Shloka 1
Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)
सूत उवाच । यथाभवल्लिंगरूपः संपूज्यस्त्रिभवे शिवः । तथोक्तं वा द्विजाः प्रीत्या किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छथ
sūta uvāca | yathābhavalliṃgarūpaḥ saṃpūjyastribhave śivaḥ | tathoktaṃ vā dvijāḥ prītyā kimanyacchrotumicchatha
Sūta berkata: “Sebagaimana Śiva yang berwujud liṅga patut dipuja dengan tata cara yang benar di tiga alam, demikianlah telah dijelaskan. Wahai para dvija, dengan kasih, apa lagi yang ingin kalian dengar?”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Sthala Purana: Introductory transition: Sūta states he has explained how Śiva as Liṅga is worshipped across the three worlds; sets up subsequent liṅga-māhātmya (including named liṅgas).
Significance: Affirms universality of liṅga-upāsanā (trailokya-vyāpti), encouraging pilgrimage and home worship alike.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse affirms the Liṅga as Śiva’s universally accessible manifestation—worthy of complete worship in all three worlds—highlighting bhakti as a direct means to grace and liberation in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.
It frames the Liṅga as Śiva’s worshippable form (saguṇa-upāsanā support), through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord; the Liṅga becomes the focal symbol for reverence, ritual, and contemplation.
The takeaway is wholehearted Liṅga-pūjā—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—performed with prīti (loving devotion) as the essential inner discipline.