The Panchayatana Linga and Kritivaseshvara

Verse 1 (padma.3.34.1)

नारद उवाच । तत्रेदं विमलं लिगमोंकारंनाम शोभनम् । यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः ।

nārada uvāca tatredaṁ vimalaṁ ligamoṁkāraṁnāma śobhanam yasya smaraṇamātreṇa mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ

Narada said: There stands this pure and beautiful linga named Omkara; by merely remembering it, one is freed from all sins.

Verse 2 (padma.3.34.2)

एतत्परतरं ज्ञानं पंचायतनमुत्तमम् । सेवितं मुनिर्भिर्नित्यं वाराणस्यां विमोक्षणम् ।

etatparataraṁ jñānaṁ paṁcāyatanamuttamam sevitaṁ munirbhirnityaṁ vārāṇasyāṁ vimokṣaṇam

This is a still higher knowledge — the excellent Panchayatana, ever attended by sages, granting liberation in Varanasi.

Verse 3 (padma.3.34.3)

तत्र साक्षान्महादेवः पंचायतनविग्रहः । रमते भगवान्रुद्रो जंतूनामपवर्गदः ।

tatra sākṣānmahādevaḥ paṁcāyatanavigrahaḥ ramate bhagavānrudro jaṁtūnāmapavargadaḥ

There the Lord Rudra himself, in the very form of the Panchayatana, dwells in visible presence, granting final release to all beings.

Verse 4 (padma.3.34.4)

एतत्पाशुपतं ज्ञानं पंचायतनमुच्यते । तदेतद्विमलं लिगमोंकारं समुपस्थितम् ।

etatpāśupataṁ jñānaṁ paṁcāyatanamucyate tadetadvimalaṁ ligamoṁkāraṁ samupasthitam

This is called the Pashupata knowledge, the Panchayatana; and this is that same pure linga, Omkara, present here.

Verse 5 (padma.3.34.5)

शांत्यतीता तथा शांतिर्विद्या चैवापरा वरा । प्रतिष्ठा च निवृत्तिश्च पंचात्मं लिंगमैश्वरम् ।

śāṁtyatītā tathā śāṁtirvidyā caivāparā varā pratiṣṭhā ca nivṛttiśca paṁcātmaṁ liṁgamaiśvaram

Shantyatita, Shanti, Vidya, the excellent Apara, Pratishtha, and Nivritti — these five principles together compose the divine linga.

Verse 6 (padma.3.34.6)

पंचानामपि लिंगानां ब्रह्मादीनां समाश्रयम् । ॐकारबोधकं लिंगं पंचायतनमुच्यते ।

paṁcānāmapi liṁgānāṁ brahmādīnāṁ samāśrayam oṁkārabodhakaṁ liṁgaṁ paṁcāyatanamucyate

The common refuge of all five lingas beginning with Brahma's — the linga that reveals the syllable Om — is called the Panchayatana.

Verse 7 (padma.3.34.7)

संस्मरेदीश्वरं लिंगं पंचायतनमव्ययम् । देहांते परमं ज्योतिरानंदं विशते बुधः ।

saṁsmaredīśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ paṁcāyatanamavyayam dehāṁte paramaṁ jyotirānaṁdaṁ viśate budhaḥ

Let one constantly remember Ishvara's imperishable Panchayatana linga; at the end of the body, the wise man enters that supreme, radiant bliss.

Verse 8 (padma.3.34.8)

तत्र देवर्षयः पूर्वं सिद्धाब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा । उपास्य देवमीशानमापुरंतः परं पदम् ।

tatra devarṣayaḥ pūrvaṁ siddhābrahmarṣayastathā upāsya devamīśānamāpuraṁtaḥ paraṁ padam

There, in ancient times, the divine sages, the Siddhas, and the Brahmarshis, having worshipped the god Ishana, attained at last the supreme state.

Verse 9 (padma.3.34.9)

मत्स्योदर्यास्तटे पुण्ये स्थानं गुह्यतमं शुभम् । गोचर्ममात्रं राजेंद्र ॐकारेश्वरमुत्तमम् ।

matsyodaryāstaṭe puṇye sthānaṁ guhyatamaṁ śubham gocarmamātraṁ rājeṁdra oṁkāreśvaramuttamam

On the sacred bank of the Matsyodari, O lord of kings, there is a most secret and auspicious place, no larger than a cow's hide, holding the excellent Omkareshvara.

