Shloka 115

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

बलिनाथस्य संस्थानं तत्र पूर्णामृतप्रदम् । चतुर्थं मंडपं पश्चाच्चंद्र शेखरमूर्तिमत्

Transliteration

balināthasya saṃsthānaṃ tatra pūrṇāmṛtapradam | caturthaṃ maṃḍapaṃ paścāccaṃdra śekharamūrtimat

Translation

There stands the sacred seat of Balinātha, bestowing the fullness of divine amṛta (immortal grace). Beyond it is the fourth maṇḍapa, endowed with the form of Chandrashekhara—Śiva who bears the moon upon His crest.

Word by Word

• बलिनाथस्य: of Balinātha
• बलिनाथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular (bali + nātha)

• संस्थानम्: abode/arrangement/structure
• संस्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पूर्ण-अमृत-प्रदम्: bestowing complete nectar
• पूर्ण-अमृत-प्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjective agreeing with saṃsthānam/maṇḍapam; (amṛtaṃ pradāti iti)

• चतुर्थम्: fourth
• चतुर्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Ordinal adjective agreeing with maṇḍapam

• मण्डपम्: pavilion/mandapa
• मण्डपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (adverb: afterwards)

• चन्द्र-शेखर-मूर्तिमत्: having the form of Candraśekhara (moon-crested)
• चन्द्र-शेखर-मूर्तिमत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: यस्य मूर्तिः चन्द्रशेखरः सा/तत्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: A shrine-seat of ‘Balinātha’ is said to bestow ‘pūrṇāmṛta’ (full nectar), followed by a maṇḍapa bearing Candrasekhara’s icon—linking Kāśī’s sacred landscape to Śiva’s grace as immortality-bestowing and to his lunar emblem of soma-like coolness.

Significance: Promises ‘amṛta’ as a theological shorthand for anugraha: release from bondage (pāśa) and the taste of immortality (mokṣa/śivānubhava) through proximity to Viśveśvara and his attendant shrines.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Chandrashekhara)
• Balinatha

FAQs

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

It praises a sacred shrine-space where Śiva’s grace is experienced as “amṛta” (immortalizing spiritual nectar), indicating that proximity to Śiva’s abode and remembrance of His form supports purification and liberation-oriented devotion.

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

The verse highlights Saguna worship through an explicit iconic form—Chandrashekhara—showing that Śiva compassionately becomes approachable through form and sacred place, while still pointing devotees toward the immortal essence (amṛta) that the Linga ultimately signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mandapa-parikrama and dhyāna on Chandrashekhara—mentally fixing on Śiva with the moon-crested icon—while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering water and bilva leaves as simple shrine worship.