Shloka 23

ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग-तदुपलिङ्ग-माहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Jyotirliṅga and Associated Liṅgas

Devanagari script

वैद्यनाथं चिताभूमौ नागेशं दारुकावने । सेतुबंधे च रामेशं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये

Transliteration

vaidyanāthaṃ citābhūmau nāgeśaṃ dārukāvane | setubaṃdhe ca rāmeśaṃ ghuśmeśaṃ ca śivālaye

Translation

Vaidyanātha is manifest on the cremation-ground; Nāgeśa is in the Dārukā forest; Rāmeśa is at Setubandha; and Ghuśmeśa is in the sacred abode, Śivālaya.

Word by Word

• वैद्यनाथम्: Vaidyanatha
• वैद्यनाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘वैद्यस्य नाथः’ (Lord of physicians)

• चिताभूमौ: on the cremation ground
• चिताभूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘चितायाः भूमौ’ (on the cremation-ground)

• नागेशम्: Nagesha
• नागेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘नागानाम् ईशः’ (Lord of serpents)

• दारुकावने: in the Daruka forest
• दारुकावने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारुका (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘दारुकायाः वने’ (in Daruka forest)

• सेतुबंधे: at Setubandha
• सेतुबंधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (locative place-name)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रामेशम्: Ramesha (Rameshvara)
• रामेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘रामस्य ईशः’ (Lord of Rama)

• घुश्मेशम्: Ghushmesha
• घुश्मेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घुश्म + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (name: Ghuśmeśa)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवालये: in the Shiva-temple/abode
• शिवालये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘शिवस्य आलये’ (in Shiva’s abode/temple)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha

Sthala Purana: Vaidyanātha is remembered as Śiva the divine physician who heals the afflictions of devotees; the cremation-ground setting underscores conquest of fear, impermanence, and pāśa (bondage).

Significance: Sought for healing, removal of suffering, and purification through confronting mortality; supports bhakti and vairāgya.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vaidyanatha
• Nagesha
• Rameshvara
• Ghushmeshvara

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

This verse maps specific Jyotirlinga manifestations of Lord Shiva to their sacred locations, teaching that Shiva’s grace becomes accessible through concrete tirthas where devotion (bhakti) and remembrance (smarana) are intensified, aiding purification and liberation-oriented living.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By naming Jyotirlingas, the verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva graciously taking an approachable form as the Linga—so devotees can perform darshan, archana, and japa, while recognizing the Linga as the luminous sign of the transcendent (Nirguna) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake Jyotirlinga-smaraṇa (contemplative recollection) or pilgrimage with Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and perform simple Linga-upacharas (water, bilva leaves) with a vow of purity and compassion—especially on Mahāśivarātri.