Shloka 24
वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
कालश्च कालकश्चैव महाकालस्तथैव च । कोटीनां शतकेनैव दक्षयज्ञं ययौ प्रति
kālaśca kālakaścaiva mahākālastathaiva ca | koṭīnāṃ śatakenaiva dakṣayajñaṃ yayau prati
Kāla, Kālaka, and Mahākāla as well—Rudra’s terrific attendants—along with a hundred koṭis, set forth toward Dakṣa’s sacrifice. Their march signifies Śiva’s irresistible governance over time and cosmic order, moving through the Gaṇas to restore dharma when divine dignity is violated.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Mahākāla as the Lord of Time who grants liberation from fear of death; in Purāṇic memory, the Ujjayinī liṅga is famed as a self-manifesting presence where Śiva reigns as Kāla’s master.
Significance: Darśana/abhisheka is held to loosen the grip of kāla (time/death) and pāśa (bondage), strengthening vairāgya and devotion; famed for early-morning worship traditions.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It highlights that when adharma arises through ego and disrespect toward Śiva, the divine power that governs time and consequence (Kāla/Mahākāla) moves through Rudra’s hosts to restore cosmic balance.
Mahākāla points to Saguna Śiva as the Lord who rules time and dissolution; devotion to the Liṅga trains the devotee to revere that supreme authority, avoiding Dakṣa-like pride and cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati).
Meditate on Śiva as Mahākāla while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, if following Purāṇic practice, wear Rudrākṣa and apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders of time’s impermanence and Śiva’s supremacy.