Shloka 5

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

अवतारद्वादशकमेतच्छम्भोः परात्मनः । सर्वानन्दकरं पुंसान्दर्शनात्स्पर्शनान्मुने

Transliteration

avatāradvādaśakametacchambhoḥ parātmanaḥ | sarvānandakaraṃ puṃsāndarśanātsparśanānmune

Translation

अवतारद्वादशकमेतच्छम्भोः परात्मनः। सर्वानन्दकरं पुंसां दर्शनात्स्पर्शनान्मुने॥

Word by Word

• अवतारद्वादशकम्: the set of twelve incarnations
• अवतारद्वादशकम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार + द्वादशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘अवताराणां द्वादशकम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• परात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• सर्वानन्दकरम्: bringing all-bliss
• सर्वानन्दकरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आनन्द + कर (कृ धातु, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्वेषां आनन्दं करोति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (qualifier of अवतारद्वादशकम्)

• पुंसाम्: of men/people
• पुंसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• दर्शनात्: from seeing / by the sight
• दर्शनात्: अपादान (Cause/Source; पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

• स्पर्शनात्: from touching / by touch
• स्पर्शनात्: अपादान (Cause/Source; पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse doctrinally frames the twelve Jyotirliṅgas as ‘avatāra-dvādaśaka’—manifest descents of Śambhu for the world’s welfare, emphasizing salvific efficacy through darśana and sparśa.

Significance: Establishes the theology of tīrtha: contact (sparśa) and sacred sight (darśana) function as channels of Śiva’s anugraha, easing pāśa (bondage) and giving ānanda to embodied paśus.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It declares that Śiva’s twelve manifestations are not merely stories but grace-bearing forms of the Supreme Self; even simple devotional contact—seeing or touching—can awaken profound bliss and move the soul toward liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It supports Saguna worship: the Supreme (Parātmā) becomes approachable through embodied forms. In practice this aligns with Liṅga-upāsanā, where darśana (beholding) and sparśa (reverent contact during pūjā) are treated as channels of Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize darśana and reverent sparśa in Śiva-pūjā—such as viewing the Liṅga with devotion, performing abhiṣeka, and mentally contemplating Śambhu as Parātmā—supported by mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) where appropriate.