Shloka 1
Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)
सूत उवाच । अतःपरं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामृषिसत्तमाः । विश्वेश्वरस्य माहात्म्यं महापातकनाशनम्
sūta uvāca | ataḥparaṃ pravakṣyāmi śrūyatāmṛṣisattamāḥ | viśveśvarasya māhātmyaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam
Sūta said: “Next, O best of sages, listen. I shall now declare the sacred greatness of Viśveśvara (Lord Śiva as the Lord of the universe), a glory that destroys even the gravest sins.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The narrative frame introduces the māhātmya of Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha of Kāśī, whose mere remembrance, darśana, and worship are proclaimed to destroy even mahāpātakas; Kāśī is upheld as Śiva’s own kṣetra where liberation is specially granted.
Significance: Śiva-kṣetra par excellence: hearing/reciting the māhātmya, darśana of the liṅga, and kṣetra-sevā are said to burn grave sins and orient the paśu toward anugraha (liberating grace).
Type: stotra
FAQs
It frames Viśveśvara’s māhātmya as a purifying revelation: sincere listening (śravaṇa) to Śiva’s glory is presented as a direct means to cleanse even heavy karmic burdens and turn the mind toward liberation under Pati (Śiva).
In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā, Viśveśvara is approached as Saguna Śiva—worshipped in sacred places and especially through the Jyotirliṅga tradition—where hearing and praising His māhātmya supports devotion and right orientation for liṅga-upāsanā.
The implied practice is śravaṇa and kīrtana of Śiva-kathā—attentive hearing/recitation of Viśveśvara māhātmya—often paired in Shaiva practice with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and pilgrimage intention toward Jyotirliṅga worship.