Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 1

रामेश्वरलिङ्गप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation/Origin of the Rāmeśvara Liṅga

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि लिंगं रामेश्वराभिधम् । उत्पन्नं च यथा पूर्वमृषयश्शृणुतादरात्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi liṃgaṃ rāmeśvarābhidham | utpannaṃ ca yathā pūrvamṛṣayaśśṛṇutādarāt

Translation

苏多说道：“接下来，我将宣说名为‘罗摩伊湿伐罗’（Rāmeśvara）的灵伽，以及它在远古之时如何最初显现。诸位圣仙啊，请以恭敬之心谛听。”

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतः: thereafter/therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (therefore/thereafter)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-द्वितीया (adverbial accusative: further/next)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will explain/tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामेश्वराभिधम्: named Rāmeśvara
• रामेश्वराभिधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रामेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रामेश्वर इति अभिधा यस्य/रामेश्वराभिधम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘लिङ्गम्’

• उत्पन्नम्: arisen/produced
• उत्पन्नम्: Karma (कर्म/वर्ण्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्+पद्/पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘arisen/produced’ (contextually of ‘लिङ्गम्’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• यथा: as/how
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/how)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययवत् (adverb: formerly/before)

• ऋषयः: O sages
• ऋषयः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (addressed)

• शृणुत: listen
• शृणुत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आदरात्: with reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; हेतौ (out of respect)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Rāmeśvara

Sthala Purana: Sūta transitions to the Rāmeśvara-liṅga udbhava: the forthcoming account traditionally centers on Rāma’s establishment/worship of Śiva before crossing to Laṅkā, making the liṅga a paradigmatic sign of Śiva’s grace to a dharmic hero.

Significance: Rāmeśvara is famed for śiva-arcana linked with purification and expiation; the kṣetra is also integrated into pan-Indian pilgrimage circuits, emphasizing pāpa-kṣaya and steadfast dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rameshvara

FAQs

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

The verse establishes śravaṇa (reverent listening) as a primary devotional gateway: hearing the sacred origin of a Śiva-liṅga with ādarā (respect) purifies the mind and turns it toward Pati (Śiva), the liberator.

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

By announcing the narrative of the Rāmeśvara Liṅga’s manifestation, it frames the Liṅga as Śiva’s accessible, worshipable (saguṇa-upāsya) presence through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice is attentive śravaṇa of Śiva-māhātmya; as a takeaway, one may pair it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga-pūjā performed with devotion and purity.