Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram - 3

The Shloka

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अवन्तिकायां विहितावतारं मुक्तिप्रदानाय च सज्जनानाम् ।

अकालमृत्योः परिरक्षणार्थं वन्दे महाकालमहासुरेशम् ॥

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Avantikāyāṁ vihitāvatāraṁ muktipradānāya ca sajjanānām ।

Akālamṛtyoḥ parirakṣaṇārthaṁ vande mahākālamahāsureśam ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka extols Lord Mahakaleshwar of Ujjain, highlighting His dual role as a liberator and protector. The significance lies in acknowledging Mahakala’s power to grant salvation (mukti) to virtuous devotees and to shield them from the terror of sudden or premature death (akalmrityu). Ujjain, or Avantika, is considered a highly sacred place where Shiva chose to reside in this powerful form, making the Jyotirlinga a beacon of hope for those seeking spiritual freedom and divine protection against fate. The worship of Mahakaleshwar is believed to conquer fear, especially the fear of death, and to grant profound spiritual benefits.

I bow to Mahakala, the great Lord of lords, who manifested in Avantika (Ujjain) for the liberation of good people and for protecting them from untimely death.

This shloka is an obeisance to Lord Mahakaleshwar, the Jyotirlinga located in Avantika (Ujjain). It praises Shiva for manifesting there specifically to grant liberation to the righteous and to provide protection against untimely demise, thus affirming His supreme authority over time and death.

This reverential verse from the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram is dedicated to Lord Mahakaleshwar, one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, situated in the ancient city of Avantika, now known as Ujjain. The shloka praises Shiva for His specific manifestation in Ujjain. The primary purpose of His presence, as described, is twofold: firstly, to bestow liberation (moksha) upon the virtuous and righteous individuals (sajjana) who seek refuge in Him, thereby freeing them from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Secondly, He is invoked for complete protection (parirakshana) from untimely or premature death (akalmrityu), a fear that grips many. By bowing to Mahakala, the ‘Great Time’ or ‘Great Destroyer’ (of ignorance and evil), the devotee acknowledges Shiva’s supreme power over all aspects of existence, including time and destiny, and seeks His divine grace for both spiritual emancipation and physical safety.

Sentence - 1

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अवन्तिकायां विहितावतारं मुक्तिप्रदानाय च सज्जनानाम्

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Meaning

He who manifested in Avantika (Ujjain) for the liberation of good people,

Meaning of Words

अवन्तिकायां	Avantikāyāṁ
Avantika is the ancient name for the city of Ujjain, located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the seven holy cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and is revered as a significant pilgrimage site. The suffix ‘-yam’ indicates the locative case, meaning ‘in Avantika’.
विहितावतारं	vihitāvatāraṁ
who took incarnation/manifested ‘Vihita’ means performed, ordained, or arranged, and ‘avatāra’ means a descent or incarnation of a deity into the earthly realm. Thus, ‘vihitāvatāraṁ’ refers to Lord Shiva manifesting or taking an incarnation in that particular place.
मुक्तिप्रदानाय	muktipradānāya
for granting liberation ‘Mukti’ signifies liberation or salvation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara), which is a paramount goal in Hinduism. ‘Pradāna’ means granting or bestowing. The suffix ‘-āya’ indicates the dative case, meaning ‘for the purpose of granting’.
च	ca	and
सज्जनानाम्	sajjanānām
‘Sajjana’ refers to virtuous, righteous, pious, or good-hearted individuals. The suffix ‘-nām’ indicates the genitive plural, meaning ‘of the good people’ or ‘belonging to the righteous ones’.

Sentence - 2

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अकालमृत्योः परिरक्षणार्थं

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Meaning

and for protection from untimely death,

Meaning of Words

अकालमृत्योः	akālamṛtyoḥ
‘Akāla’ means not timely, untimely, or premature. ‘Mṛtyu’ means death. The suffix ‘-oḥ’ indicates the ablative case, meaning ‘from untimely death’, implying protection against sudden or premature demise.
परिरक्षणार्थं	parirakṣaṇārthaṁ
for protection ‘Parirakṣaṇa’ means complete or thorough protection, safeguarding, or preservation. ‘Arthaṁ’ means for the purpose of, or for the sake of. Thus, ‘parirakṣaṇārthaṁ’ means ‘for the purpose of complete protection’.

Sentence - 3

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वन्दे महाकालमहासुरेशम् ॥

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Meaning

I bow to Mahakala, the great Lord of lords.

Meaning of Words

वन्दे	vande	I bow/salute
महाकाल	mahākāla
‘Mahā’ means great, and ‘Kāla’ means time, black, or death. Mahakala is a fierce and powerful form of Lord Shiva, who is considered the ultimate controller of time and the great destroyer of ignorance and evil. He is often depicted as dark-complexioned, with a garland of skulls, and is worshipped for protection and liberation.
महासुरेशम्	mahāsureśam
the great Lord of gods/demons (or supreme Lord) ‘Mahā’ means great or supreme. ‘Sura’ means a god or divine being, and ‘īśam’ means lord or ruler. Therefore, ‘mahāsureśam’ refers to the great lord of divine beings, or simply the supreme Lord. In some contexts, ‘asura’ (demon) is also implied, making him the supreme lord over both good and evil forces. The ‘-am’ suffix denotes the accusative case, indicating the object of the verb ‘vande’ (I bow to).

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