Shloka 1
द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्
Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अवताराञ्छृणु विभोर्द्वादशप्रमितान्परान् । ज्योतिर्लिङ्गस्वरूपान्वै नानोति कारकान्मुने
nandīśvara uvāca | avatārāñchṛṇu vibhordvādaśapramitānparān | jyotirliṅgasvarūpānvai nānoti kārakānmune
Nandīśvara berkata: “Wahai resi, dengarlah penjelmaan-penjelmaan luhur Tuhan Yang Maha Agung, berjumlah dua belas—sesungguhnya itulah rupa-rupa Jyotirliṅga, yang menimbulkan pelbagai kesan ilahi.”
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Programmatic introduction: Nandīśvara announces twelve supreme manifestations of the all-pervading Lord as Jyotirliṅgas—self-manifest luminous signs through which Śiva becomes accessible for darśana and grace, each conferring distinct phala (benefits).
Significance: Frames the Jyotirliṅgas as salvific loci: pilgrimage and devotion to these forms is presented as a means to obtain diverse auspicious results and, ultimately, Śiva’s anugraha.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
This verse introduces Shiva’s supreme compassion expressed through twelve Jyotirlinga-form manifestations—accessible, worshipful revelations of the transcendent Lord that grant varied spiritual and worldly benefits and support the devotee’s path toward liberation.
By naming Shiva’s manifestations as “Jyotirlinga-svarūpa,” the verse frames the Linga as Saguna-accessible worship of the otherwise limitless Lord—light-form (jyotis) made present for devotion, pilgrimage, and grace.
A key takeaway is focused Jyotirlinga-bhakti: hearing (śravaṇa) their glory, meditating on Shiva as the indwelling light, and performing Linga-pūjā with mantra—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as one proceeds through the twelve sacred manifestations.