Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas
कोलाहलं प्रकुर्वंतो निर्भयाश्शतशो गणाः । वीरभद्रं पुरस्कृत्य युयुधुर्दानवैस्सह
kolāhalaṃ prakurvaṃto nirbhayāśśataśo gaṇāḥ | vīrabhadraṃ puraskṛtya yuyudhurdānavaissaha
مُحدِثين جلبةً عظيمة، قاتلت مئاتُ غانات شيفا بلا خوف، وقد جعلوا فيرابهادرا في المقدّمة، فحاربوا معًا ضد الدانافا.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Virabhadra
FAQs
It portrays the gaṇas’ fearlessness as the fruit of alignment with Pati (Lord Shiva): when consciousness is anchored in Shiva’s will, agitation (kolāhala) becomes purposeful dharmic action rather than ego-driven violence.
Vīrabhadra and the gaṇas represent Saguna Shiva’s protective, active grace—Shiva as the Lord who defends dharma. Linga-worship internalizes this: the devotee seeks Shiva’s steadiness so that inner ‘demonic’ tendencies are subdued under divine leadership.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate nirbhayatā (fearlessness), along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as reminders of belonging to Shiva’s gaṇa (Shiva-centered discipline).