Twelve Jyotirlinga Incarnations

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 
Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnation description Chapter 42



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



विश्वेश्वरावतारस्तु काश्यां जातो हि सप्तमः |
सर्वब्रह्माण्डरुपश्च भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदो मुने || 30 ||
Sage, the Vishweshwara incarnation born in Kashi (is) the seventh, in the form of the whole universe and giver of enjoyments as well as liberation.



त्र्यंबकाख्योऽवतारो यः सोऽष्टमो गौतमीतटे |
प्रार्थितो गौतमेनाविर्बभूव शशिमौलिनः || 34 ||
The incarnation of Shiva called Tryambaka which is the eighth, appeared on the bank of the river Gautami, prayed by sage Gautama.



रामेश्वरावतारस्तु शिवस्यैकादशः स्मृतः |
रामचन्द्रप्रियकरो रामसंस्थापितो मुने || 46 ||
Rameshwara incarnation is considered the eleventh (incarnation) of Shiva. (On worshipping, it) makes one favourite of Lord Rama. Sage, (it was) established by Lord Rama.

Twelve Jyotirlinga Incarnation

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 
Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnation description Chapter 42



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



शिवावतारः सोमेशो लिङ्गरूपेण संस्थितः |
सौराष्ट्रे शुभदेशे च शशिना पूजितः पुरा || 7 || 
चन्द्रकुण्डं च तत्रैव सर्वपापविनाशकम् |
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो धीमान्सर्वरोगैः प्रमुच्यते || 8 ||
The Somesha (Somnath) incarnation of Shiva was established in the form of a Linga in the auspicious land of Saurashtra, and was worshipped by the moon in the past.
And Chandrakunda (the pool of water named after the moon) there is the destroyer of all sins. An intelligent man after bathing there get liberated from all diseases.

Twelve Jyotirlinga Incarnations

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 
Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnation description Chapter 42



Then in the first chapter of Kotirudra Samhita, Suta Goswami tells the sages the following three verses.



सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् |
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोम्कारे परमेश्वरम् || 21 ||
केदारो हिमवत्पृष्ठे डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् | 
वाराणस्यां च विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे || 22 ||
वैद्यनाथं चिताभूमौ नागेशं दारुकावने |
सेतुबन्धे च रामेशं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये || 23 ||
This looks like a combination of the above two versions.

Twelve Jyotirlinga Incarnations

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः 
Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnation description Chapter 42



The three verses in common use are as follows.



सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् |
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोम्कारं ममलेश्वरम् ||
परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् | 
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ||
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे |
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं तु शिवालये ||
Neither set of verses are in the same order of Jyotirlingas as the numbering given in Chapter 42, where the first four are as in this set of verses, but Kedarnath is the fifth, Bhimashankara sixth, Vishweshwara seventh, Tryambakeshwara eighth, Vaidyanath ninth, Nageshwara tenth, Rameshwara eleventh, and Ghushmeshwara twelvth.

Twelve Jyotirlinga Incarnations

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnation description Chapter 42



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



केदारो हिमवत्पृष्ठे डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करः |
वाराणस्यां च विश्वेशस्त्र्यंबको गौतमीतटे || 2 ||
सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथश्च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनः |
उज्जयिन्यां महाकाल ओंकारे चामरेश्वरः || 3 ||
वैद्यनाथश्चिताभूमौ नागेशो दारुकावने |
सेतुबन्धे च रामेशो घुश्मेशश्च शिवालये || 4 ||
अवतारद्वादशकमेतच्छम्भोः परात्मनः |
सर्वानन्दकरं पुंसां दर्शनात्स्पर्शनान्मुने || 5 ||
Kedara on the side of the Himalaya, Bhimashankara in Dakini, Vishweshwara in Varanasi, Tryambakeshwara on the bank of Gautami (river).
Somanath in Saurashtra, Mallikarjuna on Shree Shaila mountain, Mahakala in Ujjayini (Ujjain), Amareshwara at Omkara (Omkarnath).
Vaidyanath on cremation land, Nagesha in Daruka forest, Rameshwara at the Setubandha (bridge building site), Ghushmeshwara in Shivalaya.
Sage, these twelve incarnations of the supreme soul Shiva (give) all joy to people by darshan (sight) or by touch.

