Shloka 25
Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)
अविमुक्तेश्वरं लिंगं काश्यां तिष्ठति सर्वदा । मुक्तिदातृ च लोकानां महापातकिनामपि
avimukteśvaraṃ liṃgaṃ kāśyāṃ tiṣṭhati sarvadā | muktidātṛ ca lokānāṃ mahāpātakināmapi
അവിമുക്തേശ്വര ലിംഗം കാശിയിൽ എപ്പോഴും നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; അത് ലോകങ്ങൾക്ക്, മഹാപാതകികൾക്കുപോലും, മോക്ഷം നൽകുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī (Avimukta-kṣetra) is portrayed as the never-abandoned seat of Śiva; Avimukteśvara/Viśveśvara abides there perpetually and grants mokṣa even to grievous sinners through His kṣetra-anugraha and the salvific power of death in Kāśī.
Significance: Darśana and worship of the Kāśī-liṅga is said to confer liberation; the verse stresses exceptional salvific efficacy (mokṣa) overriding even mahāpātaka burden when coupled with Śiva’s grace in the kṣetra.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It declares Kāśī as a supremely liberating Śaiva kṣetra where Avimukteśvara Śiva remains ever-present, granting mokṣa by His grace even to those weighed down by severe karmic faults.
Avimukteśvara is Saguna Śiva approached through the Liṅga; the verse teaches that devotion and surrender to Śiva in this manifest form becomes a direct means for purification and liberation.
Liṅga-pūjā at Kāśī with Śiva-mantra japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed with bhakti and repentance, is implied as a practical path toward inner purification and mokṣa.