Shloka 32
Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा च स्वयं शम्भुर्लिङ्गरूपोऽभवत्तदा । तस्मान्न चलितो धर्मादचलेश इति स्मृतः
nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvā ca svayaṃ śambhurliṅgarūpo'bhavattadā | tasmānna calito dharmādacaleśa iti smṛtaḥ
นันทีศวรกล่าวว่า “ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว พระศัมภูทรงแปรเป็นรูปศิวลึงค์ในกาลนั้น เพราะพระองค์ไม่เคยคลาดจากธรรม จึงทรงเป็นที่ระลึกนามว่า ‘อจเลศะ’—พระผู้เป็นเจ้าอันไม่หวั่นไหว”
Nandīśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Śambhu, after declaring the destined births and fruits, manifests directly as a Liṅga; the epithet ‘Acaleśa’ arises from His unwavering establishment in dharma and immovability.
Significance: Darśana of the self-manifest Liṅga signifies encounter with Pati (Śiva) as the stable refuge; remembrance of ‘Acaleśa’ is taught as dharma-stability and protection from moral deviation.
Mantra: अचलेश (Acaleśa)
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse presents Śiva as perfectly steadfast in Dharma—unchanging, unwavering, and therefore the supreme refuge. His manifestation as the Liṅga signifies a compassionate, accessible form through which devotees can approach the transcendent Pati (Lord) and attain grace and liberation.
It explicitly states that Śambhu assumed the Liṅga-form, grounding Liṅga worship in Śiva’s own self-manifestation. In Śaiva understanding, the Liṅga is a sacred Saguna focus that points beyond itself to the formless reality, while remaining a concrete support for devotion, ritual, and meditation.
The practical takeaway is steadiness (acalatā) in dharma and single-pointed worship: perform Liṅga-pūjā with consistent discipline—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—while cultivating an unmoving mind aligned with righteousness.