Shloka 22

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

विमलेश्वरनामा वै कंटकेश्वर एव च । पूर्णसागरसंयोगे धर्तुकेशस्तथैव च

Transliteration

vimaleśvaranāmā vai kaṃṭakeśvara eva ca | pūrṇasāgarasaṃyoge dhartukeśastathaiva ca

Translation

He is indeed known as Vimaleśvara, and also as Kaṇṭakeśvara. And at the confluence with the Pūrṇa-sāgara (the “full ocean”), he is likewise worshipped as Dhartukeśa.

Word by Word

• विमलेश्वरनामा: named Vimaleśvara
• विमलेश्वरनामा: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल-ईश्वर-नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (विमलेश्वर इति नाम यस्य)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• कंटकेश्वरः: Kaṇṭakeśvara
• कंटकेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कण्टकस्य ईश्वरः)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

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

• पूर्णसागरसंयोगे: at the confluence with the Pūrṇa-sāgara
• पूर्णसागरसंयोगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण-सागर-संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पूर्णस्य सागरस्य संयोगः / पूर्णसागरस्य संयोगः)

• धर्तुकेशः: Dhartukeśa
• धर्तुकेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्तुक-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्तुकस्य ईशः)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A continuation of the catalogue of Liṅga-epithets tied to place and function: Vimaleśvara (stainless/pure), Kaṇṭakeśvara (protector/remover of ‘thorns’—afflictions), and Dhartukeśa at a ‘Pūrṇa-sāgara’ confluence (suggesting a coastal/estuarine sacred geography). The emphasis is on vimalatā (purity) and dhāraṇa (upholding), aligning with Śiva’s sustaining grace in the world.

Significance: Vimaleśvara: inner and outer purification; Kaṇṭakeśvara: removal of obstacles/afflictions; Dhartukeśa: stability and support—interpretable as Śiva’s sthiti function supporting the paśu’s gradual release from pāśa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that the same Supreme Śiva, though one, is lovingly invoked by different Liṅga-names in different sacred locales; the plurality of names points to Saguna worship that leads the devotee toward the one Pati (Lord) who grants purity and liberation.

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

By listing specific Liṅga-epithets (Vimaleśvara, Kaṇṭakeśvara, Dhartukeśa) tied to a tīrtha-confluence, the text frames Śiva’s Saguna accessibility: devotees approach the Liṅga in a particular kṣetra, and through that concrete form receive grace from the formless Reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tīrtha-snānā (holy bathing) at the confluence, offer water and bilva leaves to the Liṅga, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady bhakti, contemplating Śiva as the purifier (Vimala) and sustainer (Dhartṛ).