Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 34
अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Avimukta–Vārāṇasī and Viśveśvara
पंचक्रोशं चतुर्दिक्षु क्षेत्रमेतत्प्रकीर्तितम् । समंताच्च तथा जंतोर्मृतिकालेऽमृतप्रदम्
paṃcakrośaṃ caturdikṣu kṣetrametatprakīrtitam | samaṃtācca tathā jaṃtormṛtikāle'mṛtapradam
Vùng thánh địa này được tuyên xưng là trải rộng năm krośa về bốn phương. Và khắp chung quanh, đối với hữu tình, vào lúc lâm chung, nơi đây ban “bất tử”—tức sự giải thoát.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The ‘pañcakrośī’ boundary motif is characteristic of Kāśī: the sacred field measured in a defined circuit is proclaimed to grant amṛtatva (mokṣa) at death to beings within its compass, by Śiva’s salvific agency.
Significance: Pilgrimage-circuit (pañcakrośī-yātrā) sanctifies the body-mind; dying within the kṣetra is held to culminate in release through Śiva’s grace.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that a Shiva-sanctified kṣetra has liberating power: within its sacred boundary, Shiva’s grace can grant amṛtatva—freedom from rebirth—especially for one who departs life there with remembrance and devotion.
Kotirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes Jyotirliṅga-kṣetras where Saguna Shiva is worshiped as the Liṅga; the verse frames the surrounding area itself as charged with Shiva’s presence, making Liṅga-darśana and kṣetra-sevā potent means toward mokṣa.
Pilgrimage and residence/last remembrance in the kṣetra are implied; practically, one should perform Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintain vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa with devotion while in the holy boundary.