विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्
Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu
अस्यानन्दवनं नाम पुराकारि पिनाकिना । क्षेत्रस्यानंदहेतुत्वादविमुक्तमनंतरम्
asyānandavanaṃ nāma purākāri pinākinā | kṣetrasyānaṃdahetutvādavimuktamanaṃtaram
This sacred grove was formerly fashioned by Pinākī—Lord Śiva, bearer of the bow Pināka—and therefore is called Ānandavana. And because this holy field becomes the very cause of spiritual bliss, from time without beginning it is also known as Avimukta, “never abandoned (by Śiva)”.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Pinākin
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Śiva (Pinākī) is said to have fashioned the grove called Ānandavana; because it causes ānanda and is never abandoned, it is also known as Avimukta—establishing Kāśī’s sanctity as divinely founded.
Significance: Pilgrimage to Ānandavana/Avimukta is praised for producing spiritual bliss and culminating in liberation through Śiva’s abiding presence.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
It declares the kṣetra as Ānandavana because it generates ānanda (spiritual bliss) and as Avimukta because Śiva never abandons it—signifying a place where liberation-oriented grace and remembrance of Śiva are especially accessible.
By naming the kṣetra through Śiva’s act and presence, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship: devotees approach Śiva as personally present in a holy field, commonly honored through Liṅga-pūjā, mantra, and pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused Liṅga-darśana/arcana is implied as a direct way to align with the kṣetra’s ānanda-producing power and Śiva’s unforsaking presence.