Shloka 50
अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
महाकालेश्वरो नाम शिवः ख्यातश्च भूतले । तं दृष्ट्वा न भवेत्स्वप्ने किंचिद्दुःखमपि द्विजाः
mahākāleśvaro nāma śivaḥ khyātaśca bhūtale | taṃ dṛṣṭvā na bhavetsvapne kiṃcidduḥkhamapi dvijāḥ
On earth, Śiva is renowned by the name Mahākāleśvara. O twice-born ones, having beheld Him, not even in a dream does the slightest sorrow arise.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
FAQs
It proclaims the phala (spiritual fruit) of Mahākāleśvara-darśana: Shiva’s grace dissolves the inner causes of duḥkha so thoroughly that even dream-born sorrow is said not to arise, indicating deep pacification of karmic agitation and fear of time/death.
Mahākāleśvara is worshipped as the Jyotirlinga—Saguna Shiva accessible to devotees through form and rite; seeing the Linga with devotion is treated as direct encounter with Pati (the Lord) whose presence loosens pāśa (bondage) and steadies the pashu (individual soul).
Perform Linga-darśana with bhakti, offer water and bilva, and mentally repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Shiva as Mahākāla (Lord of Time) to transform fear and sorrow into serenity.