Shloka 45
द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्
Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations
तद्दृष्ट्वा शिवलिंगन्तु मुने नागेश्वराभिधम् । विनश्यन्ति द्रुतं चार्च्य महापातकराशयः
taddṛṣṭvā śivaliṃgantu mune nāgeśvarābhidham | vinaśyanti drutaṃ cārcya mahāpātakarāśayaḥ
ഹേ മുനേ! ‘നാഗേശ്വര’ എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള ശിവലിംഗം ദർശിച്ച് ആരാധിച്ചാൽ മഹാപാതകങ്ങളുടെ കൂമ്പാരം വേഗത്തിൽ നശിക്കുന്നു।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, inferred typical Shiva Purana frame)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara
Sthala Purana: The Nāgeśvara Jyotirliṅga is praised as a sin-destroying manifestation: mere darśana (seeing) and arcana (worship) rapidly annihilate even mahāpātaka-accumulations, reflecting Śiva’s special grace at this kṣetra.
Significance: Darśana + pūjā at Nāgeśvara is said to destroy ‘heaps of great sins’ swiftly—an explicit tīrtha-phala statement emphasizing anugraha.
Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse teaches that darśana (reverent beholding) and arcana (worship) of the Nāgeśvara Śiva-liṅga has powerful purificatory merit, capable of destroying even accumulated major sins—highlighting Śiva’s grace responding to sincere bhakti.
It presents the Liṅga as Saguna Śiva’s accessible form for devotees: by approaching Śiva through the consecrated emblem (Liṅga) with faith and worship, one receives cleansing and upliftment, moving toward liberation under Śiva’s lordship (Pati).
Perform Liṅga-darśana and Liṅga-arcana—offer water, bilva leaves, and recite Śiva mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a repentant, devotional mind for inner purification.