Kashi

विश्वेश्वरमाहात्म्ये काश्यां रुद्रगमनवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः
Lord Rudra's going to Kashi description in Vishweshwara greatness Chapter 22



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

यद्दिनं हि समारभ्य हरः काश्यामुपागतः |
तदारभ्य च सा काशी सर्वश्रेष्ठतराऽभवत् || 40 ||
And starting from that day when Lord Shiva arrived in Kashi, that Kashi became the utmost best (place on the earth, also "capital" of the earth).

Avimukteshwara

विश्वेश्वरमाहात्म्ये काश्यां रुद्रगमनवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः
Lord Rudra's going to Kashi description in Vishweshwara greatness Chapter 22



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



अविमुक्तेश्वरं लिङ्गं काश्यां तिष्ठति सर्वदा |
मुक्तिदातृ च लोकानां महापातकिनामपि || 25 ||
अन्यत्र प्राप्यते मुक्तिः सारुप्यादिर्मुनीश्वराः |
अत्रैव प्राप्यते जीवैः सायुज्या मुक्तिरुत्तमा || 26 ||
The Avimukteshwara Linga stays in Kashi always. And giver of liberation of the worlds, even of great sinners.
Sages, elsewhere gets one Saarupya and other (Saalokya, Saamipya, Saannidhya, Kaivalya) liberations. Here only living beings get the best Saayujya liberation.

Kedareshwara Jyotirlinga

केदारेश्वरज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः 
Kedareshwara Jyotirlinga greatness/importance description Chapter 19



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



शिवाज्ञां स समासाद्य सृष्टिं चक्रेऽद्भुतं तदा |
चतुर्दशमिता लोका ब्रह्माण्डे यत्र निर्मिताः || 17 ||
Having received the order of Lord Shiva, (Lord Brahma) made the amazing creation, (with) 14 worlds set up in the universe where constructed.

Manikarnika

विश्वेश्वरमाहात्म्ये काश्यां रुद्रगमनवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः 
Lord Rudra's going to Kashi description in Vishweshwara greatness Chapter 22



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



ततश्च विष्णुना दृष्ट्वा किमेतद्दृश्यतेऽद्भुतम् |
इत्याश्चर्यं तदा दृष्ट्वा शिरसः कम्पनं कृतम् || 13 ||
ततश्च पतितः कर्णान्मणिश्च पुरतः प्रभोः |
तद्बभूव महत्तीर्थं नामतो मणिकर्णिका || 14 ||
And then Lord Vishnu having seen, (wondered) what this amazing thing is visible. Having seen such a surprise, vibrated (shook) his head.
And then from an ear fell a gem of the Lord (Vishnu) in front. Then (that place) became a great place of pilgrimage (tirtha) by the name of Manikarnika (where the Kashi Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga temple is).

Kedareshwara Jyotirlinga

केदारेश्वरज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः 
Kedareshwara Jyotirlinga greatness/importance description Chapter 19



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



इत्युक्तस्तु तदा ताभ्यां केदारे हिमसंश्रये |
स्वयं च शङ्करस्तस्थौ ज्योतीरुपो महेश्वरः || 7 ||
They (Nara and Narayana) having said that (to stay here in your form) on Kedara, the abode of snow, Lord Shiva, the great God himself in the form of light stayed there.

Mahakala Jyotirlinga

महाकालज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः
Mahakala Jyotirlinga greatness/importance description Chapter 16



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



गर्तात्ततः समुत्पन्नः शिवो विकटरूपधृक् |
महाकाल इति ख्यातो दुष्टहन्ता सतां गतिः || 37 ||
Then Lord Shiva bearing a frightening form emerged from the pit, well known as Mahakala, killer of the evil people and bestowing good progress (or heaven or liberation) to the good people.

Mahakala Jyotirlinga

महाकालज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः
Mahakala Jyotirlinga greatness/importance description Chapter 16



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



अवन्ती नगरी रम्या मुक्तिदा सर्वदेहिनाम् |
शिवप्रिया महापुण्या वर्तते लोकपावनी || 5 ||
The pleasing city of Avanti (Avantika, Ujjayini, Ujjain) is capable of giving liberation to all living beings. Favourite of Lord Shiva, with high merits, it exists, sacred to the world.

Mallikarjuna

मल्लिकार्जुनद्वितीयज्योतिर्लिङ्गवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः
Mallikarjuna – second Jyotirlinga description Chapter 15



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



अमावस्यादिने शंभुः स्वयं गच्छति तत्र हि |
पौर्णमासीदिने तत्र पार्वती गच्छति ध्रुवम् || 18 ||
On the new moon day, Lord Shiva himself really goes there. On the full moon day, Goddess Parvati certainly goes there.

