Shloka 37

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः

Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins

Devanagari script

आवाह्य तीर्थवर्याणि सरस्वत्यादिकानि च । पार्थिवेन तदा पूजां मृत्युञ्जयविधानतः

Transliteration

āvāhya tīrthavaryāṇi sarasvatyādikāni ca | pārthivena tadā pūjāṃ mṛtyuñjayavidhānataḥ

Translation

Après avoir invoqué les tīrthas les plus excellents—à commencer par Sarasvatī et les autres—qu’on accomplisse alors le culte avec un liṅga Pārthiva (de terre), selon le rite de Mṛtyuñjaya.

Word by Word

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव — having invoked/called

• तीर्थवर्याणि: excellent sacred fords
• तीर्थवर्याणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative Plural; कर्मधारय: वर्याणि तीर्थाणि

• सरस्वती-आदिकानि: such as Sarasvatī etc.
• सरस्वती-आदिकानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरस्वती + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative Plural; तत्पुरुष: सरस्वती-आदि (beginning with Sarasvatī) + कानि

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पार्थिवेन: by the king/earthly ruler
• पार्थिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental Singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative Singular

• मृत्युञ्जय-विधानतः: according to the Mṛtyuñjaya rite
• मृत्युञ्जय-विधानतः: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृत्युञ्जय + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) — ‘according to/through’ ; तत्पुरुष: मृत्युञ्जयस्य विधानम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse teaches a general Mṛtyuñjaya-vidhi using a temporary earthen liṅga and invoked tīrtha-waters; it is not tied to a single jyotirliṅga narrative but reflects pan-Śaiva ritual technology for grace and protection from untimely death.

Significance: Merit of tīrtha-snāna is ritually ‘brought’ to the worshipper by āvāhana; combined with Mṛtyuñjaya worship it is framed as a mokṣa-and-āyus (longevity) conferring practice.

Mantra Metadata

Type: mahamrityunjaya

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sarasvati
• Mrityunjaya

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s grace is approached through sanctifying the worship-space by invoking tīrthas and then performing disciplined liṅga-pūjā; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this supports purification (śuddhi) and devotion so the soul (paśu) may loosen bonds (pāśa) through the Lord (Pati), here praised as Mṛtyuñjaya.

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

By prescribing worship with a Pārthiva (earthen) liṅga, the verse emphasizes Saguna upāsanā—approaching Shiva through a consecrated form that can receive offerings, mantra, and meditation, while pointing to the formless Lord who is realized through that sacred symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests the Mṛtyuñjaya-vidhi: invoke sacred tīrthas, establish an earthen liṅga, and perform mantra-centered worship—typically aligned with the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra for protection, longevity, and inner conquest of fear and death.