Shloka 4
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
सोमनाथश्च तेषां वै प्रथमः परिकीर्तितः । तन्माहात्म्यं शृणु मुने प्रथमं सावधानतः
somanāthaśca teṣāṃ vai prathamaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | tanmāhātmyaṃ śṛṇu mune prathamaṃ sāvadhānataḥ
Among those Jyotirliṅgas, Somanātha is indeed proclaimed as the first. Therefore, O sage, listen attentively first to the sacred greatness of Somanātha.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, introducing the Jyotirlinga sequence)
Tattva Level: pati
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Somanātha is introduced as first among Jyotirliṅgas; its māhātmya is traditionally tied to Soma (Candra) seeking relief from Dakṣa’s curse and attaining restoration through Śiva’s grace at Prabhāsa.
Significance: Śiva’s anugraha: relief from afflictions, restoration of vitality and auspiciousness; merit of darśana and tīrtha-snāna at Prabhāsa.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It establishes Somanātha as the first among the Jyotirlingas and invites focused listening to its māhātmya, implying that attentive śravaṇa (hearing) of Shiva’s glory is itself a purifying, devotion-awakening practice leading toward Shiva’s grace.
By naming Somanātha as the first Jyotirlinga, the verse points to Saguna Shiva’s compassionate self-manifestation as the Linga, a tangible focus for bhakti and pilgrimage through which devotees approach the Supreme (Pati) and receive upliftment.
The immediate practice is sāvadhāna-śravaṇa—reverent, concentrated hearing of the Jyotirlinga māhātmya; this is commonly paired in Shaiva practice with Linga-darśana, japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and simple offerings (water, bilva leaves) with devotion.