Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्
Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission
कंदुकेश्वरसंज्ञां च तल्लिंगमभवत्तदा । ज्येष्ठेश्वरसमीपे तु सर्वदुष्टनिवारणम्
kaṃdukeśvarasaṃjñāṃ ca talliṃgamabhavattadā | jyeṣṭheśvarasamīpe tu sarvaduṣṭanivāraṇam
En ce temps-là, ce Liṅga fut connu sous le nom de Kaṇḍukeśvara. Établi près de Jyeṣṭheśvara, il devint celui qui écarte et retient toute perversité, accordant protection par la présence manifeste (saguṇa) de Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The liṅga is named Kaṇḍukeśvara and located near Jyeṣṭheśvara in Kāśī; its function is explicitly apotropaic—‘sarvaduṣṭa-nivāraṇa’—a kṣetra-guardian manifestation that restrains wickedness and stabilizes dharma in the sacred city.
Significance: Pilgrims seek protection (rakṣā), removal of pāpa/duṣṭa-prabhāva, and the assurance of Śiva’s saguṇa presence through localized liṅga-darśana within Kāśī’s mandala of shrines.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It proclaims the kṣetra-māhātmya of a specific Śiva-liṅga: by Śiva’s saguṇa presence in the Liṅga, adharmic forces are checked and devotees gain protection and inner purification, supporting the Shaiva aim of moving from impurity toward liberation.
The verse treats the Liṅga as Śiva’s accessible manifestation in a sacred locale; approaching and honoring this form is presented as an effective means to receive Śiva’s grace that restrains evil and restores dharma.
Pilgrimage and Liṅga-pūjā are implied—abhiṣeka with water, offering bilva leaves, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Śiva’s protective presence at the shrine.