The Greatness of the Omkareshvara Jyotirlinga

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.18.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग श्राविता ह्यद्भुता कथा । महाकालाख्यलिङ्गस्य निजभक्तसुरक्षिणः ॥ 18.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta mahābhāga śrāvitā hyadbhutā kathā mahākālākhyaliṅgasya nijabhaktasurakṣiṇaḥ

The sages said: O Suta, most fortunate one, you have told us the wondrous story of the linga called Mahakala, the true protector of its own devotees.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.18.2)

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गं चतुर्थं च कृपया वद वित्तम । ओंङ्कारे परमेशस्य सर्वपातकहारिणः ॥ 18.2 ॥

jyotirliṅgaṁ caturthaṁ ca kṛpayā vada vittama oṁṅkāre parameśasya sarvapātakahāriṇaḥ

Kindly tell us now, O most learned one, of the fourth Jyotirlinga — the form of the Supreme Lord abiding at Omkara, destroyer of every sin.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.18.3)

सूत उवाच । ओंङ्कारे परमेशाख्यं लिङ्गमासीद्यथा द्विजाः । तथा वक्ष्यामि वः प्रीत्या श्रूयतां परमर्षयः ॥ 18.3 ॥

sūta uvāca oṁṅkāre parameśākhyaṁ liṅgamāsīdyathā dvijāḥ tathā vakṣyāmi vaḥ prītyā śrūyatāṁ paramarṣayaḥ

Suta said: O brahmins, I shall lovingly relate how the linga called Parameshvara came to be at Omkara; listen, O great sages.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.18.4)

कस्मिंश्चित्समये चात्र नारदो भगवान्मुनिः । गोकर्णाख्यं शिवं गत्वा सिषेवे परभक्तिमान् ॥ 18.4 ॥

kasmiṁścitsamaye cātra nārado bhagavānmuniḥ gokarṇākhyaṁ śivaṁ gatvā siṣeve parabhaktimān

Once, the divine sage Narada, filled with supreme devotion, went to the shrine of Shiva called Gokarna and worshipped there.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.18.5)

ततः स आगतो विन्ध्यं नगेशं मुनिसत्तमः । तत्रैव पूजितस्तेन बहुमानपुरःसरम् ॥ 18.5 ॥

tataḥ sa āgato vindhyaṁ nageśaṁ munisattamaḥ tatraiva pūjitastena bahumānapuraḥsaram

Then that greatest of sages came to the mountain-lord Vindhya, who there received him with the utmost honor and worship.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.18.6)

मयि सर्वं विद्यते च न न्यूनं हि कदाचन । इति भावं समास्थाय संस्थितो नारदाग्रतः ॥ 18.6 ॥

mayi sarvaṁ vidyate ca na nyūnaṁ hi kadācana iti bhāvaṁ samāsthāya saṁsthito nāradāgrataḥ

Holding in his mind the thought 'Everything exists in me; I lack nothing whatsoever,' he stood there before Narada.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.18.7)

तन्मानं तत्तदा श्रुत्वा नारदो मानहा ततः । निःश्वस्य संस्थितस्तत्र श्रुत्वा विन्ध्योऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ 18.7 ॥

tanmānaṁ tattadā śrutvā nārado mānahā tataḥ niḥśvasya saṁsthitastatra śrutvā vindhyo’bravīdidam

Perceiving that pride of his, Narada — destroyer of pride — sighed deeply and stood there in silence; hearing that sigh, Vindhya spoke as follows.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.18.8)

विन्ध्य उवाच । किं न्यूनं च त्वया दृष्टं मयि निः श्वासकारणम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदो वाक्यमब्रवीत्स महामुनिः ॥ 18.8 ॥

vindhya uvāca kiṁ nyūnaṁ ca tvayā dṛṣṭaṁ mayi niḥ śvāsakāraṇam tacchrutvā nārado vākyamabravītsa mahāmuniḥ

Vindhya said: What deficiency have you seen in me that has caused you to sigh so? Hearing this, the great sage Narada spoke these words.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.18.9)

नारद उवाच । विद्यते त्वयि सर्वं हि मेरुरुच्चतरः पुनः । देवेष्वपि विभागोऽस्य न तवास्ति कदाचन ॥ 18.9 ॥

nārada uvāca vidyate tvayi sarvaṁ hi meruruccataraḥ punaḥ deveṣvapi vibhāgo’sya na tavāsti kadācana

Narada said: Indeed, everything exists in you — yet Meru is taller still, and the honor he holds even among the gods is one you have never attained.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.18.10)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा नारदस्तस्माज्जगाम च यथागतम् । विन्ध्यश्च परितप्तो वै धिग्वै मे जीवितादिकम् ॥ 18.10 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvā nāradastasmājjagāma ca yathāgatam vindhyaśca paritapto vai dhigvai me jīvitādikam

Suta said: Having said this, Narada departed as he had come; Vindhya was consumed with anguish, thinking, 'Shame upon this life of mine!'

