Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 50
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
प्रसन्नश्च स देवानां क्षेत्रमाहात्म्यहेतवे । चन्द्रस्य यशसे तत्र नाम्ना चन्द्रस्य शंकरः
prasannaśca sa devānāṃ kṣetramāhātmyahetave | candrasya yaśase tatra nāmnā candrasya śaṃkaraḥ
ദേവന്മാരിൽ പ്രസന്നനായി, ആ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന്റെ മഹിമ പ്രസിദ്ധമാക്കുവാൻ ശങ്കരൻ അവിടെ ചന്ദ്രന്റെ യശസ്സിനായി വസിച്ചു; അവിടെ “ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ” എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനായി.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Śiva, pleased (prasanna) with the Devas, abides there to proclaim the kṣetra’s māhātmya; for Candra’s fame He becomes known as Candraśekhara—linking the site’s sanctity with the Moon’s devotion and restoration.
Significance: Kṣetra-māhātmya: the Lord’s ‘abiding’ makes the place a conduit of grace; pilgrims seek prasāda, purification, and relief from suffering.
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva, the Pati (Supreme Lord), compassionately reveals the sanctity of a kṣetra so that beings gain faith, perform worship there, and move toward purification and liberation.
Śiva accepts a knowable name and presence (Candraśekhara) to bless devotees; this supports Saguna worship—approaching the transcendent Nirguṇa Lord through a manifest form and sacred site.
Kṣetra-yātrā with Śiva-bhakti: worship Śiva as Candraśekhara with the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with traditional offerings and reverent remembrance of the kṣetra’s māhātmya.