Shloka 52

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

घुश्मेश्वरावतारस्तु द्वादशश्शंकरस्य हि । नानालीलाकरो घुश्मानन्ददो भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

ghuśmeśvarāvatārastu dvādaśaśśaṃkarasya hi | nānālīlākaro ghuśmānandado bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

Ghuśmeśvara is indeed the twelfth manifestation of Śaṅkara. Performing many divine līlās, he bestows joy upon Ghuśmā and is ever tenderly devoted to his devotees.

Word by Word

• घुश्मेश्वरावतारः: the incarnation of Ghuśmeśvara
• घुश्मेश्वरावतारः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घुश्मेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (घुश्मेश्वरस्य अवतारः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ = but/indeed

• द्वादशः: the twelfth
• द्वादशः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (the twelfth)

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle), कारण/निश्चयार्थ = for/indeed

• नाना: various
• नाना: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (विशेषणार्थ indeclinable) = various

• लीलाकरः: performer of divine plays
• लीलाकरः: कर्ता (Karta/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लीलायाः करः = doer/maker of sports); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• घुश्मानन्ददः: giver of joy to Ghuśmā
• घुश्मानन्ददः: कर्ता (Karta/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घुश्मा (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (घुश्मायै/घुश्मायाः आनन्दं ददाति = giver of joy to Ghuśmā); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: कर्ता (Karta/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भक्तेषु वत्सलः = affectionate to devotees); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Ghṛṣṇeśvara

Sthala Purana: Ghuśmā (also rendered Ghṛṣṇā) is a devoted Śiva-bhakta who regularly worships by making and offering liṅgas. Through trials and steadfast devotion, Śiva manifests as Ghuśmeśvara/Ghṛṣṇeśvara, restoring dharma and granting joy to Ghuśmā, becoming the twelfth Jyotirliṅga.

Significance: Darśana is famed for bhakta-vātsalya: protection of devotees, restoration after suffering, and bestowal of auspiciousness and liberation-oriented merit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Ghushmeshvara
• Ghushma

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s Saguna compassion: as Ghuśmeśvara, Śaṅkara manifests to protect and uplift devotees, showing that steadfast bhakti draws divine grace and transforms suffering into spiritual joy.

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

By naming Ghuśmeśvara as a distinct manifestation of Śiva, the verse supports Linga-upāsanā as worship of Saguna Śiva—accessible, responsive, and present through sacred forms such as the Jyotirlinga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice devoted Linga worship with bhakti—offer water, bilva leaves, and repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating the attitude of surrender to the Bhaktavatsala Lord.