Shloka 24
Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)
तत्र प्राप्य स विप्रेशः प्राग्ययौ मणिकर्णिकाम् । तत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन दृष्ट्वा विश्वेश्वरम्प्रभुम्
tatra prāpya sa vipreśaḥ prāgyayau maṇikarṇikām | tatra snātvā vidhānena dṛṣṭvā viśveśvaramprabhum
Having reached that place, the revered brāhmaṇa proceeded eastward to Maṇikarṇikā. There, after bathing according to the prescribed rites, he beheld the Lord Viśveśvara—Śiva, the radiant Master of all.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The verse situates the pilgrim at Maṇikarṇikā—Kāśī’s paramount cremation/ghāṭ tīrtha—where ritual bath precedes Viśveśvara-darśana. In Kāśī lore, Maṇikarṇikā is a mokṣa-kṣetra focal point, tied to Śiva’s liberating presence and the crossing beyond saṃsāra.
Significance: Snāna at Maṇikarṇikā followed by Viśvanātha-darśana is held to accelerate purification and orient the soul toward liberation through Śiva’s grace.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva path where purification through tīrtha-snāna and direct darśana of Śiva (Viśveśvara) becomes a means to inner cleansing and grace, aligning the seeker with Pati (Śiva) as the liberating Lord.
By emphasizing “beholding Viśveśvara,” it points to Saguna Śiva worship through sacred presence and darśana—commonly expressed in the tradition as linga-darśana at Kashi, where devotion and reverent seeing are themselves acts of worship.
Perform tīrtha-snāna “according to injunctions” (vidhāna), then approach Śiva for darśana with a focused mind—often accompanied in Shaiva practice by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple offerings done with bhakti.