Shloka 33
एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva
परिवर्ते त्रयोविंशे तृणबिन्दुर्यदा मुनिः । श्वेतो नाम तदाहं वै गिरौ कालंजरे शुभे
parivarte trayoviṃśe tṛṇabinduryadā muniḥ | śveto nāma tadāhaṃ vai girau kālaṃjare śubhe
In the twenty-third cycle of time, when the sage Tṛṇabindu appeared, I indeed manifested then as Śveta upon the auspicious mountain Kālañjara.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadashiva
Sthala Purana: Śiva states that in the 23rd parivarta, during the era of sage Tṛṇabindu, He manifested as ‘Śveta’ on the sacred Kālañjara mountain—an archetypal ‘self-manifest’ (svayaṃ-prādurbhāva) mountain-theophany rather than a named Jyotirliṅga episode.
Significance: Darśana of the mountain-manifest Śiva associated with purity (‘Śveta’) and merit accrued by visiting ancient sthānas of Rudra’s prādurbhāva.
Cosmic Event: Explicit parivarta count (23rd cycle) marking cyclical cosmology
FAQs
It affirms that the one Pati (Śiva) freely assumes saguna forms across cosmic cycles to bless beings; His manifestation as “Śveta” marks a sacred descent linked to time (parivarta) and place (Kālañjara) for the uplift of devotees.
By naming a specific form (Śveta) and a specific sacred locale (Kālañjara), the verse supports saguna-upāsanā—approaching the transcendent Śiva through tangible manifestations, holy kṣetras, and (by extension) Linga worship established in such sanctified places.
A practical takeaway is kṣetra-smaraṇa and dhyāna: meditate on Śiva as “Śveta” and honor sacred places of Śiva with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), alongside simple Śiva-pūjā (water offering and reverent remembrance).