Shloka 4
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
सोमनाथश्च तेषां वै प्रथमः परिकीर्तितः । तन्माहात्म्यं शृणु मुने प्रथमं सावधानतः
somanāthaśca teṣāṃ vai prathamaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | tanmāhātmyaṃ śṛṇu mune prathamaṃ sāvadhānataḥ
Dalam kalangan itu (Jyotirliṅga), Somanātha benar-benar diproklamasikan sebagai yang pertama. Maka, wahai muni, dengarlah dengan penuh perhatian terlebih dahulu kemuliaan suci Somanātha itu.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, introducing the Jyotirlinga sequence)
Tattva Level: pati
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Somanātha is introduced as first among Jyotirliṅgas; its māhātmya is traditionally tied to Soma (Candra) seeking relief from Dakṣa’s curse and attaining restoration through Śiva’s grace at Prabhāsa.
Significance: Śiva’s anugraha: relief from afflictions, restoration of vitality and auspiciousness; merit of darśana and tīrtha-snāna at Prabhāsa.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It establishes Somanātha as the first among the Jyotirlingas and invites focused listening to its māhātmya, implying that attentive śravaṇa (hearing) of Shiva’s glory is itself a purifying, devotion-awakening practice leading toward Shiva’s grace.
By naming Somanātha as the first Jyotirlinga, the verse points to Saguna Shiva’s compassionate self-manifestation as the Linga, a tangible focus for bhakti and pilgrimage through which devotees approach the Supreme (Pati) and receive upliftment.
The immediate practice is sāvadhāna-śravaṇa—reverent, concentrated hearing of the Jyotirlinga māhātmya; this is commonly paired in Shaiva practice with Linga-darśana, japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and simple offerings (water, bilva leaves) with devotion.