Verse 10 (padma.3.34.10)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं मध्यमेश्वरमुत्तमम् । विश्वेश्वरं तथोंकारंकंदर्पेश्वरमेव च ।

kṛttivāseśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ madhyameśvaramuttamam viśveśvaraṁ tathoṁkāraṁkaṁdarpeśvarameva ca

There too are the linga Kritivaseshvara, the excellent Madhyameshvara, Vishveshvara, Omkara, and Kandarpeshvara as well.

Verse 11 (padma.3.34.11)

एतानि गुह्यलिंगानि वाराणस्यां युधिष्ठिर । न कश्चिदिह जानाति विना शंभोरनुग्रहात् ।

etāni guhyaliṁgāni vārāṇasyāṁ yudhiṣṭhira na kaścidiha jānāti vinā śaṁbhoranugrahāt

O Yudhishthira, these are the secret lingas of Varanasi; without Shambhu's grace, no one here comes to know of them.

Verse 12 (padma.3.34.12)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्यैव माहात्म्यं शृणु पार्थिव । तस्मिन्स्थाने पुरा दैत्यो हस्ती भूत्वा शिवांतिकम् ।

kṛttivāseśvarasyaiva māhātmyaṁ śṛṇu pārthiva tasminsthāne purā daityo hastī bhūtvā śivāṁtikam

O king, hear now the greatness of Kritivaseshvara alone. Once, in that place, a demon (daitya), having taken the form of an elephant, came near Shiva's presence —

Verse 13 (padma.3.34.13)

ब्राह्मणान्हंतुमायातो यत्र नित्यमुपासते । तेषां लिंगान्महादेवः प्रादुरासीत्त्रिलोचनः ।

brāhmaṇānhaṁtumāyāto yatra nityamupāsate teṣāṁ liṁgānmahādevaḥ prādurāsīttrilocanaḥ

to kill the Brahmins who continually worshipped there. For their protection, the three-eyed Mahadeva appeared from within the linga.

Verse 14 (padma.3.34.14)

रक्षणार्थं महादेवो भक्तानां भक्तवत्सलः । हत्वा गजाकृतिं दैत्यं शूलेनावज्ञया हरः ।

rakṣaṇārthaṁ mahādevo bhaktānāṁ bhaktavatsalaḥ hatvā gajākṛtiṁ daityaṁ śūlenāvajñayā haraḥ

For the protection of his devotees, the ever-devoted Mahadeva Hara slew the elephant-formed demon with his trident, without hesitation.

Verse 15 (padma.3.34.15)

वासस्तस्याकरोत्कृत्तिं कृत्तिवासेश्वरस्ततः । तत्र सिद्धिं परां प्राप्ता मुनयो हि युधिष्ठिर ।

vāsastasyākarotkṛttiṁ kṛttivāseśvarastataḥ tatra siddhiṁ parāṁ prāptā munayo hi yudhiṣṭhira

He made the demon's hide into his own garment, and thus became Kritivaseshvara, the Lord Clad in a Hide. There, O Yudhishthira, sages attained supreme perfection.

Verse 16 (padma.3.34.16)

तेनैव च शरीरेण प्राप्तास्तत्परमं पदम् । विद्याविद्येश्वरा रुद्राः शिवा ये च प्रकीर्त्तिताः ।

tenaiva ca śarīreṇa prāptāstatparamaṁ padam vidyāvidyeśvarā rudrāḥ śivā ye ca prakīrttitāḥ

And with that very body they attained that supreme state — the Rudras who are lords of knowledge and ignorance, and those proclaimed as Shivas —

Verse 17 (padma.3.34.17)

कृत्तिवासेश्वरं लिंगं नित्यमाश्रित्य संस्थिताः । ज्ञात्वा कलियुगं घोरमधर्मबहुलं जनाः ।

kṛttivāseśvaraṁ liṁgaṁ nityamāśritya saṁsthitāḥ jñātvā kaliyugaṁ ghoramadharmabahulaṁ janāḥ

remain forever established, taking refuge in the linga Kritivaseshvara. Knowing the terrible Kali age to be full of unrighteousness, people —

Verse 18 (padma.3.34.18)

कृत्तिवासं न मुंचंति कृतार्थास्ते न संशयः । जन्मांतरसहस्रेण मोक्षो यत्राप्यते न वा ।

kṛttivāsaṁ na muṁcaṁti kṛtārthāste na saṁśayaḥ janmāṁtarasahasreṇa mokṣo yatrāpyate na vā

do not abandon Kritivasa, and without doubt become fulfilled. That liberation which elsewhere may or may not be attained even after a thousand births —

