Shloka 18
ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग-तदुपलिङ्ग-माहात्म्यवर्णनम्
Narration of the Greatness of the Jyotirliṅga and Associated Liṅgas
पृथिब्यां यानि लिंगानि तेषां संख्या न विद्यते । तथापि च प्रधानानि कथ्यते च मया द्विजाः
pṛthibyāṃ yāni liṃgāni teṣāṃ saṃkhyā na vidyate | tathāpi ca pradhānāni kathyate ca mayā dvijāḥ
ഹേ ദ്വിജന്മാരേ, ഭൂമിയിൽ ഉള്ള ലിംഗങ്ങളുടെ എണ്ണം എണ്ണിത്തീരാനാവില്ല. എങ്കിലും അവയിൽ പ്രധാനമായവയെ ഞാൻ നിങ്ങളോട് പറയുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Introduces the doctrine of innumerable terrestrial liṅgas (liṅga-bāhulya) while preparing to single out the ‘pradhāna’ set—setting the narrative frame for the Jyotirliṅgas as paradigmatic manifestations.
Significance: Affirms that Śiva’s presence is widespread (countless liṅgas), yet certain sites are ‘chief’ for concentrated merit and accessibility of grace through hearing and pilgrimage.
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva’s presence as the Liṅga is immeasurable and pervasive, yet compassionately made accessible through certain “chief” manifestations that devotees can approach through faith, pilgrimage, and worship.
Although Śiva is ultimately beyond limitation, the Liṅga is a sacred, worshipable form (saguṇa-upāsanā support) through which devotees focus devotion and receive grace; the text then highlights principal Liṅgas—classically understood as Jyotirliṅgas.
Undertake Liṅga pūjā with abhiṣeka (water, milk, etc.) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, where possible, perform tīrtha-yātrā to the principal Liṅga shrines with a disciplined, devotional mind.