Shloka 20
अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”
शुष्कान्वृक्षान्समालोक्य दिशो रूक्षतरास्तथा । उवाच तामृषिश्रेष्ठो न जातं वर्षणं पुनः
śuṣkānvṛkṣānsamālokya diśo rūkṣatarāstathā | uvāca tāmṛṣiśreṣṭho na jātaṃ varṣaṇaṃ punaḥ
Seeing the trees dried up and the quarters grown even more parched, that best of sages said: “Again, no rainfall has come to pass.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Cosmic Event: withholding of rains (anāvṛṣṭi) as a sign of cosmic imbalance/affliction
FAQs
The verse highlights a world-state of dryness and deprivation, pointing to the need for divine alignment: when dharma and devotion wane, harmony in nature is perceived as disturbed; turning toward Shiva (Pati) is implied as the restoring principle.
In Kotirudra narratives, worldly afflictions often become the setting that leads seekers to the Jyotirlinga—Saguna Shiva as the accessible, compassionate Lord whose presence is invoked for loka-kalyāṇa (welfare of the world).
A practical Shaiva takeaway is to intensify japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Linga-abhiṣeka using water and heartfelt prayer for universal well-being, accompanied by humility and dharmic conduct.