Shloka 18
रावणस्य तपः-शिवानुग्रहः — Rāvaṇa’s Austerity and Śiva’s Bestowal of Grace
दृष्ट्वैकं तत्र वै गोपं प्रार्थ्य लिंगं ददौ च तत् । मुहूर्तके ह्यतिक्रांते गोपोभूद्विकलस्तदा
dṛṣṭvaikaṃ tatra vai gopaṃ prārthya liṃgaṃ dadau ca tat | muhūrtake hyatikrāṃte gopobhūdvikalastadā
അവിടെ ഒരു ഗോപനെ കണ്ടു അപേക്ഷിച്ച് അതേ ശിവലിംഗം അവനു ഏല്പിച്ചു. എന്നാൽ ഒരു മുഹൂർത്തം കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ ഗോപൻ വ്യാകുലനായി അസ്ഥിരനായി.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Rāmeśvara
Sthala Purana: Rāvaṇa entrusts the liṅga to a cowherd for a short time; once the allotted muhūrta passes, the cowherd becomes distressed—preparing the moment when the liṅga will be set on the earth and become fixed.
Significance: Highlights the sanctity and ‘weight’ (both literal and metaphysical) of the liṅga: even an ordinary cowherd becomes an instrument in the divine founding of a shrine.
FAQs
The verse highlights that contact with the Śiva-liṅga is not casual: serving or even holding responsibility for the Linga awakens intense inner states. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the Linga signifies Pati (Śiva) made approachable; when the mind is unprepared, the weight of that sacred trust can manifest as agitation—urging greater purity, steadiness, and devotion.
It shows Saguna worship in action: the Linga is a consecrated, accessible form through which devotees relate to Śiva. Entrusting the Linga to another person underscores that Linga-sevā requires discipline (niyama) and reverence; negligence or fear of offense (aparādha) can disturb the devotee’s mind.
Maintain steadiness while performing Linga-sevā: keep the mind anchored in japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and observe basic purity and attentiveness. The takeaway is to treat the Linga with continuous care—like an ongoing vrata—rather than a momentary act.