Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 15

शिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

शूलटंकेश्वरः साक्षात्कामनाप्रद ईरितः । माधवेशश्च तत्रैव भक्तरक्षाविधायकः

Transliteration

śūlaṭaṃkeśvaraḥ sākṣātkāmanāprada īritaḥ | mādhaveśaśca tatraiva bhaktarakṣāvidhāyakaḥ

Translation

Śūlaṭaṃkeśvara được tuyên xưng trực tiếp là Đấng ban thành tựu mọi điều ước nguyện. Ngay tại đó, Mādhaveśa là Đấng hộ trì, gìn giữ an toàn cho các tín đồ.

Word by Word

• शूल-टङ्क-ईश्वरः: Śūlaṭaṅkeśvara
• शूल-टङ्क-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + टङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शूलटङ्कयोः ईश्वरः / शूलटङ्क-सम्बद्ध ईश्वरः)

• साक्षात्: manifestly, directly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षार्थक क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (directly, manifestly)

• कामना-प्रदः: giver of desires (boons)
• कामना-प्रदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामना (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कामनायाः प्रदः)

• ईरितः: is said/declared
• ईरितः: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• माधवेशः: Mādhaveśa
• माधवेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (माधवस्य ईशः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (there)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (indeed/just)

• भक्त-रक्षा-विधायकः: one who provides protection to devotees
• भक्त-रक्षा-विधायकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + विधायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां रक्षां विधत्ते इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: In the same sacred region, Śūlaṭaṃkeśvara is famed as the immediate giver of desired boons, while Mādhaveśa is extolled as the special protector of devotees (bhakta-rakṣā).

Significance: Frames Śiva’s grace as twofold: iṣṭa-siddhi (fulfilment of rightful desires) and rakṣaṇa (guardianship of surrendered devotees).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights two core fruits of approaching Saguna Śiva in a holy kṣetra: the fulfillment of righteous desires (kāmanā-pradāna) and the assured protection of devotees (bhakta-rakṣā), showing Śiva as both giver of grace and guardian of surrender.

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

By naming specific Linga-manifestations (Śūlaṭaṃkeśvara and Mādhaveśa), the text teaches that Śiva’s accessible, worship-worthy presence in a kṣetra responds to devotion—granting boons and actively protecting bhaktas—an emphasis central to Linga worship in the Kotirudra Saṃhitā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is kṣetra-sevā and Linga-pūjā with bhakti: recite the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offer water and bilva leaves, and pray for inner alignment of desires with dharma, trusting Śiva’s protection.