Shloka 2
महाकालज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्ये चन्द्रसेन-चिन्तामणि-प्रसङ्गः
Mahākāla Jyotirliṅga Māhātmya: The Episode of King Candrasena and the Cintāmaṇi
सूत उवाच । शृणुतादरतो विप्रो भक्तरक्षाविधायिनः । महाकालस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यं भक्तिवर्द्धनम्
sūta uvāca | śṛṇutādarato vipro bhaktarakṣāvidhāyinaḥ | mahākālasya liṃgasya māhātmyaṃ bhaktivarddhanam
Sūta said: “O Brahmin sages, listen with reverence to the glory of Mahākāla’s Liṅga—He who ordains the protection of devotees—(a narration) that increases devotion.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Sūta introduces the Mahākāla-liṅga māhātmya specifically as ‘bhakta-rakṣā-vidhāyin’—the one who effects devotees’ protection—highlighting the kṣetra’s guardian grace.
Significance: Listening with reverence is itself bhakti-sādhana; the narrative is said to ‘increase devotion’ and assure divine protection to the surrendered devotee.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It announces that Mahākāla’s Liṅga is a refuge for devotees and that hearing its māhātmya is itself a bhakti-sādhana that strengthens devotion and trust in Shiva as Pati (the protecting Lord).
By praising the Liṅga’s māhātmya, the verse directs the mind toward Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the transcendent Lord through the sacred emblem that grants protection and grace to bhaktas.
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) with ādarā is emphasized; practically, one may listen/recite the Mahākāla Liṅga māhātmya and worship the Liṅga with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) in a devotion-first spirit.