Chandrakunda

सोमनाथज्योतिर्लिङ्गोत्पत्तिवर्णनं नाम चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः
Somanath Jyotirlinga evolution description Chapter 14



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



चन्द्रकुण्डं प्रसिद्धं च पृथिव्यां पापनाशनम् |
तत्र स्नाति नरो यः स सर्वैः पापैः प्रमुच्यते || 54 ||
And Chandrakunda (a pool named after the moon), well known on the earth, (is) capable of destroying sins. A man who bathes there is liberated from all sins.

Someshwara

सोमनाथज्योतिर्लिङ्गोत्पत्तिवर्णनं नाम चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः
Somanath Jyotirlinga evolution description Chapter 14



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)


सोमेश्वरश्च नाम्नाऽऽसीद्विख्यातो भुवनत्रये |
क्षयकुष्ठादिरोगाणां नाशकः पूजनाद्द्विजाः || 51 ||
And sages, famous in the three worlds by the name of Someshwara, (it is) capable of destroying diseases including tuberculosis and leprosy by worshipping.

Somanath Jyotirlinga Evolution

सोमनाथज्योतिर्लिङ्गोत्पत्तिवर्णनं नाम चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः
Somanath Jyotirlinga evolution description Chapter 14



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



चन्द्रेण च तपस्तप्तं षण्मासं च निरन्तरम् |
मृत्युञ्जयेन मन्त्रेण पूजितो वृषभध्वजः || 39 ||
And penance (was) performed by the moon continuously for six months, worshipping Lord Shiva (who has a bull on his flag) by the Mrityunjaya mantra.

Shivaratri

नवमोऽध्यायः 
Chapter 9



ईश्वर उवाच | 
God said (to Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu)



दिनमेतत्ततः पुण्यं भविष्यति महत्तरम् |
शिवरात्रिरिति ख्याता तिथिरेषा मम प्रिया || 10 ||
This day's punya (merit) will become superior. It is known as Shivaratri, a date which is dear to me.



यत्फलं मम पूजायां वर्षमेकं निरंतरम् |
तत्फलं लभते सद्यः शिवरात्रौ मदर्चनात् || 13 ||
The fruit (results) one obtains by my continuous worship for one year, one gets immediately by my prayer/worship on Shivaratri.

Mahabala Linga

महाबलमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः 
Mahabala (Linga) importance description Chapter 8



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



घोरेण तपसा लब्धं रावणाख्येन रक्षसा |
तल्लिङ्गं स्थापयामास गोकर्णे गणनायकः || 14 ||
गोकर्णं शिवलिङ्गं तु मोक्षद्वार उदाहृतः |
महाबलाभिधानोऽसौ पूजितः संस्तुतो द्विजाः || 24 ||
Obtained by severe penance by a demon called Ravana, that Linga was established in Gokarna by Ganesha (who offered to keep the Linga while Ravana did his prayers in the evening, but put it down where it got firmly established).
The Gokarna Shivalinga is considered to be a gate to liberation. Brahmanas (sages), this (Shivalinga) called Mahabala (or Mahabaleshwara) is worshipped and praised.

Nandikeshwara Linga importance description

नन्दीकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णने ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः
Brahmani's attainment of heaven description in Nandikeshwara Linga importance description Chapter 6



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



ऊर्ध्वपुच्छं तदा कृत्वा शीघ्रम् गौर्नर्मदां प्रति |
आगत्य नन्दिकस्यास्य समीपे नर्मदाजले || 51 ||
संनिमज्य त्रिवारं तु श्वेतत्वं च गता हि सा |
यथागतं गता सा च ब्राह्मणो विस्मयं गतः || 52 ||
अहो धन्यतमं तीर्थं ब्रह्महत्यानिवारणम् |
स्वयं च मज्जितस्तत्र ब्राह्मणः सेवकस्तथा || 53 ||
Making the tail upright, the cow quickly (went) towards Narmada. (She) arrived at the Narmada waters near this Nandikeshwara (tirtha, place of pilgrimage).
Having bathed in the water thrice, she got (recovered) the whiteness (after having turned black from being hit by the Brahmana and released/rejected). She became like she was and the Brahmana (who was following her to see where she goes and what she does) became surprised.
(He thought) what a greatest tirtha (place of pilgrimage) which is capable of removing the sin of killing a Brahmana! The Brahmana himself bathed there, so also his assistant.

