Shloka 21

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

प्रणवे चैव चोंकारनामासील्लिंगमुत्तमम् । परमेश्वरनामासीत्पार्थिवश्च मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

praṇave caiva coṃkāranāmāsīlliṃgamuttamam | parameśvaranāmāsītpārthivaśca munīśvara

Translation

O lord among sages, in the sacred Praṇava—‘Oṃ’—the supreme Liṅga was present, bearing the very name Oṃkāra; and the earthly (manifest) form was known as Parameśvara.

Word by Word

• प्रणवे: in/with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis/only)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ओंकार-नामा: named ‘Oṃkāra’
• ओंकार-नामा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ओंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘यस्य नाम ओंकारः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga, emblem
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: supreme, excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परमेश्वर-नामा: named ‘Parameśvara’
• परमेश्वर-नामा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘यस्य नाम परमेश्वरः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पार्थिवः: the earthly (liṅga) / Pārthiva (name)
• पार्थिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It identifies the Praṇava (Oṃ) as the supreme indicator (Liṅga) of Śiva—pointing to the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality—while also affirming Śiva’s approachable lordship as Parameśvara in manifest form for devotion and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It links Liṅga worship to two complementary levels: Oṃkāra as the subtle, formless sign of Śiva, and Parameśvara as the worshipful, manifest Lord—showing that saguna upāsanā leads the devotee toward nirguṇa realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and contemplation of Oṃ (Praṇava) alongside Śiva-mantra practice (such as the Panchākṣarī, ‘Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya’) while worshipping the Liṅga as Parameśvara—uniting inner meditation with outer pūjā.