देवप्रियो देवनाथो देवको देवचिंतकः । विषमाक्षो विरूपाक्षो वृषदो वृषवर्धनः
devapriyo devanātho devako devaciṃtakaḥ | viṣamākṣo virūpākṣo vṛṣado vṛṣavardhanaḥ
祂为诸天所爱,亦为诸天之主;是恒常系念诸天福祉的神圣者。祂具不等之眼,亦是奇妙多目之主;赐予达摩,并令达摩增长。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single Jyotirliṅga; the epithets (Devanātha, Virūpākṣa) are pan-Śaiva and commonly used in temple liturgy across kṣetras.
Significance: General fruit: invokes Śiva as Devanātha (lord of devas) and as the upholder/increaser of dharma (vṛṣa), supporting protection and right order in life and polity.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
This verse praises Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who protects the cosmic order by sustaining the devas and increasing Dharma, pointing the devotee toward trust, surrender, and righteous living as supports for liberation.
These epithets describe Saguna Shiva—knowable through names, forms, and qualities—making Linga worship and name-chanting effective means to approach the transcendent Lord who nevertheless compassionately upholds the world.
Chant these names as japa (especially alongside the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and contemplate Shiva as the giver and increaser of Dharma, aligning one’s conduct with righteousness as a daily sadhana.