Verse 19 (padma.3.34.19)

एकेन जन्मना मोक्षः कृत्तिवासेऽत्र लभ्यते । आलयं सर्वसिद्धानामेतत्स्थानं वदंति हि ।

ekena janmanā mokṣaḥ kṛttivāse'tra labhyate ālayaṁ sarvasiddhānāmetatsthānaṁ vadaṁti hi

that same liberation is obtained here at Kritivasa in a single birth. This place, they say, is the abode of all the Siddhas,

Verse 20 (padma.3.34.20)

गोपितं देवदेवेन महादेवेन शंभुना । युगेयुगे ह्यत्र दांता ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः ।

gopitaṁ devadevena mahādevena śaṁbhunā yugeyuge hyatra dāṁtā brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ

kept hidden by the god of gods, Mahadeva Shambhu himself. In every age, self-restrained Brahmins learned in the whole of the Veda —

Verse 21 (padma.3.34.21)

उपासंते महात्मानं जपंति शतरुद्रियम् । स्तुवंति सततं देवं त्र्यंबकं कृत्तिवाससम् । ध्यायंति हृदये देवं स्थाणुं सर्वांतरं शिवम् ।

upāsaṁte mahātmānaṁ japaṁti śatarudriyam stuvaṁti satataṁ devaṁ tryaṁbakaṁ kṛttivāsasam dhyāyaṁti hṛdaye devaṁ sthāṇuṁ sarvāṁtaraṁ śivam

worship that great Lord, recite the Shatarudriya, ceaselessly praise the three-eyed god clad in the hide, and meditate in their hearts on the unmoving Shiva who dwells within all.

Verse 22 (padma.3.34.22)

गायंति सिद्धाः किल गीतकानि वाराणसीं ये निवसंति विप्राः । तेषामथैकेन भवेद्विमुक्तिर्ये कृत्तिवासं शरणं प्रपन्नाः ।

gāyaṁti siddhāḥ kila gītakāni vārāṇasīṁ ye nivasaṁti viprāḥ teṣāmathaikena bhavedvimuktirye kṛttivāsaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapannāḥ

The Siddhas indeed sing songs of those Brahmins who dwell in Varanasi; for those who have taken refuge in Kritivasa, liberation comes in a single birth.

Verse 23 (padma.3.34.23)

संप्राप्य लोके जगतामभीष्टं सुदुर्लभं विप्रकुलेषु जन्म । ध्याने समाधाय जपंति रुद्रं ध्यायंति चित्ते यतयो महेशम् ।

saṁprāpya loke jagatāmabhīṣṭaṁ sudurlabhaṁ viprakuleṣu janma dhyāne samādhāya japaṁti rudraṁ dhyāyaṁti citte yatayo maheśam

Having obtained, in this world, that desired and exceedingly rare thing — birth in a Brahmin family — ascetics fix their minds in meditation, recite the name of Rudra, and meditate on Mahesha in their hearts.

Verse 24 (padma.3.34.24)

आराधयंति प्रभुमीशितारं वाराणसीमध्यगता मुनींद्राः । यजंति यज्ञैरभिसंधिहीनाः स्तुवंति रुद्रं प्रणमंति शंभुम् ।

ārādhayaṁti prabhumīśitāraṁ vārāṇasīmadhyagatā munīṁdrāḥ yajaṁti yajñairabhisaṁdhihīnāḥ stuvaṁti rudraṁ praṇamaṁti śaṁbhum

The great sages established in the midst of Varanasi worship the Lord, the ruler; free from any selfish motive, they perform sacrifices, praise Rudra, and bow down to Shambhu.

Verse 25 (padma.3.34.25)

नमो भवायामलयोगधाम्ने स्थाणुं प्रपद्ये गिरिशं पुराणम् । स्मरामि रुद्रं हृदये निविष्टं जाने महादेवमनेकरूपम् ।

namo bhavāyāmalayogadhāmne sthāṇuṁ prapadye giriśaṁ purāṇam smarāmi rudraṁ hṛdaye niviṣṭaṁ jāne mahādevamanekarūpam

Homage to Bhava, abode of stainless yoga! I take refuge in the ancient, unmoving Girisha. I remember Rudra seated within my heart; I know Mahadeva as the one of many forms.