ओंकार-परमेश-लिङ्गकथा — The Narrative of the Oṃkāra Parameśa Liṅga
Gokarṇa–Vindhya Episode
ज्योतिर्लिंगं चतुर्थं च कृपया वद वित्तम । ओंकारं परमेशस्य सर्वपातकहारिणः
jyotirliṃgaṃ caturthaṃ ca kṛpayā vada vittama | oṃkāraṃ parameśasya sarvapātakahāriṇaḥ
Hỡi bậc hiền trí tối thượng, xin hãy từ bi nói cho chúng con về Jyotirlinga thứ tư—Oṃkāra, thuộc về Đấng Tối Thượng (Parameśvara), Đấng trừ diệt mọi tội lỗi.
The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: The sages request the account of the ‘fourth jyotirliṅga’—Oṃkāra—of Parameśvara, explicitly praised as sarva-pātaka-hārin (remover of all sins).
Significance: Darśana and worship of Oṃkāra/Oṃkāreśvara is traditionally said to destroy sins and confer merit; in Siddhānta terms, it supports purification (mala-kṣaya) and ripening for grace.
Mantra: oṃkāraṃ parameśasya sarvapātakahāriṇaḥ
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
This verse frames Omkāra (the fourth Jyotirlinga) as Parameśvara Śiva’s sin-destroying manifestation, emphasizing compassionate instruction and the purifying power of Jyotirlinga devotion as a means toward liberation.
By asking about a specific Jyotirlinga, the sages point to Saguna worship—Śiva approached through a concrete, grace-bearing form (liṅga) that reveals the Supreme (Parameśvara) and grants purification through devotion and pilgrimage.
It suggests contemplative worship of Omkāra—japa of “Om” and Śiva-mantras (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside Jyotirlinga darśana and liṅga-pūjā, undertaken with repentance and devotion for pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sins).