Karma

नन्दीकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णने ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः
Brahmani's attainment of heaven description in Nandikeshwara Linga importance description Chapter 6



वत्स उवाच |
Calf said (to the cow, his mother)



कदापि कर्मणो नाशः कदा भोगः प्रजायते |
तस्माच्च पुनरेवं त्वमकर्म कर्तुमुद्यता || 26 ||
अहं कुतस्ते पुत्रोऽद्य त्वं माता कुत एव च |
वृथाऽभिमानः पुत्रत्वे मातृत्वे च विचार्यताम् || 27 ||
क्व माता क्व पिता विद्धि क्व स्वामी क्व कलत्रकम् |
न कोऽपि कस्य चास्तीह सर्वेऽपि स्वकृन्तभुजः || 28 ||
एवं ज्ञात्वा त्वया मातर्दुःखं त्याज्यं सुयत्नतः |
सुभगाचरणं कार्यं परलोकसुखेप्सया || 29 ||
Sometimes (bad) karma (gets) destroyed, sometimes enjoyments come. And therefore you are again about to do bad karma (to kill the Brahmana's son).
From where am I your son today, and from where are you (my) mother? Such futile pride in sonhood and motherhood should be thought about.
Where/when (someone is) known as mother, father, husband, wife? Nobody is anybody's anything here (on the earth); everyone is enjoying/suffering one's karma.
Mother, knowing so, you have to give up (your) sorrow with good effort. Good/nice behaviour should be done by (those) wishing happiness in the other worlds.

Karma

नन्दीकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णने ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः
Brahmani's attainment of heaven description in Nandikeshwara Linga importance description Chapter 6



वत्स उवाच |
Calf said (to the cow, his mother)



किं कर्तव्यं क्व गन्तव्यं कर्मबद्धा वयं यतः |
कृतं चैव यथा पूर्वं भुज्यतं च तथाऽधुना || 12 ||
हसता क्रियते कर्म रुदता परिभुज्यते |
दुःखदाता न कोप्यस्ति सुखदाता न कश्चन || 13 ||
सुखदुःखे परो दत्त इत्येषा कुमतिर्मता |
अहं चापि करोम्यत्र मिथ्याज्ञानं तदोच्यते || 14 ||
What to do, where to go, since we are bound by karma? And the way (karma has been) done in the past, accordingly has to be enjoyed/suffered now.
Karma is done laughing/smiling, (its fruits are) suffered crying. No one is the giver of sorrow/unhappiness, nobody is the giver of happiness.
That someone has given happiness or sorrow is considered bad thinking. And that "I am doing here" is then called fake (false) knowledge.

Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness

अत्रीश्वरमाहत्म्यवर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः 
Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness description Chapter 4



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



तद्दिनं हि समारभ्य तत्राक्षयजलं सदा |
हस्तमात्रे हि तद्गर्ते गङ्गा मन्दाकिनी ह्यभूत् || 57 ||
Starting from that day, there the permanently undwindling water in that pit, the size of a hand, Ganga became (river) Mandakini.

Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness

अत्रीश्वरमाहत्म्यवर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः 
Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness description Chapter 4



अनसूयोवाच |
Anasuya said (to Goddess Ganga)



यदि प्रसन्ना देवेशि यद्यस्ति च कृपा मयि |
त्वया स्थेयं निश्चलत्वादस्मिन्देवि तपोवने || 39 ||
Goddess of the Devas, if you are pleased, if you have mercy on me, Goddess, you have to stay here permanently in this penance forest.

Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness

अत्रीश्वरमाहत्म्यवर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः 
Atrishwara (incarnation) greatness description Chapter 4



गङ्गोवाच |
Ganga (river in the form of a woman) said (to Anasuya)



स्वामिनः सेवनं दृष्ट्वा शिवस्य च परात्मनः |
साध्वि धर्मं च ते दृष्ट्वा स्थितास्मि तव संनिधौ || 9 ||
Having seen your service to your husband, and to the supreme soul Shiva, and Sadhvi (female ascetic), having seen your behaviour (following your Dharma), I have (had) stayed here in your vicinity (although it has not rained for the last 54 years).

Shivalingas

कोटिरुद्रसंहितायां ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः 
Kotirudra Samhita, Jyotirlinga importance description Chapter 1



सूत उवाच |
Suta Goswami said (to the sages)



सर्वेषां शिवलिङ्गानां मुने संख्या न विद्यते |
सर्वा लिङ्गमयी भूमिः सर्वं लिङ्गमयं जगत् || 9 ||
Sage, one cannot count all the Shivalingas. The earth is (subtly of the same element) as Shivalinga; the world is (subtly of the same element) as Shivalinga.



पाताले चापि वर्तन्ते स्वर्गे चापि तथा भुवि |
सर्वत्र पूज्यते शंभुः सदेवासुरमानुषैः || 13 ||
Like on the earth, (Shivalingas) exist also in the lowest world (Patala), and also in the heaven. Lord Shiva is worshipped everywhere, including by Devas, demons and humans.