Shloka 56
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
सूत उवाच । इत्यादि बहुमाहात्म्यं काश्यां वै मुनिसत्तमाः । तथा विश्वेश्वरस्यापि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं सताम्
sūta uvāca | ityādi bahumāhātmyaṃ kāśyāṃ vai munisattamāḥ | tathā viśveśvarasyāpi bhuktimuktipradaṃ satām
Sūta said: “Thus, O best of sages, manifold is the greatness found in Kāśī; and likewise, Viśveśvara too bestows upon the virtuous both worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and final liberation (mukti).”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is extolled as the supreme kṣetra where Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha grants both bhukti and mukti; the kṣetra is upheld as Śiva’s own abode where liberation is specially accessible.
Significance: Darśana and worship of Viśvanātha in Kāśī is said to confer prosperity and, for the virtuous devotee, final release (mukti), classically linked with the saving ‘tāraka’ grace at death in Kāśī.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It declares Kāśī as a supreme Shaiva kṣetra and presents Viśveśvara as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who grants both dharmic worldly fulfillment (bhukti) and ultimate release from bondage (mukti) to sincere devotees.
Viśveśvara is worshiped in Kāśī through the Liṅga as Saguna Śiva—an accessible form through which grace is received—yet the fruit culminates in mukti, pointing beyond form to Śiva’s liberating power.
Undertake devotion in Kāśī to Viśveśvara through Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), alongside traditional Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steady bhakti and inner recollection.