Shloka 36
अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
अथ यावत्स दुष्टात्मा हन्तुमैच्छद्द्विजांश्च तान् । तावच्च प्रार्थिवस्थाने गर्त्तं आसीत्सशब्दकः
atha yāvatsa duṣṭātmā hantumaicchaddvijāṃśca tān | tāvacca prārthivasthāne garttaṃ āsītsaśabdakaḥ
അപ്പോൾ ആ ദുഷ്ടാത്മാവ് ആ ദ്വിജന്മാരെ കൊല്ലാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച അതേ നിമിഷം, ഭൂമിസ്ഥലത്ത് ഭീകരശബ്ദത്തോടെ മുഴങ്ങുന്ന ഒരു കുഴി പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: A sudden chasm opens in the earth at the moment of impending violence—an omen of Time (Kāla) breaking into the mundane plane; this ‘earth-opening’ motif aligns with Mahākāla’s emergence as the guardian of dharma.
Significance: Signals Śiva’s immediate intervention when dharma is threatened; pilgrims seek deliverance from sudden calamity and fear, trusting Mahākāla’s timely appearance.
Cosmic Event: A sudden irruption of the chthonic/underworld axis (earth fissure) marking the threshold for a divine epiphany.
FAQs
It shows that when adharma rises—especially violence against dvijas and devotees—divine order intervenes; Shiva’s governance (Pati) protects dharma and restrains destructive intent, reminding the soul that harmful karma is swiftly countered.
Though the Linga is not named in this single verse, the Kotirudra Samhita’s Jyotirlinga context emphasizes Saguna Shiva as the active protector: the Lord’s grace manifests tangibly in the world to preserve devotion, pilgrimage, and dharmic continuity.
The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): remember Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintain purity through Shaiva conduct (bhasma/tripundra and devotion), trusting that dharma-aligned prayer is protected.