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.18.11)

विश्वेश्वरं तथा शम्भुमाराध्य च तपाम्यहम् । इति निश्चित्य मनसा शङ्करं शरणं गतः ॥ 18.11 ॥

viśveśvaraṁ tathā śambhumārādhya ca tapāmyaham iti niścitya manasā śaṅkaraṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

'I shall practice austerity, worshipping Shambhu, Lord of the Universe' — resolving this in his mind, he took refuge in Shankara.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.18.12)

जगाम तत्र सुप्रीत्या ह्योङ्कारो यत्र वै स्वयम् । चकार च पुनस्तत्र शिवमूर्तिं च पार्थिवीम् ॥ 18.12 ॥

jagāma tatra suprītyā hyoṅkāro yatra vai svayam cakāra ca punastatra śivamūrtiṁ ca pārthivīm

With great devotion he went to that very place where Omkara himself dwelt, and there he fashioned an earthen image of Shiva.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.18.13)

आराध्य च तदा शम्भुं षण्मासं स निरन्तरम् । न चचाल तपःस्थानाच्छिवध्यानपरायणः ॥ 18.13 ॥

ārādhya ca tadā śambhuṁ ṣaṇmāsaṁ sa nirantaram na cacāla tapaḥsthānācchivadhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

Then, devoted to meditation on Shiva, he worshipped Shambhu unceasingly for six months, never once moving from his place of austerity.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.18.14)

एवं विन्ध्यतपो दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नः पार्वतीपतिः । स्वरूपं दर्शयामास दुर्लभं योगिनामपि ॥ 18.14 ॥

evaṁ vindhyatapo dṛṣṭvā prasannaḥ pārvatīpatiḥ svarūpaṁ darśayāmāsa durlabhaṁ yogināmapi

Seeing Vindhya's austerity, the Lord of Parvati was pleased and revealed to him his own form, one rarely attained even by yogis.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.18.15)

प्रसन्नः स तदोवाच ब्रूहि त्वं मनसेप्सितम् । तपसा ते प्रसन्नोऽस्मि भक्तानामीप्सितप्रदः ॥ 18.15 ॥

prasannaḥ sa tadovāca brūhi tvaṁ manasepsitam tapasā te prasanno’smi bhaktānāmīpsitapradaḥ

Pleased, he then said: Speak whatever your heart desires; I am pleased by your austerity, and I grant to my devotees whatever they wish.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.18.16)

विन्ध्य उवाच । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश बुद्धिं देहि यथेप्सिताम् । स्वकार्यसाधिनीं शम्भो त्वं सदा भक्तवत्सलः ॥ 18.16 ॥

vindhya uvāca yadi prasanno deveśa buddhiṁ dehi yathepsitām svakāryasādhinīṁ śambho tvaṁ sadā bhaktavatsalaḥ

Vindhya said: O lord of gods, if you are pleased, grant me the wisdom to accomplish that purpose which I desire; O Shambhu, you are ever affectionate toward your devotees.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.18.17)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् शम्भुश्चिचेत हृदये चिरम् । परोपतापदं विन्ध्यो वरमिच्छति मूढधीः ॥ 18.17 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā bhagavān śambhuściceta hṛdaye ciram paropatāpadaṁ vindhyo varamicchati mūḍhadhīḥ

Suta said: Hearing this, the blessed Shambhu pondered long in his heart: 'This foolish-minded Vindhya is asking for a boon that will bring harm to others.'

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.18.18)

किं करोमि यदेतस्मै वरदानं भवेच्छुभम् । मद्दत्तं परदुःखाय वरदानं यथा न हि ॥ 18.18 ॥

kiṁ karomi yadetasmai varadānaṁ bhavecchubham maddattaṁ paraduḥkhāya varadānaṁ yathā na hi

What should I do, that the boon I grant him may be auspicious — so that any boon given by me does not become a cause of suffering for others?

