Shloka 55

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

तत्प्रार्थितस्स वै शम्भुस्तडागे तत्र कामदाः । ज्योतिर्लिंग स्वरूपेण तस्थौ घुश्मेश्वराभिधः

Transliteration

tatprārthitassa vai śambhustaḍāge tatra kāmadāḥ | jyotirliṃga svarūpeṇa tasthau ghuśmeśvarābhidhaḥ

Translation

Thus entreated, Śambhu indeed remained there at that lotus-pond which grants desired boons, manifesting as a Jyotirliṅga, renowned by the name Ghuśmeśvara.

Word by Word

• तत्: by her/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धार्थ (contextual; here as compound-member ‘by her/that’)

• प्रार्थितः: requested
• प्रार्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रार्थित (प्र√अर्थ्/प्रार्थ् धातु-क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त ‘having been requested’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तडागे: in the pond
• तडागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कामदाः: wish-granting
• कामदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (epithet)

• ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग: Jyotirliṅga
• ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/रूपनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्योतिषः लिङ्गम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual; as form-specifier) एकवचन

• स्वरूपेण: in the form of
• स्वरूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तस्थौ: stood/abided
• तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• घुश्मेश्वराभिधः: named Ghuśmeśvara
• घुश्मेश्वराभिधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घुश्मा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (घुश्मायाः ईश्वरः) + ‘अभिध’ = ‘नाम’ अर्थे; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Ghṛṣṇeśvara

Sthala Purana: Upon Ghuśmā’s supplication, Śambhu abides at the boon-giving pond as a Jyotirliṅga, taking the kṣetra-name ‘Ghuśmeśvara/Ghṛṣṇeśvara’ and making the site a permanent locus of grace.

Significance: Darśana and worship of the Jyotirliṅga at this taḍāga-kṣetra grants iṣṭa-kāma (desired boons) and supports the path from bhukti to mukti.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Ghushmeshvara
• Jyotirlinga

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere prayer (bhakti) draws Śiva’s grace, and that the Lord reveals Himself as Jyoti—divine, liberating presence—while still being approachable through a manifest form (liṅga) for the devotee’s upliftment.

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

Śiva’s Jyotirliṅga form unites transcendence (light beyond attributes) with worshipful accessibility (a sanctified liṅga). Devotees can honor the formless Lord through a sacred, established emblem where His grace is especially present.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Jyotirliṅga worship with steady devotion—abhisheka (water/milk), bilva offerings, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Śiva as inner light (jyoti) while offering to the liṅga.