Lord Shiva assures Arjuna

किरातेश्वरावतारवर्णनं नामैकचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Kirateshwara (tribal) incarnation description Chapter 41



शिव उवाच |
Lord Shiva said (to Arjuna)



कृष्णं च कथयिष्यामि साहाय्यं ते करिष्यति |
स वै ममात्मभूतश्च मद्भक्तः कार्यकारकः || 57 ||
And I will tell Lord Krishna. He will assist you. He is faithful to me and is my devotee, (who) does my work.

Remembering the name

किरातावतारवर्णने मूकदैत्यवधो नामैकोनचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Muka demon killing in tribal incarnation description Chapter 39



अर्जुन उवाच |
Arjuna said (actually only thinks in his mind, does not speak this)



तन्नामस्मरणात्पुंसां कल्याणं जायते ध्रुवम् || 33 ||
By remembering that name (of Lord Shiva), good occurs to people certainly.

Lord Shiva

किरातावतारवर्णनप्रसङ्गेऽर्जुनाय व्यासोपदेशवर्णनं नाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sage Vyasa's advice description during tribal incarnation description Chapter 37



व्यास उवाच |
Sage Vyasa said (to the Pandavas)



सर्वेषां चैव सेव्योऽसौ शङ्करः सर्वदुःखहा |
शिवः स्वल्पेन कालेन सम्प्रसीदति भक्तितः || 57 || 
सुप्रसन्नो महेशो हि भक्तेभ्यः सकलप्रदः |
भुक्तिं मुक्तिमिहामुत्र यच्छतीति सुनिश्चितम् || 58 ||
तस्मात्सेव्यः सदा शम्भुर्भुक्तिमुक्तिफलेप्सुभिः |
पुरुषः शङ्करः साक्षाद्दुष्टहन्ता सतां गतिः || 59 ||
This Lord Shiva, worshipped by everybody (is the) destroyer of all sorrow. Lord Shiva, in a short time gets very pleased by devotion.
When very pleased, the great God really gives everything to the devotees – definitely gives enjoyments, liberation, here (on the earth) or in the other worlds.
Therefore, Lord Shiva should be worshipped by those who desire enjoyments or liberation. Lord Shiva is the God (Purusha, not Prakriti), directly the killer of evil people, and uplifter of good people.

Sage Vyasa's Advice

किरातावतारवर्णनप्रसङ्गेऽर्जुनाय व्यासोपदेशवर्णनं नाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sage Vyasa's advice description during tribal incarnation description Chapter 37



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



पञ्चाक्षरं जपन्मन्त्रं शिवप्रेमसमाकुलः |
तेजसां च स्वयं राशिः साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः || 23 ||
Tormented by the love for Lord Shiva, chanting the five-lettered mantra (Om Namah Shivaya), (Sage Vyasa) himself being a symbol of brilliance, like another Dharma in visible form.

Sage Vyasa's advice

किरातावतारवर्णनप्रसङ्गेऽर्जुनाय व्यासोपदेशवर्णनं नाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sage Vyasa's advice description during tribal incarnation description Chapter 37



श्रीकृष्ण उवाच |
Lord Krishna said (to Pandavas)



इदानीं सेव्यते देवो भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदः |
यूयं सेवत तं शंभुमपि सर्वसुखावहम् || 16 ||
Now God, the giver of enjoyments and liberation as fruits, should be served/worshipped. You all serve/worship that Lord Shambhu, (who makes) everything comfortable.

Ashwatthama Incarnation

अश्वत्थामशिवावतारवर्णनं नाम षट्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Ashwatthama incarnation of Lord Shiva Chapter 36



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



अथावसरमासाद्य रुद्रः सर्वान्तकः प्रभुः |
स्वांशेन तनयो जज्ञे द्रोणस्य स महाबलः || 13 ||
अश्वत्थामेति विख्यातः स बभूव क्षितौ मुने | 14
At the proper moment, Lord Rudra, the destroyer of everything (in Mahapralaya), with a small part of himself took birth as a son of Dronacharya, of great strength.
He became famous as Ashwatthama on the earth.

