Shloka 7
Nāgeśa-jyotirliṅga-prādurbhāvaḥ — The Manifestation of the Nāgeśa Jyotirliṅga
तत्र स्थित्वा तदा सोपि सर्वेषां च भयं ददौ । दारुको राक्षसः पत्न्या तया दारुकया सह
tatra sthitvā tadā sopi sarveṣāṃ ca bhayaṃ dadau | dāruko rākṣasaḥ patnyā tayā dārukayā saha
Staying there, he too then spread fear among everyone—Daruka the rākṣasa—together with his wife, that Darukā.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara
Sthala Purana: Daruka establishes a reign of fear in Darukavana; this ‘bhaya’ motif is central to Nāgeśvara’s sthala-purāṇa where Śiva’s appearance ends the terror and grants fearlessness (abhaya) and protection to devotees.
Significance: Removal of fear (abhaya-pradāna), victory over hostile forces, and assurance of Śiva’s guardianship in times of oppression.
Mantra: ॐ नमः शिवाय
Type: panchakshara
FAQs
The verse marks the rise of adharma—Daruka and Darukā generating fear—setting the stage for Shiva’s role as Pati (the Lord) who restores dharma and protects beings from pasha-like bondage such as terror and oppression.
In Kotirudra narratives, the spread of fear by demonic forces becomes the cause for Shiva’s saguna intervention, which is often memorialized through a Jyotirlinga/linga manifestation where devotees seek refuge and grace.
As a practical takeaway, devotees counter fear with Shiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supported by śuddhi practices like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and steady bhakti for inner protection.