Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5
योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)
महाकालश्च शूली च डंडी मुण्डीश एव च । सविष्णुस्सोमशर्मा च लकुलीश्वर एव च
mahākālaśca śūlī ca ḍaṃḍī muṇḍīśa eva ca | saviṣṇussomaśarmā ca lakulīśvara eva ca
Er ist Mahākāla; Er ist der Träger des Dreizacks; Er ist der Träger des Stabes; Er ist Muṇḍīśa. Er ist auch Saviṣṇu, Somaśarmā und Lakulīśvara.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Mahākāla is celebrated as the Lord of Time who grants liberation; Ujjayinī’s Mahākāleśvara is famed as a svayaṃbhū liṅga where Śiva is worshiped as the sovereign of kāla, protecting devotees from untimely death and fear.
Significance: Darśana of Mahākāleśvara is sought for kāla-bhaya-nivṛtti, protection, and mokṣa-oriented grace; strong association with pradoṣa and śivarātri observances.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Offering: dhupa
Cosmic Event: kāla-tattva emphasis (Mahākāla as lord of time)
FAQs
This verse is a nāma-stuti (praise through names) declaring Shiva’s many sacred epithets—Mahākāla, Śūlī, Lakulīśvara—showing that the one Pati (Lord) appears in diverse forms to bless devotees and cut the bonds (pāśa) leading toward moksha.
By listing Shiva’s manifest titles and forms, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees approach the one Shiva through particular aspects (Mahākāla, Trident-bearer, ascetic-teacher Lakulīśvara), which are all understood as expressions of the same Supreme worshipped in the Linga.
A practical takeaway is nāma-japa: recite and contemplate these names of Shiva with devotion—ideally alongside Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive Shaiva disciplines.