Repercussions of criticizing Lord Shiva

ब्रह्मचारिशिवावतारवर्णनं नाम त्रयस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Brahmachari Shiva avatara description Chapter 33



गिरिजोवाच |
Parvati said (to her friend Vijayaa)



न केवलं भवेत्पापं निन्दाकर्तुः शिवस्य हि |
यो वै शृणोति तन्निन्दां पापभाक्स भवेदिह || 49 ||
शिवनिन्दाकरो वध्यः सर्वथा शिवकिङ्करैः |
ब्राह्मणश्चेत्स वै त्याज्यो गन्तव्यं तत्स्थालाद्द्रुतम् || 50 ||
Not only the one who criticises Lord Shiva commits a sin, those who listen to that criticism also bear the sin on the earth.
One who criticises Lord Shiva is to be killed by all means by the assistants of Lord Shiva. If he is a Brahmin, (he) should be left alone (but) one should go away from that place quickly.



These two shlokas also appeared as shlokas 37 and 38 in Chapter 28 of Parvati block of Rudra Samhita. Chapters 26 to 28 of Parvati block of Rudra Samhita have several common shlokas with this chapter.

Brahmachari Shiva Incarnation

ब्रह्मचारिशिवावतारवर्णनं नाम त्रयस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Brahmachari Shiva avatara description Chapter 33



गिरिजोवाच |
Parvati said (to Brahmachari incarnation of Lord Shiva)



ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण कश्चित्त्वं धूर्त आगतः |
शिवनिन्दा कृता मूढ त्वया मन्युरभून्मम || 39 ||
Some rogue, you have come in the form of a Brahmachari (a celibate). Fool, criticism of Lord Shiva done by you caused my anger/sorrow.



शिवनिन्दां करोतीह तत्त्वमज्ञाय यः पुमान् |
आजन्मसञ्चितं पुण्यं तस्य भस्मीभवत्युत || 41 ||
Of a man who criticises Lord Shiva on the earth, (even if) not knowing the element, all the punya (merit) collected by him during his (present) life turns to ash (gets destroyed).

Upamanyu asks for Highest Devotion

सुरेश्वराख्य शिवावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 32



उपमन्युरुवाच |
Upamanyu said (to God)



प्रसीद देवदेवेश प्रसीद परमेश्वर |
स्वभक्तिं देहि परमां दिव्यामव्यभिचारिणीम् || 65 ||
Be pleased, God of the Devas, be pleased, Supreme God. Give your highest devotion, divine and pure.

Shiva gives a boon to Upamanyu

सुरेश्वराख्य शिवावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 32



शिव उवाच |
Lord Shiva said (to Upamanyu)



पिताऽहं ते महादेवो माता ते जगदम्बिका |
वरान्वरय सुप्रीत्या मनोभिलषितान्परान् || 55 ||
I am your father, the Great God, your mother is the Mother of the world (Parvati). Ask for a boon with good love, what (your) mind most desires.

Superior Element

सुरेश्वराख्य शिवावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 32



उपमन्युरुवाच |
Upamanyu said (to Sureshwara avatara – Lord Shiva posing as Indra)



नास्ति शंभोः परं तत्त्वं सर्वकारणकारणम् |
ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिदेवानां श्रेष्ठो गुणपराद्विभोः || 33 ||
There is no element superior to Lord Shiva, the cause of all causes, the best of Brahma, Vishnu, etc., and all Devas, the Lord (who is) above characteristics (of nature: Sattva, Rajas, Tamas).

This shloka repeats with a minor difference in Vayaviya Samhita, Earlier/east part, Chapter 35 as shloka 25.

