Shloka 50
भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”
या मे मुक्तिपुरी काशी सर्व्वाभ्योऽहि गरीयसी । आधिपत्यं च तस्यास्ते कालराज सदैव हि
yā me muktipurī kāśī sarvvābhyo'hi garīyasī | ādhipatyaṃ ca tasyāste kālarāja sadaiva hi
O Kālarāja, Lord of Time and Death, Kāśī is My city of liberation, superior to all other sacred places. Over that city, you indeed hold authority—always.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is proclaimed Śiva’s own mokṣa-purī where liberation is assured; even Yama’s jurisdiction is subordinated/regulated by Śiva’s ordinance in the sacred city, establishing Kāśī as the supreme kṣetra for final release.
Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha and death/antyeṣṭi in Kāśī are extolled as leading to mokṣa through Śiva’s special grace (anugraha), overriding ordinary karmic delay.
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Yama’s dharma-śāsana is acknowledged as operative yet framed under Śiva’s higher dispensation in Kāśī
FAQs
The verse declares Kāśī as Shiva’s own mukti-kṣetra—preeminent among holy places—highlighting that liberation is ultimately granted by Shiva’s grace and presence, not merely by geography.
By calling Kāśī “My city of liberation,” Shiva points to Saguna Shiva’s accessible grace through sacred space and worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where the devotee’s bond with Pati (Shiva) overcomes pāśa (bondage).
A practical takeaway is to perform Shiva-bhakti in Kāśī (or mentally in one’s heart as Kāśī), centering on japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supportive Shaiva disciplines.