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16
अर्धनारीश्वरप्रादुर्भावः
Manifestation of Ardhanārīśvara and the Impulse for Procreative Creation
ब्रह्मोवाच । जय देव महादेव जयेश्वर महेश्वर । जय सर्वगुण श्रेष्ठ जय सर्वसुराधिप
brahmovāca | jaya deva mahādeva jayeśvara maheśvara | jaya sarvaguṇa śreṣṭha jaya sarvasurādhipa
Brahmā sprach: „Sieg Dir, o Gott—Mahādeva! Sieg Dir, o Herr—Maheśvara! Sieg Dir, dem Besten unter allen Vollkommenheiten; Sieg Dir, dem erhabenen Herrscher über alle Götter!“
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: A formal jaya-stuti to Śiva as Maheśvara and ruler of devas; such epithets commonly appear in Jyotirliṅga māhātmyas when gods seek Śiva’s intervention, but here it is not tied to a specific shrine narrative.
Significance: Supports the devotional stance that even the highest devas acknowledge Śiva’s supremacy; pilgrims emulate Brahmā’s ‘jaya’ acclamation as part of darśana and kīrtana.
Mantra: जय देव महादेव जयेश्वर महेश्वर । जय सर्वगुण श्रेष्ठ जय सर्वसुराधिप
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It is a jaya-stuti where Brahmā acknowledges Śiva as Mahādeva and Maheśvara—the supreme Pati—affirming that all divine powers and excellences culminate in Him, inspiring surrender and devotion.
By praising Śiva with personal epithets (Mahādeva, Maheśvara), the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Supreme through name, form, and glory, as commonly done in Liṅga-pūjā and stotra recitation.
Devotional japa of praise—repeating “jaya mahādeva, jaya maheśvara”—can be joined with Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during worship, especially on Mahāśivarātri or daily Śiva-pūjā.