Lord Rudra

सुरेश्वराख्य शिवावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 32



उपमन्युरुवाच |
Upamanyu said (to Sureshwara avatara – Lord Shiva posing as Indra)



त्वं न जानासि वै रुद्रं सर्वदेवेश्वरेश्वरम्  |
ब्रह्माविष्णुमहेशानां जनकं प्रकृतेः परम् || 30 ||
You do not know the Lord Rudra, the God of all Devas and Gods, father of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha, above Prakriti (Maya).

This shloka repeats in Vayaviya Samhita, Earlier/east part, Chapter 35 as shloka 22. Many of the shlokas of that chapter are similar or the same as shlokas in this chapter.

Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation

सुरेश्वराख्य शिवावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Sureshwara named Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 32



मातोवाच |
(Upamanyu's) mother said (to him who wanted genuine milk)



पूर्वजन्मनि यत्कृत्यं शिवमुद्दिश्य हे सुत |
तदेव लभ्यते नूनं नात्र कार्या विचारणा || 10 ||
Son, in the previous life, whatever was done for Lord Shiva, only that (fruits of that) one gets now; there is nothing to think about it (it is certain).

Avadhuteshwara Shiva incarnation

अवधूतेश्वरशिवावतारचरित्रवर्णनं नाम त्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Avadhuteshwara Shiva incarnation character description Chapter 30



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



इत्युक्त्वा स करे धृत्वा स्वतेजोऽनलमद्भुतम् |
भालनेत्रसमुद्भूतं प्राक्षिपल्लवणांभसि || 36 ||
Having said so (that I will throw away this fire from my eye on the forehead far away so that it does not trouble Indra/Devas), he took the amazing fire from his own brilliance which had emerged from the eye on his forehead, in his hand, and threw it in the salty sea. 

This shloka is very similar to the shloka 50 of Chapter 13 of the war block in Rudra Samhita.



अथो शिवस्य तत्तेजो भालनेत्रसमुद्भवम् |
क्षिप्तं च लवणांभोधौ सद्यो बालो बभूव ह || 37 ||
Then that brilliance (fire) of Lord Shiva which emerged from the eye on the forehead, and (when) thrown into the salty sea, immediately became a child (called Jalandhara). 

This shloka is very similar to the shloka 4 of chapter 14 of the war block in Rudra Samhita. A few other shlokas from this chapter are similar to the some shlokas in chapters 13 and 14 of the war block in Rudra Samhita.

Vaishyanath named Shiva incarnation

वैश्यनाथाह्वय शिवावतारवर्णनं नाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः
Vaishyanath named Shiva incarnation description Chapter 26



महानन्दोवाच |
Mahananda (the prostitute) said (to Lord Shiva)



न मे वाञ्छास्ति भोगेषु भूमौ स्वर्गे रसातले |
तव पादाम्बुजस्पर्शादन्यत्किञ्चिन्न कामये || 59 ||
I have no desire for enjoyments on earth, in heaven or in the nether world Rasatala. Other than touching your lotus feet, I do not desire anything.

Truth

वैश्यनाथाह्वय शिवावतारवर्णनं नाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः
Vaishyanath named Shiva incarnation description Chapter 26



महानन्दोवाच |
Mahananda (the prostitute) said (to all the people there)



सत्याश्रयः परो धर्मः सत्येन परमा गतिः |
सत्येन स्वर्गमोक्षौ च सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् || 48 ||
To rest on truth is high Dharma. The highest state (is reached by) truth. With truth (one gets) heaven as well as liberation. In truth is everything respectable.

Pippalada incarnation's character description

पिप्पलादावतारचरितवर्णनं नाम पञ्चविंशोऽध्यायः
Pippalada incarnation's character description Chapter 25



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



पिप्पलादस्य चरितं पद्माचरितसंयुतम् |
यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि सुभक्त्या भुवि मानवः || 21 || 
शनिपीडाविनाशार्थमेतच्चरितमुत्तमम् | 22
A human who reads or even listens to the character of Lord Pippalada along with the character of Padma with good devotion on the earth, this best character (remedy) for destroying the suffering caused by Saturn (like the seven and a half year periods).