Shloka 34
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
निधायेशं पुरस्तत्र चन्द्रस्तपतु नित्यशः । प्रसन्नश्च शिवः पश्चादक्षयं तं करिष्यति
nidhāyeśaṃ purastatra candrastapatu nityaśaḥ | prasannaśca śivaḥ paścādakṣayaṃ taṃ kariṣyati
เมื่อประดิษฐานพระอีศะ (พระศิวะ) ไว้เบื้องหน้า ณ ที่นั้นแล้ว จันทราจงบำเพ็ญตบะเป็นนิตย์ ครั้นพระศิวะทรงพอพระทัยแล้ว จะประทานให้พร/สภาวะนั้นเป็นอมตะไม่เสื่อมสูญ
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudrasaṃhitā account of Jyotirlinga-related observances and boons)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Instructional core of the Prabhāsa episode: install Īśa (liṅga) and perform sustained tapas; when Śiva is pleased, he grants an akṣaya (imperishable) boon—Soma’s restoration and the enduring sanctity of Somnātha.
Significance: Models the Siddhāntic arc: kriyā (installation/ritual) + tapas (discipline) culminating in anugraha (grace) yielding akṣaya-phala.
Role: liberating
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It teaches that sustained tapas and worship, when directed toward Īśa (Shiva) with steadiness, culminate not merely in temporary merit but in an akṣaya (imperishable) fruit through Shiva’s prasāda (grace), aligning effort (tapas) with divine bestowal.
The instruction to “install Īśa in front” points to saguna upāsanā through the Shiva-linga or a consecrated form, where the devotee focuses mind and ritual before the manifest symbol; Shiva, pleased by such disciplined devotion, grants enduring results.
Establish Shiva’s presence (linga/īśa-sthāpana) and maintain regular worship with tapas—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), vrata-like discipline, and focused meditation—seeking Shiva’s pleasure as the source of akṣaya merit.