Shloka 17

उत्तरदिग्देशस्थ-शिवलीङ्गमाहात्म्य

Māhātmya of Northern-Region Śiva-liṅgas

Devanagari script

देवप्रयागतीर्थे तु ललितेश्वरनामकम् । शिवलिंगं सदा पूज्यं नरैस्सर्वाघनाशनम्

Transliteration

devaprayāgatīrthe tu laliteśvaranāmakam | śivaliṃgaṃ sadā pūjyaṃ naraissarvāghanāśanam

Translation

At the sacred ford of Devaprayāga there is a Śiva-liṅga known as Laliteśvara. It should always be worshipped by people, for it destroys all sin.

Word by Word

• देवप्रयागतीर्थे: at the Devaprayāga tīrtha
• देवप्रयागतीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवप्रयाग + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: देवप्रयागस्य तीर्थम्)

• तु: indeed, and
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• ललितेश्वरनामकम्: named ‘Laliteśvara’
• ललितेश्वरनामकम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललितेश्वर + नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ललितेश्वर-नाम)

• शिवलिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• पूज्यम्: to be worshipped
• पूज्यम्: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be worshipped’

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्तृ/करण-निर्देश (agent in passive sense)

• सर्वाघनाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वाघनाशनम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + अघ + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभावः: सर्वाणि अघानि नाशयति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: At Devaprayāga, a confluence-tīrtha, the liṅga named Laliteśvara is praised as perpetually worthy of worship, with the specific fruit of sarvāgha-nāśana (destruction of all sins).

Significance: Confluence worship plus liṅga-arcana: bathing and worship at Devaprayāga is framed as comprehensive purification, supporting both worldly dharma and spiritual progress.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Laliteśvara
• Devaprayāga

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that worship of Śiva in the form of the liṅga at a sanctified tīrtha (Devaprayāga) purifies the devotee and removes accumulated pāpa (sin), supporting the Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis on grace received through devotion and right worship.

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

It highlights Saguna worship: the liṅga is the accessible, consecrated form through which devotees offer pūjā. By honoring Laliteśvara-liṅga, one approaches Śiva’s presence in a tangible ritual form, which becomes a means for inner purification and spiritual uplift.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular liṅga-pūjā—offer water, bilva leaves, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a prayer for purification; such steady, daily worship is the implied practice.