Shloka 68
Vyāsotpatti-kathana
Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa
वरुणेशं विधीशं वा हरिकेशेश्वरन्तु वा । भवानीशं कपर्द्दीशं कन्दुकेश मजेश्वरम्
varuṇeśaṃ vidhīśaṃ vā harikeśeśvarantu vā | bhavānīśaṃ kaparddīśaṃ kandukeśa majeśvaram
శివుని వరుణేశ, లేదా విధీశ (బ్రహ్మాధిపతి), లేదా హరికేశేశ్వర రూపంగా ఆరాధించాలి; అలాగే భవానీశ, కపర్ద్దీశ (జటాధారి ప్రభువు), కందుకేశ మరియు మజేశ్వర రూపాలలోనూ।
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names and modes of worship to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: These epithets function as kṣetra- and guṇa-based names (Varuṇeśa, Vidhīśa, Harikeśeśvara, Bhavānīśa, Kaparddīśa), illustrating that the one Śiva is praised through relations: as Lord of waters (Varuṇa), Lord over Brahmā (Vidhī), and as Umāpati/Bhavānīśa emphasizing Śiva-Śakti sovereignty.
Significance: Encourages devotees to recognize Śiva’s supremacy across cosmic offices (over Brahmā/Varuṇa) and His inseparable lordship with Bhavānī—supporting unified devotion across sectarian or regional boundaries.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It affirms that the one Pati (Lord Śiva) is approachable through many sacred names and forms; by devotion to any such Saguna manifestation, the bound soul (paśu) is led beyond bonds (pāśa) toward grace and liberation.
These epithets function as devotional gateways: the devotee may worship the one Śiva in a chosen form while performing Liṅga-pūjā, japa, and stotra—understanding that all names ultimately refer to the same supreme Lord.
Name-japa (nāma-japa) of these Śiva-nāmas—ideally alongside Pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Liṅga-abhiṣeka with water—supports steady bhakti and one-pointed meditation on Śiva.