Shloka 4
ओंकार-परमेश-लिङ्गकथा — The Narrative of the Oṃkāra Parameśa Liṅga
Gokarṇa–Vindhya Episode
सूत उवाच । ओंकारे परमेशाख्यं लिंगमासीद्यथा द्विजाः । तथा वक्ष्यामि वः प्रीत्या श्रूयतां परमर्षयः । कस्मिंश्चित्समये चाञ नारदो भगवान्मुनिः । गोकर्णाख्यं शिवं गत्वा सिषेवे परभक्तिमान्
sūta uvāca | oṃkāre parameśākhyaṃ liṃgamāsīdyathā dvijāḥ | tathā vakṣyāmi vaḥ prītyā śrūyatāṃ paramarṣayaḥ | kasmiṃścitsamaye cāña nārado bhagavānmuniḥ | gokarṇākhyaṃ śivaṃ gatvā siṣeve parabhaktimān
Sūta said: “O twice-born ones, just as the Liṅga known as Parameśvara manifested in Oṃkāra, so shall I lovingly narrate it to you—listen, O great sages. At a certain time, the venerable sage Nārada, endowed with supreme devotion, went to Śiva at Gokarṇa and worshipped Him.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: Sūta introduces how the liṅga called Parameśa manifested at Oṃkāra and begins the narrative frame: Nārada, endowed with supreme devotion, goes to Gokarṇa and worships Śiva—setting up a chain of transmission leading to the Oṃkāra jyotirliṅga account.
Significance: Links tīrtha-to-tīrtha devotion: a paradigmatic bhakta (Nārada) seeks Śiva’s presence and worships, modeling śraddhā and bhakti as the means by which Śiva’s grace becomes accessible.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It frames the Omkāra Liṅga as a manifestation of Parameśvara and highlights bhakti—exemplified by Nārada—as the right approach to receive the sacred narrative and its liberating import.
By naming the Liṅga ‘Parameśa’ and locating it in Omkāra, the verse presents the Liṅga as Saguna-accessible form through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord with reverence and devotion.
Pilgrimage and devoted worship (sevā) of Śiva at a holy kṣetra are implied; meditative remembrance of Oṃ (Omkāra) alongside Liṅga-pūjā aligns with Shaiva practice, supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).