Shloka 8
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
अस्मिन्सिद्धास्सदा क्षेत्रे मदीयं व्रतमाश्रिताः । नानालिंगधरा नित्यं मम लोकाभिकांक्षिणः
asminsiddhāssadā kṣetre madīyaṃ vratamāśritāḥ | nānāliṃgadharā nityaṃ mama lokābhikāṃkṣiṇaḥ
ఈ సిద్ధక్షేత్రంలో సిద్ధులు సదా నా వ్రతాన్ని ఆశ్రయించి ఉంటారు. నిత్యం నానావిధ లింగరూపాలను ధరించి నా లోకాన్ని పొందాలని ఆకాంక్షిస్తారు।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Avimukta is portrayed as a siddha-kṣetra where perfected beings, devoted to Śiva’s observance, remain engaged in liṅga-oriented identity and aspiration toward Śiva-loka.
Significance: Association with siddhas and liṅga-devotion in Kāśī is presented as accelerating spiritual maturation toward Śiva’s realm and ultimately mokṣa.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that a consecrated kṣetra becomes a living field of liberation where perfected devotees (siddhas) remain established in Shiva’s discipline (vrata), and that such steadfast devotion culminates in attaining Shiva’s own realm (Shiva-loka), aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s goal of grace-led liberation.
By describing siddhas as “bearing various Liṅgas,” the verse affirms Saguna worship through the Liṅga as a direct, sanctified support for meditation and devotion—an emblem through which the devotee approaches the transcendent Shiva while remaining grounded in a sacred form.
It implies observance of Shiva’s vrata in a holy kṣetra—regular Liṅga-pūjā with disciplined conduct, mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and steady intention toward Shiva-loka as the fruit of worship.