Shloka 15
एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva
व्यासो युगे षोडशे तु यदा देवो भविष्यति । तदा योगप्रदानाय गोकर्णो भविता ह्यहम्
vyāso yuge ṣoḍaśe tu yadā devo bhaviṣyati | tadā yogapradānāya gokarṇo bhavitā hyaham
పదహారవ యుగంలో దేవసమాన వ్యాసుడు అవతరించినప్పుడు, యోగాన్ని ప్రసాదించుటకై నేను నిశ్చయంగా గోకర్ణుడనై ఉంటాను।
Lord Shiva (speaking prophetically of his manifestation as Gokarṇa)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: This is a manifestation (avatāra-like) statement: Śiva will become Gokarṇa specifically ‘for bestowing Yoga’. While Gokarṇa is a famed Śiva-sthala, it is not one of the 12 Jyotirliṅgas; the verse functions as a yoga-mahātmyā seed for that place.
Significance: Association with yoga-upadeśa and Śiva’s grace (anugraha); pilgrimage framed as receiving yogic orientation and purification.
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Reference to the ‘sixteenth’ Vyāsa-cycle/age; Śiva’s descent as Gokarṇa for yoga-bestowal
FAQs
It presents Shiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who descends in an accessible form—Gokarṇa—to transmit liberating Yoga, guiding bound beings (paśu) beyond pāśa (bondage) toward mokṣa.
By announcing a concrete manifestation (Saguna) for the sake of teaching, the verse supports devotional approach to Shiva in form—often centered on linga-worship—through which seekers receive instruction and grace leading toward realization.
The verse emphasizes Yoga as a bestowed discipline—practically expressed through Shiva-upāsanā with mantra-japa (especially Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steady meditation, and disciplined living as taught by the Shaiva tradition.