Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10
तारकवधोत्तरं देवस्तुतिः पर्वतवरप्रदानं च / Devas’ Hymn after Tāraka’s Slaying and the Bestowal of Boons upon the Mountains
शंभोर्विशिष्टरूपाणि लिंगरूपाणि चैव हि । भविष्यथ न संदेहः पर्वता वचनान्मम
śaṃbhorviśiṣṭarūpāṇi liṃgarūpāṇi caiva hi | bhaviṣyatha na saṃdehaḥ parvatā vacanānmama
হে পর্বতনন্দিনী! আমার বাক্যে কোনো সন্দেহ নেই—শম্ভুর বিশেষ রূপসমূহ এবং তাঁর লিঙ্গরূপও অবশ্যই প্রকাশ পাবে।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Sthala Purana: The verse explicitly forecasts Śiva’s ‘viśiṣṭa-rūpa’ and ‘liṅga-rūpa’ manifestations. This is the narrative seed of sthala-purāṇa: Śiva self-manifests as liṅga in particular places (often mountains), establishing future pilgrimage centers.
Significance: Frames liṅga as Śiva’s accessible, place-bound presence for devotees; ‘by my word’ underscores īśvara-saṅkalpa as the cause of sacred manifestation, inviting faith in tīrtha-darśana.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
The verse affirms Śiva’s sovereign will (śiva-icchā) in manifesting accessible forms for devotees—both personal, distinguishable forms (saguṇa) and the Liṅga-form that supports steady contemplation and worship leading toward liberation.
It explicitly links Śiva’s ‘special forms’ with ‘Liṅga-forms,’ teaching that Liṅga worship is not secondary but a deliberate manifestation of Śiva for grace (anugraha), enabling concentrated bhakti and temple-based ritual devotion.
A practical takeaway is Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a stable focus for devotion and meditation, aligning the mind with Śiva’s manifested presence.