Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 21

ज्योतिर्लिङ्ग-तदुपलिङ्ग-माहात्म्यवर्णनम्

Narration of the Greatness of the Jyotirliṅga and Associated Liṅgas

Devanagari script

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् । उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोंकारे परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

saurāṣṭre somanāthaṃ ca śrīśaile mallikārjunam | ujjayinyāṃ mahākālamoṃkāre parameśvaram

Translation

在娑罗湿多罗（Saurāṣṭra）有光明灵伽索摩那他（Somanātha）；在室利舍罗（Śrīśaila）有摩利迦尔朱那（Mallikārjuna）。在乌阇耶尼（Ujjayinī）有摩诃迦罗（Mahākāla），在唵迦罗（Oṃkāra）有帕拉梅湿伐罗（Parameśvara），至上主宰。

Word by Word

• सौराष्ट्रे: in Saurāṣṭra
• सौराष्ट्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौराष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (देशवाचक), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• सोमनाथम्: Somanātha
• सोमनाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सोमस्य नाथः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• श्रीशैले: at Śrīśaila
• श्रीशैले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्रियः शैलः)

• मल्लिकार्जुनम्: Mallikārjuna
• मल्लिकार्जुनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्लिका (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (मल्लिका च अर्जुनश्च) नामरूपेण

• उज्जयिन्याम्: in Ujjayinī
• उज्जयिन्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उज्जयिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• महाकालम्: Mahākāla
• महाकालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् कालः)

• ओंकारे: at Oṃkāra
• ओंकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• परमेश्वरम्: Parameśvara
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Somanātha

Sthala Purana: Somanātha: Soma (Moon) is relieved of affliction/curse through Śiva’s grace; the Lord abides as Somanātha in Saurāṣṭra as a stabilizing, healing presence for devotees.

Significance: Removes sins and grants steadiness of mind; famed for restoration/renewal symbolism and devotion through repeated rebuilding.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Somanatha
• Mallikarjuna
• Mahakala
• Omkareshvara
• Parameshvara

FAQs

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

This verse identifies specific Jyotirliṅgas as living, grace-filled manifestations of Śiva, teaching that devotion expressed through sacred geography (tīrtha and darśana) can purify karma and orient the seeker toward mokṣa under Śiva’s lordship (Pati).

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

By naming these Jyotirliṅga sites, the text emphasizes Saguna worship of Śiva through the Liṅga—approaching the formless Supreme (Nirguṇa) by reverently serving His accessible form (Saguṇa) established for devotees’ liberation and steadiness in bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-abhiṣeka (water/milk), recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and meditate on Śiva as Mahākāla (the Lord of Time), cultivating detachment and disciplined devotion—especially on Mondays and Mahāśivarātri.