Shloka 3

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

तिलभाण्डेश्वरश्चैव दशाश्वमेध एव च । गंगा सागरसंयोगे संगमेश इति स्मृतः

Transliteration

tilabhāṇḍeśvaraścaiva daśāśvamedha eva ca | gaṃgā sāgarasaṃyoge saṃgameśa iti smṛtaḥ

Translation

また彼は、ティラバーンデーシュヴァラ（Tilabhāṇḍeśvara）およびダシャーシュヴァメーダ（Daśāśvamedha）としても名高い。ガンガーが大海と合流する聖なる合流点において、彼はサンガメーシャ（Saṅgameśa）—聖なる会合の主—として憶念される。

Word by Word

• तिलभाण्डेश्वरः: Tilabhāṇḍeśvara
• तिलभाण्डेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलभाण्ड + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तिलभाण्डस्य ईश्वरः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed)

• दशाश्वमेधः: Daśāśvamedha (name)
• दशाश्वमेधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (दश अश्वमेधाः यस्य/दशाश्वमेधः—नाम)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• गंगा: Gaṅgā
• गंगा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सागरसंयोगे: at the confluence with the ocean
• सागरसंयोगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सागरस्य संयोगः)

• संगमेशः: Saṅgameśa (Lord of the confluence)
• संगमेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संगमस्य ईशः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थ-निर्देशक (thus, as)

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is remembered/called’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a tīrtha-liṅga name-map: Śiva is remembered by specific epithets (Tilabhāṇḍeśvara, Daśāśvamedha, Saṅgameśa) at the Gaṅgā–ocean confluence, emphasizing place-based access to Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Darśana at the Gaṅgā-sāgara-saṅgama is held to amplify tīrtha merit; worship of Saṅgameśa integrates snāna (purification) with liṅga-darśana for pāśa-kṣaya (loosening bondage) through Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga
• Sagara (Ocean)

FAQs

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

The verse identifies Śiva as the presiding Lord of a powerful tīrtha—the Gaṅgā–sāgara confluence—teaching that sacred geography becomes spiritually transformative when recognized as Śiva’s presence (Liṅga) and approached with devotion.

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

By listing specific names (Tilabhāṇḍeśvara, Saṅgameśa), the text points to Saguna Śiva worship through the Liṅga—Śiva graciously accessible in a consecrated form and place, where devotees can offer pūjā, japa, and receive merit leading toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform tīrtha-snān at the confluence, then worship the Liṅga as Saṅgameśa with bilva leaves, water/gaṅgā-jala, and Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), ideally while wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma).