Shloka 33
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
अत्र लिंगान्यनेकानि भक्तैस्संस्थापितानि हि । सर्वकामप्रदानीह मोक्षदानि च पार्वति
atra liṃgānyanekāni bhaktaissaṃsthāpitāni hi | sarvakāmapradānīha mokṣadāni ca pārvati
ഹേ പാർവതി! ഇവിടെ ഭക്തന്മാർ അനേകം ശിവലിംഗങ്ങൾ പ്രതിഷ്ഠിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഈ സ്ഥലത്തുതന്നെ അവ സർവ്വകാമങ്ങളും നല്കി മോക്ഷവും പ്രസാദിക്കുന്നു.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Sthala Purana: The verse describes a kṣetra filled with many devotee-installed liṅgas that grant both bhoga (kāma-siddhi) and apavarga (mokṣa), a common tīrtha-mahātmya motif where the site becomes a network of grace-centers.
Significance: Darśana and pūjā of multiple liṅgas in one kṣetra is said to yield both worldly fulfillment (within dharma) and final liberation through Śiva’s favor.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse affirms that consecrated Śiva-liṅgas established with bhakti become powerful seats of grace: they can grant worldly aims (kāma) while also leading the devotee toward the highest aim—mokṣa—through Śiva’s anugraha (liberating grace).
It presents the Liṅga as a tangible, saguna focus for devotion through which the devotee approaches the nirguna-transcendent Śiva. Worship offered to the Liṅga, when done with faith and purity, is described as efficacious for both blessings and liberation.
A key takeaway is liṅga-sevā: स्थापना (consecration) and regular pūjā with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—supported by traditional Shaiva observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness in devotion.