Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana
The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva
मघवान्कौशिको गोमान्विरामः सर्वसाधनः । ललाटाक्षो विश्वदेहः सारः संसारचक्रभृत्
maghavānkauśiko gomānvirāmaḥ sarvasādhanaḥ | lalāṭākṣo viśvadehaḥ sāraḥ saṃsāracakrabhṛt
ಅವನೇ ಮಘವಾನ್, ಪರಾಕ್ರಮಶಾಲಿ ಪ್ರಭು; ಕೌಶಿಕ; ಗೋಸಂಪತ್ತು-ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯದಿಂದ ಸಮೃದ್ಧ; ಸಮಸ್ತ ಕಲಹಗಳ ವಿರಾಮ ಮತ್ತು ಸರ್ವಸಾಧನಸ್ವರೂಪನು. ಅವನು ಲಲಾಟನೇತ್ರಧಾರಿ, ವಿಶ್ವದೇಹ, ಪರಮ ಸಾರತತ್ತ್ವ, ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸಾರಚಕ್ರದ ಧಾರಕ-ನಿಯಂತಾ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Naṭarāja
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
Cosmic Event: Implicit: governance of saṃsāra-cakra and its cessation (virāma) hints at pralaya/dissolution as a cosmic function.
The verse praises Shiva as both immanent and transcendent: He pervades the cosmos as viśva-deha (the universe-bodied Lord) and yet stands as sāra, the essential Reality who grants virāma—cessation of bondage and agitation—leading the soul toward liberation from saṃsāra.
By naming Shiva as lalāṭākṣa and viśva-deha, the verse supports Saguna contemplation—worshipping the Linga as the tangible focus of the cosmic Lord—while implying the Nirguna truth as sāra (the essence) behind all forms. Linga worship thus becomes a direct means (sarva-sādhana) to realize the Supreme.
Meditate on Shiva as Trinetra (lalāṭākṣa) at the ājñā-cakra while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of virāma—detachment and the ending of worldly agitation—seeking freedom from the saṃsāra-cakra.