Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa
Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis
श्रीविद्येशः षोडशाह्वः श्रीर्विद्या षोडशी शिवा । चतुर्थो भक्त सुखदो भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदः
śrīvidyeśaḥ ṣoḍaśāhvaḥ śrīrvidyā ṣoḍaśī śivā | caturtho bhakta sukhado bhuktimuktiphalapradaḥ
‘ಶ್ರೀವಿದ್ಯೇಶ’ ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಭು ‘ಷೋಡಶ’ ಎಂದೂ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧನು; ಅವನೇ ಶ್ರೀವಿದ್ಯೆ, ಷೋಡಶೀ ಶಕ್ತಿ, ಮಂಗಳಮಯಿ ಶಿವಾ. ಅವನು ನಾಲ್ಕನೆಯ ರೂಪ—ಭಕ್ತಸুখದ, ಭುಕ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಕ್ತಿಯ ಫಲಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುವವನು.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Lalitā
Role: liberating
It presents Shiva as Śrīvidyeśa, inseparable from Śrīvidyā-Śakti, showing that true devotion to Shiva grants both right-being in the world (bhukti) and the supreme end of liberation (mukti).
By naming a specific form—Śrīvidyeśa—this verse supports Saguna upāsanā: devotees approach Shiva through a definite name and power (Śrīvidyā/Ṣoḍaśī), which can be worshipped through the Liṅga as the accessible embodiment of Pati united with Śakti.
Bhakti-centered japa and pūjā to Shiva with awareness of Śakti—such as steady Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Liṅga worship—aimed at both dharmic well-being and inner release.