Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana
The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva
असंख्येयोऽप्रमेयात्मा वीर्यवान् वीर्यकोविदः । वेद्यश्च वै वियोगात्मा सप्तावरमुनीश्वरः
asaṃkhyeyo'prameyātmā vīryavān vīryakovidaḥ | vedyaśca vai viyogātmā saptāvaramunīśvaraḥ
พระองค์นับมิได้และประมาณมิได้ในสภาวะแท้; ทรงเปี่ยมด้วยพลังและทรงรู้พลังนั้นโดยสมบูรณ์ พระองค์คือผู้พึงรู้ แต่โดยธรรมชาติทรงไม่ยึดติดและพ้นจากพันธนาการทั้งปวง เป็นมุนีศวร ผู้เป็นใหญ่เหนือสรรพสัตว์ทั้งที่อยู่นิ่งและที่เคลื่อนไหว
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The stress on immeasurability (aprameya), knowability as the supreme object (vedya), and lordship over all beings resonates with Kāśī’s Viśvanātha as ‘Lord of the Universe’—the one to be realized, beyond measure, sustaining all realms.
Significance: Kāśī darśana is traditionally linked with jñāna and mokṣa; this verse’s ‘vedya’ and ‘viyogātmā’ support the contemplative aim of knowing Śiva while becoming detached from pāśa.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
It declares Shiva as Pati—the immeasurable Lord who transcends all limits, yet is the very Reality to be realized; liberation arises by knowing Him while remaining free from bondage (pāśa) through non-attachment (viyoga).
In Jyotirlinga devotion, the Linga is the accessible Saguna symbol through which the devotee approaches the Aprameya (immeasurable) Shiva; worship leads the mind from form to the formless Lord who remains unattached and sovereign over all.
Contemplate Shiva during Linga-puja as “asaṃkhyeya” and “aprameya,” repeating Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner detachment from desires; this aligns worship with viyoga (freedom from bonds) and supports moksha-oriented bhakti.