Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः
Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds
सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाप्रेम्णा चरितं शशिमौलिनः । यथाऽवधीत्त्रिशूलेन दानवेन्द्रं गजासुरम्
sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu vyāsa mahāpremṇā caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | yathā'vadhīttriśūlena dānavendraṃ gajāsuram
قال سَنَتْكُمارا: يا فياسا، اصغِ بمحبةٍ عظيمة إلى المآثر المقدّسة لسيّدِ الهلال على هامته (شيفا): كيف قتلَ بتريشولاه غَجاسورا، ملكَ الدانَفَة.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Gajasamhāramūrti
Sthala Purana: Introduces the Gajāsura-vadha episode: Śiva slays the elephant-demon with the triśūla; often associated in later temple iconography with Gajasamhāra panels rather than a Jyotirliṅga site per se.
Significance: Hearing (śravaṇa) of Śiva’s demon-slaying līlā is presented as a bhakti-act (‘mahāpremṇā’), cultivating surrender and trust in Śiva’s protective power.
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Demon-slaying as cosmic rebalancing: Rudra’s saṃhāra restores dharma and removes obstructive forces (āsuric pāśa-like bondage).
FAQs
The verse emphasizes śravaṇa—devotional listening with love—as a direct means to awaken bhakti toward Pati (Śiva). Hearing His līlā purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pāśa (bondage) by turning the mind toward the Lord’s protecting, grace-bestowing power.
By naming Śiva as “śaśimauli” (Moon-crested), the verse points to Saguna Shiva—worshipped through form, names, and līlā. Such narration supports Linga-bhakti because the Linga is the accessible presence of the same Lord whose deeds are being heard and contemplated.
Practice śravaṇa and manana: regularly listen to (or recite) Shiva Purana chapters with devotion, then contemplate Śiva as the protector who removes inner “asuric” tendencies. A simple support is japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—before and after the reading.