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.18.19)

सूत उवाच । तथापि दत्तवान् शम्भुस्तस्मै तद्वरमुत्तमम् । विन्ध्य पर्वतराज त्वं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥ 18.19 ॥

sūta uvāca tathāpi dattavān śambhustasmai tadvaramuttamam vindhya parvatarāja tvaṁ yathecchasi tathā kuru

Suta said: Even so, Shambhu granted him that excellent boon: 'O Vindhya, king of mountains, do as you wish.'

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.18.20)

एवं च समये देवा ऋषयश्चामलाशयाः । सम्पूज्य शङ्करं तत्र स्थातव्यमिति चाब्रुवन् ॥ 18.20 ॥

evaṁ ca samaye devā ṛṣayaścāmalāśayāḥ sampūjya śaṅkaraṁ tatra sthātavyamiti cābruvan

At that time, the gods and pure-hearted sages, having worshipped Shankara there, entreated him to remain established in that very place.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.18.21)

तच्छ्रुत्वा देववचनं प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः । तथैव कृतवान्प्रीत्या लोकानां सुखहेतवे ॥ 18.21 ॥

tacchrutvā devavacanaṁ prasannaḥ parameśvaraḥ tathaiva kṛtavānprītyā lokānāṁ sukhahetave

Hearing that request of the gods, the pleased Supreme Lord lovingly did just as they asked, for the happiness of all beings.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.18.22)

ओङ्कारं चैव यल्लिङ्गमेकं तच्च द्विधा गतम् । प्रणवे चैव ओङ्कारनामासीत्स सदाशिवः ॥ 18.22 ॥

oṅkāraṁ caiva yalliṅgamekaṁ tacca dvidhā gatam praṇave caiva oṅkāranāmāsītsa sadāśivaḥ

That linga which was one thus became twofold as Omkara; the form abiding in the Pranava, the syllable Om, came to be called Sadashiva under the name Omkareshvara.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.18.23)

पार्थिवे चैव यज्जातं तदासीत्परमेश्वरः । भक्ताभीष्टप्रदौ चोभौ भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदौ द्विजाः ॥ 18.23 ॥

pārthive caiva yajjātaṁ tadāsītparameśvaraḥ bhaktābhīṣṭapradau cobhau bhuktimuktipradau dvijāḥ

And that which arose in the earthen image became Parameshvara; O brahmins, both these forms fulfill the desires of devotees and grant both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.18.24)

तत्पूजां च तदा चक्रुर्देवाश्च ऋषयस्तथा । प्रापुर्वराननेकांश्च सन्तोष्य वृषभध्वजम् ॥ 18.24 ॥

tatpūjāṁ ca tadā cakrurdevāśca ṛṣayastathā prāpurvarānanekāṁśca santoṣya vṛṣabhadhvajam

Then the gods and the sages worshipped both of them, and, having pleased the Bull-bannered god, obtained many boons.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.18.25)

स्वस्वस्थानं ययुर्देवा विन्ध्योऽपि मुदितोऽधिकम् । कार्यं साधितवान्स्वीयं परितापं जहौ द्विजाः ॥ 18.25 ॥

svasvasthānaṁ yayurdevā vindhyo’pi mudito’dhikam kāryaṁ sādhitavānsvīyaṁ paritāpaṁ jahau dvijāḥ

The gods departed each to his own abode; O brahmins, Vindhya too, greatly rejoicing, having accomplished his purpose, cast off his anguish.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.18.26)

य एवं पूजयेच्छम्भुं मातृगर्भं वसेन्न हि । यदभीष्टं फलं तच्च प्राप्नुयान्नात्र संशयः ॥ 18.26 ॥

ya evaṁ pūjayecchambhuṁ mātṛgarbhaṁ vasenna hi yadabhīṣṭaṁ phalaṁ tacca prāpnuyānnātra saṁśayaḥ

Whoever worships Shambhu in this way shall never again dwell in a mother's womb; without doubt, he attains whatever fruit he desires.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.18.27)

सूत उवाच । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातमोङ्कारप्रभवे फलम् । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि केदारं लिङ्गमुत्तमम् ॥ 18.27 ॥

sūta uvāca etatte sarvamākhyātamoṅkāraprabhave phalam ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi kedāraṁ liṅgamuttamam

Suta said: Thus I have told you the entire fruit of the origin of Omkara; now, after this, I shall relate the excellent Kedara linga.