Shloka 3

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

केदारो हिमव त्पृष्टे डाकिन्याम्भीमशंकरः । वाराणस्यां च विश्वेशस्त्र्यम्बको गौतमीतटे

Transliteration

kedāro himava tpṛṣṭe ḍākinyāmbhīmaśaṃkaraḥ | vārāṇasyāṃ ca viśveśastryambako gautamītaṭe

Translation

On the slopes of the Himālaya is Kedāra; in Ḍākinī dwells Bhīmaśaṅkara; in Vārāṇasī is Viśveśa; and on the bank of the Gautamī (Godāvarī) is Tryambaka. Thus the Lord is revered in these sacred abodes through His manifest (saguṇa) forms that bestow grace and liberation upon devotees.

Word by Word

• केदारः: Kedāra (Kedāranātha)
• केदारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• हिमवत्-पृष्ठे: on the back/slopes of Himavat (Himalaya)
• हिमवत्-पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हिमवतः पृष्ठे)

• डाकिन्याम्: in Ḍākinī (place-name)
• डाकिन्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भीमशंकरः: Bhīmaśaṅkara
• भीमशंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमशंकर (प्रातिपदिक; भीम + शंकर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विश्वेशः: Viśveśa (Lord of the universe)
• विश्वेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेश (प्रातिपदिक; विश्व + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• त्र्यम्बकः: Tryambaka (three-eyed one)
• त्र्यम्बकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यम्बक (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + अम्बक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• गौतमी-तटे: on the bank of the Gautamī (river)
• गौतमी-तटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतमी (प्रातिपदिक) + तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गौतमी-नद्याः तटे)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kedara (Kedarnath/Kedaresvara)
• Bhimashankara
• Vishvesha (Kashi Vishwanatha)
• Tryambaka (Tryambakeshvara)
• Himalaya
• Varanasi (Kashi)
• Gautami (Godavari)

FAQs

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

It maps Shiva’s grace into specific tīrthas/kshetras, teaching that the transcendent Pati becomes approachable in saguṇa forms at holy places, where devotion, darśana, and remembrance accelerate purification and moksha.

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

The named forms are worshipped as Shiva in manifest presence, commonly through liṅga-pūjā (abhisheka, bilva offerings, japa), showing that liṅga worship is a direct means to connect with Shiva’s saguṇa compassion while aiming toward nirguṇa realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform liṅgābhisheka with water (or tīrtha-jala), offer bilva leaves, and do japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” especially with rudrākṣa and tripuṇḍra, while contemplating Shiva as Tryambaka/Viśveśa/Kedāra/Bhīmaśaṅkara.