Shloka 67
Vyāsotpatti-kathana
Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa
अविमुक्तेश्वरं वाथ विशालाक्षीशमेव वा । व्याघ्रेश्वरं वराहेशं विद्येश्वरमथापि वा
avimukteśvaraṃ vātha viśālākṣīśameva vā | vyāghreśvaraṃ varāheśaṃ vidyeśvaramathāpi vā
किंवा अविमुक्तेश्वर, अथवा निश्चयच विशालाक्षीश; तसेच व्याघ्रेश्वर, वराहेश आणि विद्येश्वर—या रूपांनीही भक्तिभावाने शिवाची उपासना करावी।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Avimukteśvara explicitly denotes Kāśī/Avimukta—‘the place never abandoned’ by Śiva. The paired mention of Viśālākṣīśa evokes the Kāśī śakti-tīrtha complex (Viśālākṣī/Annapūrṇā traditions) where Śiva’s grace is mediated through the Goddess’ protective and nourishing presence.
Significance: Avimukta is classically mokṣa-kṣetra; worship here is portrayed as especially efficacious for release from pāśa (bondage) through Śiva’s anugraha.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: dipa
FAQs
The verse affirms that Śiva is approachable through many sanctified names and kṣetras; devotion directed to any such recognized form leads the devotee toward Śiva’s grace and liberation, consistent with the Shaiva Siddhanta view of Pati (Śiva) granting anugraha.
These names commonly indicate particular liṅgas/temple-presences of Saguna Śiva. The Purāṇic intent is that worship of the manifest liṅga in a holy place steadies the mind and becomes a doorway to realizing Śiva beyond form.
Perform liṅga-darśana and simple abhiṣeka (water, milk, bilva leaves) with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a focused practice of bhakti and remembrance.