Shloka 21

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

नन्देश्वरश्च विज्ञेयो ज्ञानदो लोकपूजितः । नाकेश्वरो महापुण्यस्तथा रामेश्वरः स्मृतः

Transliteration

nandeśvaraśca vijñeyo jñānado lokapūjitaḥ | nākeśvaro mahāpuṇyastathā rāmeśvaraḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Know Nandeśvara as the bestower of spiritual knowledge, worshipped by all the worlds. Nākeśvara is proclaimed supremely meritorious; and Rāmeśvara is likewise remembered (as a sacred form and seat of Śiva).

Word by Word

• नन्देश्वरः: Nandeśvara (Lord of Nanda)
• नन्देश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नन्दस्य ईश्वरः)

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

• विज्ञेयः: to be known (as)
• विज्ञेयः: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (यत्), कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगयोग्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be known/should be known’

• ज्ञानदः: giver of knowledge
• ज्ञानदः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानं ददाति)

• लोकपूजितः: worshipped by the world
• लोकपूजितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-पूजित (प्रातिपदिक; पूज्-धातु से क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकैः पूजितः)

• नाकेश्वरः: Nākeśvara (Lord of heaven)
• नाकेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाक-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाकस्य/स्वर्गस्य ईश्वरः)

• महापुण्यः: greatly meritorious
• महापुण्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā-पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् पुण्यम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• रामेश्वरः: Rāmeśvara (Lord of Rāma)
• रामेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामस्य ईश्वरः)

• स्मृतः: is remembered (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/called’ (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Rāmeśvara

Sthala Purana: Rāmeśvara is remembered as the Liṅga established in connection with Rāma’s worship before crossing to Laṅkā; Śiva grants purification and success, and the site becomes a paradigmatic bridge between bhakti, prāyaścitta, and grace. The verse also names Nandeśvara as jñāna-da (giver of knowledge) and Nākeśvara as mahā-puṇya, indicating multiple sacred seats in the catalogue.

Significance: Rāmeśvara: pāpa-kṣaya and śuddhi through darśana and snāna; also a classic kṣetra for integrating devotion with knowledge (jñāna) and Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It praises specific sacred manifestations/abodes of Śiva as sources of jñāna (liberating knowledge) and puṇya (purifying merit), directing the devotee toward devotion that matures into realization of Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants grace.

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

In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā, Śiva is approached through saguna forms and holy seats—especially Jyotirliṅgas like Rāmeśvara—where liṅga-worship, pilgrimage, and praise become concrete means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace) and inner awakening.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-yātrā and liṅga-pūjā with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” performed with a pure mind for jñāna and puṇya, especially on Mondays and Mahāśivarātri.