Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30
मृत्युञ्जय-विद्या-प्रादुर्भावः
The Manifestation/Transmission of the Mṛtyuñjaya Vidyā
विश्वंभरात्मक बिभर्षि विभोत्र विश्वं को विश्वनाथ भवतोऽन्यतमस्तमोरिः । स त्वं विनाशय तमो तम चाहिभूषस्तव्यात्परः परपरं प्रणतस्ततस्त्वाम्
viśvaṃbharātmaka bibharṣi vibhotra viśvaṃ ko viśvanātha bhavato'nyatamastamoriḥ | sa tvaṃ vināśaya tamo tama cāhibhūṣastavyātparaḥ paraparaṃ praṇatastatastvām
اے وِبھو، اے کائنات کو تھامنے والی حقیقت! تو ہی یہاں سارے جگت کو سنبھالتا ہے۔ اے وشناتھ! تیرے سوا گھور ترین تاریکی کا ناش کرنے والا کون ہو سکتا ہے؟ پس اے سانپوں سے مُزیّن! بیرونی اور اندرونی دونوں تَمَس کو مٹا دے۔ اے پراتپر، پرپر، ستوتی سے بھی ماورا—میں تجھے پرنام کرتا ہوں۔
Suta Goswami (narrating the hymn/prayer within the Yuddha narrative to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The epithet ‘Viśvanātha’ connects to Kāśī’s Lord of the Universe; the verse’s theme of destroying inner/outer darkness aligns with Kāśī’s kṣetra-idea of jñāna and mokṣa bestowed by Śiva.
Significance: Darśana and worship of Viśvanātha are sought for removal of ajñāna (tamas) and for supreme refuge in the transcendent Lord.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It praises Śiva as both the cosmic sustainer and the remover of tamas—outer darkness and inner ignorance—affirming Him as the Supreme Pati who grants clarity and liberation when one surrenders.
By addressing Śiva as Viśvanātha and “serpent-adorned,” it supports Saguna devotion (form and attributes) while simultaneously declaring Him “beyond the beyond,” pointing to the Linga as a bridge from form-based worship to realization of the transcendent.
A simple practice is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation that Śiva destroys inner tamas; offering bilva leaves or applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma can be done as an external support to this inner purification.