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
मग त्या वैश्याने तिला रत्नकंकण अर्पण केले आणि रत्नमय शिवलिंग तिच्या हातात देऊन हे वचन बोलला।
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.