Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17
अग्नीषोमात्मकविश्ववर्णनम् / The Universe as Agni–Soma
Fire and Nectar
अतो मृत्युंजयायेत्थममृतप्लावनं सदा । शिवशक्त्यमृतस्पर्शे लब्धं येन कुतो मृतिः
ato mṛtyuṃjayāyetthamamṛtaplāvanaṃ sadā | śivaśaktyamṛtasparśe labdhaṃ yena kuto mṛtiḥ
म्हणून मृत्युंजय होण्यासाठी हे सदा उपलब्ध ‘अमृत-प्लावन’ आहे; शिवशक्तीच्या अमृतस्पर्शाने ज्याला ते लाभते, त्याच्याजवळ मृत्यू कुठून येईल?
Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā to the sages)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha
Sthala Purana: Śiva as the supreme healer: by His grace (often narrated as restoring life/wholeness), devotees attain freedom from fear of death; this verse’s ‘mṛtyuṃjaya’ theme resonates with the Vaidyanātha/‘Lord of Physicians’ tradition.
Significance: Sought for healing, longevity, and liberation from fear of death; aligns with mṛtyuñjaya-bhāva (victory over death through Śiva’s grace).
Type: mahamrityunjaya
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: liberating
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It declares that true victory over death arises from receiving the “amṛta-sparśa” (deathless touch) of Shiva’s Śakti—i.e., divine grace that dissolves bondage (pāśa) and establishes the soul (paśu) in Shiva (Pati).
Linga-worship and Saguna devotion are presented as accessible supports through which the devotee becomes receptive to Shiva’s Śakti; when that grace is gained, the fear of death and repeated birth is transcended in the Lord’s protection.
Regular mantra-japa and contemplative absorption on Shiva united with Śakti—classically supported by practices like Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Shiva-dhyāna—cultivating readiness for the transforming “nectar-touch” of grace.