Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 17
महाकालज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्ये चन्द्रसेन-चिन्तामणि-प्रसङ्गः
Mahākāla Jyotirliṅga Māhātmya: The Episode of King Candrasena and the Cintāmaṇi
ततस्स भगवाञ्छंभुर्महाकालः प्रसन्नधीः । तं रक्षितुमुपायं वै चक्रे तं शृणुतादरात्
tatassa bhagavāñchaṃbhurmahākālaḥ prasannadhīḥ | taṃ rakṣitumupāyaṃ vai cakre taṃ śṛṇutādarāt
అప్పుడు ప్రసన్నమైన బుద్ధి గల భగవాన్ శంభుడు—మహాకాలుడు అతడిని రక్షించడానికి ఒక ఉపాయాన్ని ఆలోచించాడు. ఆ నివారణను భక్తితో వినండి.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Pleased by Candrasena’s unwavering worship, Śambhu as Mahākāla ‘devises a means’ to protect him—an explicit turn to anugraha (grace) where the Lord becomes the active agent of deliverance.
Significance: Assures devotees that sincere worship culminates in divine intervention; Mahākāla’s grace is portrayed as practical protection (rakṣā) as well as spiritual refuge beyond Time.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as Mahākāla—the compassionate Lord who, when pleased, actively provides an upāya (saving means) for the devotee’s protection, reflecting Pati’s grace removing fear and obstacles.
By naming Śambhu as Mahākāla, the verse points to Saguna Śiva who becomes accessible through forms such as the Jyotirlinga/linga, where devotees seek protection and auspiciousness through worship and surrender.
The instruction “listen with reverence” implies śravaṇa and obedient practice; a practical takeaway is to take refuge in Śiva through Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside simple linga-upāsanā with devotion.