Shloka 1

महाकालज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्ये चन्द्रसेन-चिन्तामणि-प्रसङ्गः

Mahākāla Jyotirliṅga Māhātmya: The Episode of King Candrasena and the Cintāmaṇi

Devanagari script

ऋषय ऊचुः । महाकालसमाह्वस्थज्योतिर्लिंगस्य रक्षिणः । भक्तानां महिमानं च पुनर्ब्रूहि महामते

Transliteration

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | mahākālasamāhvasthajyotirliṃgasya rakṣiṇaḥ | bhaktānāṃ mahimānaṃ ca punarbrūhi mahāmate

Translation

The sages said: “O great-minded one, please tell again the glory of the devotees, and also of the protecting power associated with the Jyotirliṅga renowned as Mahākāla.”

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• महाकालसमाह्वस्थज्योतिःलिङ्गस्य: of the Jyotirliṅga situated at Mahākāla’s invocation/place
• महाकालसमाह्वस्थज्योतिःलिङ्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल-समाह्व-स्थ-ज्योतिः-लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (महाकालसमाह्वे स्थं ज्योतिःलिङ्गम्)

• रक्षिणः: of the protector
• रक्षिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘रक्षिन्’ (protector)

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• महिमानम्: glory
• महिमानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• ब्रूहि: tell (us)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् मतिः यस्य)

Speaker

The sages of Naimisharanya (ṛṣis) addressing Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: The sages explicitly identify Mahākāla as a Jyotirliṅga and ask about its ‘rakṣiṇ’—the protecting power/agency by which the kṣetra safeguards devotees—along with devotees’ glory.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage as entering a protected sacred field (kṣetra-rakṣā) where bhakti is guarded and intensified; emphasizes the devotee-community’s mahimā.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahakala
• Jyotirlinga

FAQs

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

This verse frames the Kotirudra Samhita’s Jyotirliṅga teaching: the sages seek to hear how Shiva’s luminous presence as Mahākāla protects and uplifts devotees, emphasizing bhakti as a direct means to grace and spiritual safety.

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

By naming the Mahākāla Jyotirliṅga, the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching the Nirguna Absolute through a sanctified form (the Liṅga of Light) where devotees experience Shiva’s protective, accessible presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implicitly encourages Jyotirliṅga-bhakti: reverent remembrance and worship of Mahākāla—commonly expressed through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), Liṅga-archana, and steady devotional contemplation of Shiva as the protector.