Shloka 27
Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam
The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity
प्रयाते शङ्करे तापाद्व्रीडिताहं पितुर्गृहात् । आगच्छमत्र तपसे गुरुवाक्येन संयता
prayāte śaṅkare tāpādvrīḍitāhaṃ piturgṛhāt | āgacchamatra tapase guruvākyena saṃyatā
لمّا رحلَ شانكرا، أنا—محترقةً بالحزن ومغلوبةً بالخجل—غادرتُ بيتَ أبي. وبانضباطٍ وفقَ أمرِ معلّمي، جئتُ إلى هنا لأقوم بالتَّبَس (التقشّف الروحي).
Parvati
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga-sthala passage; the verse frames Pārvatī’s separation (viraha) and her turn to tapas as the means to obtain Śaṅkara’s grace.
Significance: Models the Siddhāntic path: disciplined tapas under guru-niyama leading to Śiva’s anugraha (descent of grace).
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that sincere tapas, guided by humility and self-restraint, purifies the soul and prepares it to receive Śiva’s grace (anugraha).
Parvati’s movement toward austerity reflects turning the mind toward Saguna Śiva—approaching the Lord through disciplined devotion; such tapas commonly culminates in focused worship (dhyāna/arcana) of Śiva, often expressed through Linga-upāsanā in Purāṇic practice.
The verse suggests guru-guided tapas: steady vows, japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and disciplined self-control as the core practice leading toward Śiva-bhakti.