Shloka 5
Oṅkāra-Liṅga and the Secret Pañcāyatana Liṅgas of Kāśī: Kṛttivāseśvara-Māhātmya
अत्र साक्षान्महादेवः पञ्चायतनविग्रहः / रमते भगवान् रुद्रो जन्तूनामपवर्गदः
atra sākṣānmahādevaḥ pañcāyatanavigrahaḥ / ramate bhagavān rudro jantūnāmapavargadaḥ
ఇక్కడ సాక్షాత్ మహాదేవుడు పంచాయతన స్వరూపంగా ప్రత్యక్షమగుచున్నాడు. ఇక్కడ భగవాన్ రుద్రుడు ఆనందించుచున్నాడు; జీవులకు అపవర్గం (పరమ విముక్తి) ప్రసాదించువాడు.
Lord Kurma (Vishnu), narrating the sanctity of the sacred site and Śiva’s liberating presence
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By stating that Mahādeva is present “sākṣāt” (directly) and grants apavarga, the verse points to the Supreme as immediately accessible through right worship and realization, where liberation is not merely a reward but the unveiling of one’s own highest state.
The verse implies a Pāśupata-leaning discipline: approaching a consecrated locus of divinity (tīrtha/āyatana), practicing focused devotion and contemplation on Rudra as the liberator, and integrating worship (upāsanā) as a support for inner release (apavarga).
With Kurma (Viṣṇu) presenting Rudra as Bhagavān and the giver of mokṣa, the Purāṇa emphasizes functional non-duality: Viṣṇu venerates and proclaims Śiva’s supreme liberating role, reflecting the text’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.