Varaha-Pradurbhava Context: Prahlada’s Bhakti, Narasimha’s Ugra-Form, and Shiva’s Sharabha Intervention
कालाय कालरूपाय नमः कालाङ्गहारिणे मीढुष्टमाय देवाय शितिकण्ठाय ते नमः
kālāya kālarūpāya namaḥ kālāṅgahāriṇe mīḍhuṣṭamāya devāya śitikaṇṭhāya te namaḥ
ಕಾಲನೇ ಆಗಿರುವವನೆ, ಕಾಲರೂಪನಾಗಿರುವವನೆ, ಕಾಲದ ಅಂಗಗಳನ್ನು ಹರಿ ಲಯಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಭುವಿಗೆ ನಮಃ। ಪರಮ ಮಂಗಳಕರ ದೇವ, ಶಿತಿಕಂಠ (ನೀಲಕಂಠ) ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ।
Suta Goswami (narrating a hymn within the Linga Purana’s Shaiva praise tradition)
It frames the Liṅga as the sign of Pati (Śiva) who rules Time and also transcends it; worship thus aims at release of the paśu from pāśa (time-bound limitation) through devotion and mantra.
Śiva is presented as Kāla (the cosmic regulator) and also as the one who can withdraw Kāla’s power at dissolution—indicating the Siddhānta view of Pati as both immanent governor and transcendent liberator.
Japa of Śiva-nāmas (especially Kāla/Mahākāla and Śitikaṇṭha) during Liṅga-pūjā, supporting Pāśupata-oriented contemplation that the self (paśu) is bound by time and freed by Pati’s grace.