Shloka 27
द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्
Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations
भीमशंकरसंज्ञस्तु षष्ठः शम्भोर्महाप्रभोः । अवतारो महालीलो भीमासुरविनाशनः
bhīmaśaṃkarasaṃjñastu ṣaṣṭhaḥ śambhormahāprabhoḥ | avatāro mahālīlo bhīmāsuravināśanaḥ
مہاپربھو شَمبھو کا چھٹا اوتار ‘بھیم شنکر’ کے نام سے معروف ہے۔ یہ عظیم لیلا سے بھرپور ظہور بھیم آسُر کا وِناش کرنے والا ہے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Jyotirlinga: Bhīmaśaṃkara
Sthala Purana: Bhīmaśaṅkara is presented as the sixth manifestation of Śambhu, whose līlā culminates in the destruction of Bhīmāsura—typifying Śiva’s protective wrath that removes adharma and restores dharma for devotees.
Significance: Pilgrimage emphasizes protection from भय (fear) and removal of oppressive forces (āsuric bondage), aligning with Śiva as Paśupati who breaks pāśa through his saṃhāra-śakti.
Role: destructive
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It presents Śiva as Pati—the supreme protector—who manifests in a saguna form as Bhīmaśaṅkara to remove adharma (Bhīmāsura) and re-establish dharma, assuring devotees that divine grace actively intervenes for liberation-oriented order.
By naming a specific avatāra (Bhīmaśaṅkara), the verse supports saguna devotion where devotees approach Śiva through a concrete, worshipful presence—commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga—while recognizing that the formless Lord compassionately assumes form for protection.
A practical takeaway is to worship Śiva in his protective aspect with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of Śiva’s power to destroy inner ‘asuric’ tendencies like fear, anger, and pride.