Shloka 1
द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्
Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अवताराञ्छृणु विभोर्द्वादशप्रमितान्परान् । ज्योतिर्लिङ्गस्वरूपान्वै नानोति कारकान्मुने
nandīśvara uvāca | avatārāñchṛṇu vibhordvādaśapramitānparān | jyotirliṅgasvarūpānvai nānoti kārakānmune
Nandīśvara nói: “Bạch hiền giả, hãy lắng nghe những hóa hiện tôn quý của Đấng Tối Thượng, gồm mười hai—chính là các hình tướng Jyotirliṅga, làm phát sinh muôn loại công năng thiêng liêng.”
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Programmatic introduction: Nandīśvara announces twelve supreme manifestations of the all-pervading Lord as Jyotirliṅgas—self-manifest luminous signs through which Śiva becomes accessible for darśana and grace, each conferring distinct phala (benefits).
Significance: Frames the Jyotirliṅgas as salvific loci: pilgrimage and devotion to these forms is presented as a means to obtain diverse auspicious results and, ultimately, Śiva’s anugraha.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
This verse introduces Shiva’s supreme compassion expressed through twelve Jyotirlinga-form manifestations—accessible, worshipful revelations of the transcendent Lord that grant varied spiritual and worldly benefits and support the devotee’s path toward liberation.
By naming Shiva’s manifestations as “Jyotirlinga-svarūpa,” the verse frames the Linga as Saguna-accessible worship of the otherwise limitless Lord—light-form (jyotis) made present for devotion, pilgrimage, and grace.
A key takeaway is focused Jyotirlinga-bhakti: hearing (śravaṇa) their glory, meditating on Shiva as the indwelling light, and performing Linga-pūjā with mantra—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as one proceeds through the twelve sacred manifestations.