Shloka 16
द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्
Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations
तं हत्वा स महाकालो ज्योतिर्लिंगस्वरूपतः । देवैस्स प्रार्थितोऽतिष्ठत्स्वभक्तपरिपालकः
taṃ hatvā sa mahākālo jyotirliṃgasvarūpataḥ | devaissa prārthito'tiṣṭhatsvabhaktaparipālakaḥ
అతనిని సంహరించిన తరువాత మహాకాలుడు జ్యోతిర్లింగ స్వరూపుడై, దేవతల ప్రార్థనకు అక్కడే నిలిచాడు; ఎందుకంటే ఆయన తన భక్తులను పరిరక్షించేవాడు।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: After slaying the oppressor, Śiva as Mahākāla manifests as a Jyotirliṅga and, at the gods’ supplication, remains established in Avantī/Ujjayinī as a permanent protector of devotees.
Significance: Mahākāla’s abiding presence as Jyotirliṅga guarantees ongoing refuge, protection, and grace (anugraha) to devotees; the kṣetra becomes a locus of liberation-oriented worship.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse teaches that Śiva as Mahākāla destroys adharmic forces and then abides as the Jyotirliṅga for the welfare of beings—showing that divine power is not only destructive to evil but also compassionately protective to devotees.
It directly links Mahākāla’s saving action to His abiding presence as a Jyotirliṅga—affirming Saguna worship where the formless Supreme is approached through the luminous Liṅga, accessible to prayer, pilgrimage, and daily pūjā.
A practical takeaway is Jyotirliṅga-bhakti: offer water and bilva leaves, apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma), and repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the intent of seeking protection and inner steadiness under Mahākāla’s grace.