Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 36

ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग-तदुपलिङ्ग-माहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Jyotirliṅga and Associated Liṅgas

Devanagari script

मल्लिकार्जुनसंभूतमुपलिंगमुदाहृतम् । रुद्रेश्वरमिति ख्यातं भृगुकक्षे सुखावहम्

Transliteration

mallikārjunasaṃbhūtamupaliṃgamudāhṛtam | rudreśvaramiti khyātaṃ bhṛgukakṣe sukhāvaham

Translation

ملّیکارْجُن کی پاک حضوری سے جو اُپ لِنگ ظاہر ہوا، وہ اُپ لِنگ کہلایا؛ وہ ‘رُدرِیشور’ کے نام سے مشہور ہے، اور بھِرگُکَکش میں بھکتوں کو سکھ و کلیان عطا کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• मल्लिकार्जुन-संभूतम्: arisen from Mallikārjuna
• मल्लिकार्जुन-संभूतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मल्लिकार्जुन + संभूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त—भू धातोः क्त (संभूत = उत्पन्न); समासः—तत्पुरुष (मल्लिकार्जुनात् संभूतम्)

• उपलिङ्गम्: subsidiary liṅga
• उपलिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उदाहृतम्: is declared
• उदाहृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+आ+हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रुद्रेश्वरम्: (as) Rudreśvara
• रुद्रेश्वरम्: Pratipādya (प्रातिपाद्य/Name-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्रेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य ईश्वरः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: is known
• ख्यातम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्रसिद्धम्’ अर्थे

• भृगुकक्षे: in Bhṛgukakṣa
• भृगुकक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगुकक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भृगोः कक्षः)

• सुख-आवहम्: bringing happiness
• सुख-आवहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + आवह (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त—आ+वह् धातोः णिनि/शतृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण ‘आवह’ (bringing); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सुखम् आवहति)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mallikārjuna

Sthala Purana: Names Rudreśvara as an upaliṅga ‘arisen from/connected with’ Mallikārjuna; located in Bhṛgukakṣa, it is praised as ‘sukhāvaha’ (bestowing welfare). This establishes a satellite shrine network radiating from the Jyotirliṅga’s presence.

Significance: Darśana/arcana of Rudreśvara is treated as an extension of Mallikārjuna’s grace-field, promising sukha (well-being) and auspiciousness—often interpreted as both worldly welfare and inner śānti conducive to mokṣa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mallikārjuna
• Rudreśvara
• Bhṛgu (implied by Bhṛgukakṣa)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that along with a principal Jyotirliṅga (Mallikārjuna), related Upaliṅgas also carry Śiva’s grace; worship at such a place is said to confer sukha (well-being) and devotional upliftment.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By naming Rudreśvara as an Upaliṅga, the text affirms Saguna Śiva worship through the liṅga-form, where the formless Lord is approached through a sanctified symbol tied to a holy tīrtha and lineage of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage-oriented liṅga-pūjā: offer water, bilva leaves, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a bhakti-intent, seeking inner auspiciousness and steadiness of mind.