Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 56
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
प्रभासं च परिक्रम्य पृथिवीक्रमसंभवम् । फलं प्राप्नोति शुद्धात्मा मृतः स्वर्गे महीयते
prabhāsaṃ ca parikramya pṛthivīkramasaṃbhavam | phalaṃ prāpnoti śuddhātmā mṛtaḥ svarge mahīyate
Sau khi nhiễu quanh Prabhāsa—nơi phát sinh từ bước chân thiêng bao trùm cõi đất—người có tâm thanh tịnh đạt được quả phúc đã hứa; và khi mệnh chung, được tôn vinh nơi thiên giới.
Suta Goswami (narrating the tīrtha-māhātmya to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Prabhāsa is praised as a kṣetra arising from a divine ‘stride’ (pṛthivīkrama-saṃbhava), and pradakṣiṇā of the tīrtha yields merit and post-mortem heavenly honor.
Significance: Pradakṣiṇā (parikrama) of Prabhāsa purifies the mind (śuddhātmā) and accrues puṇya; in Siddhānta terms, it supports maturation toward Śiva’s anugraha.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that devotional circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā) of a Shaiva sacred place like Prabhāsa purifies the seeker and yields definite spiritual merit, culminating in exalted post-mortem states—an outward act reflecting inward surrender to Pati (Shiva).
Prabhāsa is praised as a manifest (saguṇa) sacred geography where Shiva’s grace is accessible; circumambulation functions like pradakṣiṇā of the Liṅga—honoring Shiva as present in a consecrated form and place, thereby generating purification and merit.
Perform pradakṣiṇā with a purified mind—ideally while repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—and keep Shaiva observances such as bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and simple vrata discipline during the pilgrimage.