Bhairavaśāpavṛttāntaḥ
The Episode of Bhairava’s Curse and Consolation
एकदा मुनिशार्दूल गिरिजाशंकरावुभौ । विहर्तुकामौ संजातौ स्वेच्छया परमेश्वरौ
ekadā muniśārdūla girijāśaṃkarāvubhau | vihartukāmau saṃjātau svecchayā parameśvarau
হে মুনিশাৰ্দূল! এবাৰ গিৰিজা আৰু শংকৰ—সেই দুয়ো পৰমেশ্বৰ—নিজ স্বেচ্ছাৰে দিৱ্য ক্ৰীড়া কৰিবলৈ ইচ্ছুক হ’ল।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
It presents Śiva and Pārvatī as Parameśvara acting through svacchanda (free divine will), reminding devotees that cosmic events and sacred stories unfold as līlā—graceful, purposeful play that draws souls (paśu) toward liberation under the Lord (Pati).
By highlighting the Lord’s willingness to “play” in manifest form, it supports Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with attributes—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga, through which devotees approach the transcendent (Nirguṇa) via the compassionate, accessible form.
Contemplate Śiva’s svecchā-śakti (free will) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves to the liṅga; this aligns the mind to accept life’s movements as Śiva’s līlā and deepens bhakti.