Shloka 14

उत्तरदिग्देशस्थ-शिवलीङ्गमाहात्म्य

Māhātmya of Northern-Region Śiva-liṅgas

Devanagari script

नैमिषारण्यतीर्थे तु निखिलर्षिप्रतिष्ठितम् । ऋषीश्वरमिति ख्यातं शिवलिंगं सुखप्रदम्

Transliteration

naimiṣāraṇyatīrthe tu nikhilarṣipratiṣṭhitam | ṛṣīśvaramiti khyātaṃ śivaliṃgaṃ sukhapradam

Translation

Au tīrtha sacré de Naimiṣāraṇya se trouve un Śiva-liṅga établi par l’ensemble des sages. Il est renommé Ṛṣīśvara et dispense bien-être et bonheur.

Word by Word

• नैमिषारण्यतीर्थे: at the Naimiṣāraṇya sacred ford
• नैमिषारण्यतीर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष-अरण्य-तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—नैमिषारण्यस्य तीर्थम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• निखिलर्षिप्रतिष्ठितम्: established by all sages
• निखिलर्षिप्रतिष्ठितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल-ऋषि-प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; √स्था/स्थाप् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; समासः—निखिलैः ऋषिभिः प्रतिष्ठितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• ऋषीश्वरम्: (named) ‘Lord of sages’
• ऋषीश्वरम्: Samjna/Predicate (संज्ञा/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—ऋषीणाम् ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: known/called
• ख्यातम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• शिवलिङ्गम्: the Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य लिङ्गम् / शिवं लिङ्गम् (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थसम्भव)

• सुखप्रदम्: bestowing happiness
• सुखप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—सुखं प्रददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: At Naimiṣāraṇya-tīrtha, the sages collectively establish (pratiṣṭhita) a Śiva-liṅga named Ṛṣīśvara (‘Lord of the ṛṣis’), emphasizing communal consecration and the kṣetra’s sanctity.

Significance: Darśana and worship at Ṛṣīśvara in Naimiṣāraṇya is praised as sukha-prada (bestowing welfare), aligning tīrtha merit with Śiva’s gracious presence in a consecrated liṅga.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sages (Rishis)
• Naimisharanya

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Linga as Saguna Shiva—an accessible divine form through which devotees receive śiva-anugraha (Shiva’s grace). A Linga consecrated by realized sages signifies purified intention and collective tapas, making the tirtha a potent field for auspiciousness and inner peace.

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

It explicitly names a particular Shiva-Linga (Ṛṣīśvara) and affirms its fruit—sukha and well-being—showing that reverent Linga worship at a sanctified place is a direct means to receive Shiva’s blessings, supporting devotion (bhakti) and gradual liberation-oriented living.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tirtha-yatra with Linga-pūjā: offer water (abhisheka), bilva leaves, and repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm, surrendered mind, seeking Shiva’s grace for auspiciousness and steadiness.