Shloka 33
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
प्रभासके शुभे क्षेत्रे व्रजेश्चन्द्रस्सदैवतैः । शिवमाराधयेत्तत्र मृत्युञ्जयविधानतः
prabhāsake śubhe kṣetre vrajeścandrassadaivataiḥ | śivamārādhayettatra mṛtyuñjayavidhānataḥ
In the auspicious holy field of Prabhāsa, King Candra (the Moon), together with the gods, went there and worshipped Lord Śiva according to the prescribed rite of Mṛtyuñjaya—He who conquers death.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Soma (Candra), afflicted by decline/curse, comes with the devas to Prabhāsa and worships Śiva as Mṛtyuñjaya; Śiva grants restoration and freedom from the death-like wasting, establishing the Somnātha liṅga’s fame.
Significance: Worship at Prabhāsa–Somnātha is famed for relief from afflictions, longevity, and renewal (especially Soma-related decline), culminating in Śiva’s grace.
Type: mahamrityunjaya
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It presents Prabhāsa as a sanctifying kṣetra where even cosmic beings like Candra approach Śiva; worship of Mṛtyuñjaya underscores Śiva as Pati (the liberating Lord) who removes the fear and bondage of death and grants grace.
In Kotirudrasaṃhitā, Śiva is approached through sacred places and prescribed worship; Mṛtyuñjaya is a Saguna aspect of Śiva commonly adored through liṅga-pūjā, where devotion and right observance become the means to receive Śiva’s protective and liberating power.
It points to following the Mṛtyuñjaya-vidhi—classically centered on Mṛtyuñjaya mantra-japa with Śiva-pūjā at a holy kṣetra (often with offerings like water and bilva), undertaken for protection, healing, and transcendence of death-fear.