Shloka 22
ओंकार-परमेश-लिङ्गकथा — The Narrative of the Oṃkāra Parameśa Liṅga
Gokarṇa–Vindhya Episode
ॐ कारं चैव यल्लिंगमेकं तच्च द्विधा गतम् । प्रणवे चैव ओंकारनामासीत्स सदाशिवः
oṃ kāraṃ caiva yalliṃgamekaṃ tacca dvidhā gatam | praṇave caiva oṃkāranāmāsītsa sadāśivaḥ
‘ఓం’ స్వరూపమైన ఏకైక లింగమే నిజంగా ద్విరూపంగా విభజితమైంది. ప్రణవంలో ‘ఓంకార’ అనే నామధారి సాక్షాత్తు సదాశివుడే.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: The liṅga identified with Praṇava (Oṁ) manifests as ‘Oṅkāra’; the narrative frames a self-manifest sign of Śiva whose very essence is the praṇava, later revered as Oṃkāreśvara.
Significance: Darśana of the praṇava-svarūpa liṅga is held to grant both spiritual clarity and liberation-oriented merit; worship aligns the devotee with Śiva as the source of mantra and meaning.
Mantra: ॐ (Praṇava)
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
FAQs
It identifies the Praṇava (Oṁ) as the supreme Liṅga—Śiva’s most subtle ‘mark’—and declares that Sadāśiva is present as Oṅkāra itself, making Oṁ a direct support for contemplation of the Supreme.
The verse links the visible Liṅga worship to its inner source: Oṁ as the subtle Liṅga. Thus, external Liṅga-pūjā (saguṇa support) is grounded in the inner Praṇava (subtle, nearer to nirguṇa realization), both leading toward Sadāśiva.
Meditate on and chant Oṁ (Praṇava-japa) while mentally recognizing it as Sadāśiva’s Liṅga; this can be paired with standard Śaiva practice such as offering water to the Liṅga and concluding with japa of “Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.”