Shloka 2
Viṣṇoḥ Sahasranāma-stotreṇa Śiva-prasādaḥ
Vishnu’s Thousand-Name Hymn and Shiva’s Grace
परीक्षार्थं हरेरीशः कमलेषु महेश्वरः । गोपयामास कमलं तदैकं भुवनेश्वरः
parīkṣārthaṃ harerīśaḥ kamaleṣu maheśvaraḥ | gopayāmāsa kamalaṃ tadaikaṃ bhuvaneśvaraḥ
To test Hari (Viṣṇu), the Great Lord—Maheśvara, Lord of the worlds—hid one lotus among the lotuses.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā’s Oṃkāra episode, Viṣṇu undertakes Śiva-pūjā with a thousand lotuses; Śiva tests the devotee by concealing one lotus, leading to Viṣṇu’s supreme offering and Śiva’s epiphany as the Jyotirliṅga.
Significance: Darśana of the Jyotirliṅga grants removal of ego and bondage; the episode models total self-offering and Śiva’s grace to sincere bhakti.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It shows that Īśvara may test even exalted devotees to reveal the completeness of their surrender; true bhakti is proven when the offering is made without ego and with unwavering intent toward Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord).
The narrative frames saguna worship as a living relationship: offerings (like lotuses) are not mere ritual objects but expressions of devotion, and Shiva’s test refines the devotee’s inner sincerity—central to Linga-upāsanā in the Kotirudra context.
Offer flowers with mindful completeness while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating the attitude that nothing is withheld from Śiva—an inner discipline of full surrender (śaraṇāgati).