Shloka 27
Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā
The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha
अथ तस्यै स वैश्यस्तु प्रदत्त्वा रत्नकंकणम् । लिंगं रत्नमयं तस्य हस्ते दत्त्वेदमब्रवीत्
atha tasyai sa vaiśyastu pradattvā ratnakaṃkaṇam | liṃgaṃ ratnamayaṃ tasya haste dattvedamabravīt
അപ്പോൾ ആ വൈശ്യൻ അവൾക്കു രത്നകങ്കണം സമർപ്പിച്ചു; രത്നമയമായ ശിവലിംഗം അവളുടെ കൈയിൽ വെച്ച് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു।
Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; this is a household transmission of a worship-liṅga (iṣṭaliṅga-like in function, though not Vīraśaiva doctrine).
Significance: Emphasizes that Śiva’s grace can be mediated through a portable liṅga and personal custody, not only through great kṣetras.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights bhakti expressed through dāna (devotional gifting): placing a Śiva-liṅga into another’s hand symbolizes transmitting a living focus of worship, directing the mind toward Pati (Śiva) as the refuge and goal.
The gem-made liṅga is a saguna support (pratika) for devotion—an accessible form through which the devotee can offer reverence, mantra, and inner surrender to Śiva who ultimately transcends form.
Liṅga-pūjā is implied: receive/establish the liṅga with reverence, then worship with clean offerings and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as the core daily practice.