Shloka 157

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

कोटीश्वरं महातीर्थं रुद्रकोटिगणैः पुरा सेवितं देवि पश्याद्य सर्वस्मादधिकं शुभम्

Transliteration

koṭīśvaraṃ mahātīrthaṃ rudrakoṭigaṇaiḥ purā sevitaṃ devi paśyādya sarvasmādadhikaṃ śubham

Translation

Wahai Dewi, pandanglah hari ini Koṭīśvara, mahātīrtha yang dahulu dipuja oleh berjuta-juta Rudra beserta para gaṇa. Tempat ini paling suci dan melampaui semua tirtha lainnya.

Word by Word

• कोटीश्वरम् (koṭīśvaram): Koṭīśvara, ‘Lord of crores’ (a form/linga of Śiva)

• महातीर्थम् (mahātīrtham): great tīrtha, supreme pilgrimage-place

• रुद्र-कोटि-गणैः (rudra-koṭi-gaṇaiḥ): by crores of Rudras/Śiva’s hosts

• पुरा (purā): formerly, in ancient times

• सेवितम् (sevitam): revered, worshipped, frequented

• देवि (devi): O Goddess (Pārvatī/Umā)

• पश्य (paśya): behold, see

• अद्य (adya): today, now

• सर्वस्मात् (sarvasmāt): than all (others)

• अधिकम् (adhikam): greater, superior

• शुभम् (śubham): auspicious, beneficent.

Speaker

Shiva (addressing Devi/Parvati within the embedded narrative; framed by Suta’s narration to the sages)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi (Parvati/Uma)
• Rudras
• Ganas
• Kotishvara

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It proclaims Koṭīśvara as a supremely auspicious Mahātīrtha sanctified by the worship of innumerable Rudras and gaṇas, establishing the site/linga as exceptionally potent for Śiva-linga sevā and merit (puṇya).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is implied as Pati—the Lord revered even by countless Rudra-manifestations and gaṇas—showing His transcendence and the overflowing auspicious power (śubhatva) that radiates through His linga and tīrtha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tīrtha-sevā (pilgrimage and reverential worship) is emphasized—approaching a Śiva-tīrtha for purification, loosening pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul) through devotion and sacred contact.